Page 83 - Forbes India (December 2015)

The snowy trek
up Mount Vinson,
the highest peak
of antarctica

“One downside we find is the the MalikS’ Favourite Great WalkS
costs associated with dehydrated The Great Walks are generally regarded as New Zealand’s premier multi-day hikes. They have been
camping meals. One such packet of accorded special status in order to regulate the numbers of hikers on the trails, to enhance their
‘a two-person meal’ [which is really experience, and to minimise overcrowding and erosion. Of more than a hundred Great Walks, they
particularly like the Routeburn Track (a medium three-day 32-km track) that spans the stunning
more suitable for 1-1.5 person] can sub-Alpine scenery of the South Island. The main challenge on this popular hike is to actually secure a
run you anywhere from $9.50 to place among the limited number who are allowed on the track at any one time.
$15.50, depending on where you visiting places only acces- around five hours.
buy it. One way to reduce costs is to north iSlanD sible by river, as it was in the the Abel tasman Coastal
split a dehydrated meal and a pack the Lake Waikaremoana early days of exploration and track is one of the most
track is one of the more
of instant noodles,” the twins add. gentle Great Walks. This 46- colonisation, by both the Maori popular tramps as it runs
people and Europeans.
The ideal trek, or a “serious km track circumnavigates the along the coastline of the
trek” (as the twins put it), needs picturesque Lake Waikare- sunniest part of the South
moana, and takes three to four South iSlanD
Island, featuring stunning
a sturdy pair of lungs, fit legs and days to cover, with plenty of the Milford track is the jewel beaches of golden sand and
a good amount of preparation. opportunities for fishing and in New Zealand’s hiking crown. crystal-clear water.
“Anything lesser than that and swimming. It’s an extremely popular four- the Heaphy track is another
we jokingly call them morning the tongariro northern Cir- day track through Fiordland, hike in the northern South
from Lake Te Anau to the stun-
cuit, including the tongariro
Island and at 79 km (four to
and evening walks,” they laugh. Crossing is a three- to four- ning Milford Sound. six days) is the longest of the
(See Train For A Tough Trek) day track that traverses some the routeburn track is a Great Walks with some
The modern pace of life, of course, of the most stunning volcanic 32 km, three-day tramp of the most diverse scen-
does not allow everyone the luxury sceneries in New Zealand. between Glenorchy and The ery, from the forests of the
Kahurangi National Park to
Divide, going through Mount
Whanganui Journey: Not
of spending several days on trekking. strictly a Great Walk, this is an Aspiring and Fiordland Na- west coast beaches. It is also
“So, one day or even half a day of odd one out as it is actually a tional parks. unique in that it is open to
mountain bikers during the
some serious trekking is cool. For kayak trip. About 145 km down the Kepler track, at 60 km, winter season.
the Whanganui River, from
it to be really rejuvenating and lots Taumarunui to Pipiriki, which is possibly the most challeng- There is also the rakiura
ing of the Great Walks, taking
of fun, the locale obviously must be takes around five days, it can three to four days to complete. track in Stewart Island, a
away from the crowds, noises and be turned into a shorter three- It is also the course for the two- to three-day, 30-37 km
day trip with an exit at Pipiriki.
distractions of city life,” says Nungshi. This is an awesome adventure, Kepler Challenge—an ‘ultra- track with a great mix of
marathon’ trail, which takes
beach and forest scenery.
The ideal trek must be amid
natural beauty, with “some degree
of gradient even if it is a gradual rise In New Zealand, you can locate do is to keep a pair of trekking shoes
and fall in landscape”, says Nungshi. such spots almost every few handy, with a small backpack with
It should ideally end with a camping kilometres. “Even when we were in water, essential toiletries and snacks.
out, “where we are able to have a India, we would invariably hunt out As we would drive, we would look out
greater feel of living off the land and such opportunities along the highway for dirt tracks leading out from the
the excitement of living it out all by while driving from Dehradun to highway into the farmlands. We would
ourselves out there amid wild nature”. Delhi,” recalls Tashi. “What we would drive a distance, park the vehicle
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