Walk It Off

With SO many saliva inducing eateries continously poppng up in our neck of the woods, I find myself (and by that I mean my jean buttons are starting to get uncomfortably tight) in desparate need of a walk, or two. In fact, the glorious summer weather happening here in Chrischurch lately has me believing that even Mother Nature herself is ever so gracefully (in the form of blue skies and sunshine) nudging us to dust the cobwebs off our poor, neglected nikes and get our lycra coated butts outside. Without further adieu, the following is a brief list of some of Christchurch’s most terrific walking tracks to get you started.

Hagley Park:
Call me Captain Obvious but I feel it’d be plain rude not to give Hagley Park a mention! Not only is our glorious Mother of all Parks drop-dead-gorgeous during any season/time of day but in addition, Hagley park is also conveniently fitted with exercise stations, picnic benches, drinking fountains, toilets and even BBQs (exercise leads to hunger) to further enhance our HP (Hagley Park not Harry Potter) experience. With plenty of parking and such easy access, you have zero excuses.

Halswell Quarry:
The track at Halswell Quarry is super foresty and super narrow. This means two things. One: the track is naturally beautiful – flled with trolls and whispering trees (with a little imagination) and two: you need to be strategic in choosing a walking buddy. This is because the track is too narrow to walk side by side your friend. So, it is important you pick someone with a nice behind, one that your eyes won’t get sick of following, or altenatively, someone who you don’t mind gazing at your toosh or someone you want to show your toned glutes to – okay, I think you get the picture. In addition to impressive scenic views (forest and butt), Halswell Quarry has some terrific viewpoints fitted with picnic benches where you can sit, relax and enjoy a potato chip or 10 – which I realise defeats the purpose of a walk but hey, life’s all about balance right?

Godley Head:
This track is definitely the most romantic of the lot. In fact, five minutes in, you’ll spot a solo picnic bench overlooking the sea -so serene, lovely and 100% First Date material. In addition, the entire track overlooks magnifient views of the sea and the rocky shoreline. If it’s your lucky day, you may even spot a cheeky seal, dolphin or whale! My favourite features of this track include having the luxury to cool down post-walk by dipping my toes in the ocean and the quirky holiday homes nearby.

Bridal Path:
The villan of all Christchurch tracks; do this one if you want to pass out. The word ‘steep’ needs to be hugely intensified in order to remotely describe the feeling (pain) which Bridal Path will induce. Let’s just say if Bridal Path were a weekday, it would be a Monday without a doubt. This means both walking up and down this track is hard (and dangerous – I may have slid on the shingle on the way down and grazed my knee a lottle). Either I’m extremely unfit or Bridal Path is a b**** – I vouch for the latter. Also, make sure to catch up over a cuppa either before or after your walk as you’re bound to be too out of breath for chit chat mid track. Nevertheless, the view at the top is truly breath-taking – Christchurch, you’re one heck of a beaut.

Rapaki:
Although not as steep/intense as Bridal Path, Rapaki makes for a good work-out. If you’re reading this thinking “as if” or “too easy” then feel free to run/bike this track. As with Bridal Path, the view at the top (once you gradually make it – emphasis on gradually) is truly breathtaking – you know, in both senses of the word.

that time i went hiking with an 8kg watermelon and a concealed weapon in my backpack

On the last day of my wee holiday in the beautiful Bay of Plenty (situated in the North Island of NZ), I went hiking with an 8kg watermelon and a concealed weapon in my backpack. Yep, you read right. My cousin and I wrapped a very dangerous knife in two tea-towels (kids, don’t try this at home) and placed it in my backpack alongside a big round stripy watermelon. Why? 1.Addiction and 2.Because there truly is no other food one wishes to gulp after a long and sweaty hike. Seriously, no other.  I’m not going to lie, heaving an 8kg watermelon up a steep hill was not the most comfortable situation I’ve found myself in during my mere 22 years, yet every freakin’ sweaty step is totes worth it in the end (once you learn to disregard the sharp stomach pains eating too much watermelon can and most possibly will, induce that is)

After food and literature, my third favourite past-time are hikes. The feeling one receives after eventually (emphasis on eventually) reaching the top of a hill/mountain and as a reward, being greeted by ‘dat view tho’ is frankly incomparable. Except well, if you reach the top and get to smash your face into some sweet sweet melons (get your mind out of the gutter!).

Between the two of us, my cousin and I ate half a watermelon each. Minus two slices, which we generously (not really as two slices were truly zilch compared to the whole fruit) hand delivered to two tourists. So, if NZers get a reputations for being generous and self-less souls (as evident in former image), you know who to thank.

I Walk Up Like This

A break from food (what is such a thing?!) here’s some snaps from the few nature walks I have been fortunate enough to take whilst travelling the North Island of beautiful New Zealand. To cleanse your palate, if you will. Oh and if you’re wondering, the first 4 images are from the Mt. Zion track in Piha (Auckland) and the last three images are from the Kauaeranga Kauri trail on the Coromandel peninsula.