We are Sam and Kev and we are regular trampers in New Zealand's backcountry wilderness.
We make videos of our outdoor adventures to encourage those looking for a bit of extra information, guidance, and inspiration to get out there and experience it for yourselves. The trips we tend to do range from day hikes to multi day trips involving tracked and untracked terrain.
We tramp for the love of the outdoors and New Zealand's backcountry hut network. We are not experts, don't have all the answers or the latest equipment but we have a lot of fun and hope you enjoy the videos.
That brought back some memories! I spent an absolutely fabulous night at Black Hill Hut after my uni finals in late 1997 with some student friends. I seem to recall it took us around 5 and a half hours up to the hut.
Love this! I’ve been up and down Mt Arthur, stayed at the hut, been in and out of the Table Lands, stayed at Salisbury Lodge and been over Gordon’s Pyramid many times over. But I’ve never been from the Mt Arthur track direct to Flora Hut past Clouston’s Mine! Oh, and my son’s first tramp was as an 8 yr old with me too 😊
Yes loved this trip with Emma. Kev and I have done all the Tablelands as well which is some of the best tramping given it is so accessible from Nelson.
For this one we took tents and sleeping mats etc as the biv we were heading to only had two beds and there were other cars already in the car park. In the end the biv was empty but it meant for very full packs. It was also very cold once the sun went down so took extra warm clothes. Great trip though.
Thank you for the video guys I really enjoy seeing these less travelled routes . What size and brand (if its ok to say) packs are you carrying? I dug out my old pack the other day. A K2 pack I bought in 1974. It was state of the art then and art has changed. Just looking at it makes my back and shoulders ache.
Thanks, Francis. We both have packs from Kathmandu. Probably wouldn't go there next time as they are not that comfortable either. However, they are built very well and seem to be indestructible.
Thanks Francis. Pack weight varies from about 11kg to 16kg. It depends a bit on how much water I'm carrying and if I've got a tent etc. Lots of people travel lighter, but I'm in the betterr safe than sorry group, so I always have a bit of extra gear.
I carry the eggs wrapped up in a bit of paper towel and then in a plastic container. I've never had one break yet, and the paper towel comes in handy if I need to get a fire going.
Thanks, Stuart. The tramp ticked all the right boxes - hard without being exhausting - a little bit of mystery because so few people get there and some great NZ bush.
@@samandkevsoutdooradventures He loves the Kahurangi. Every time he comes to stay, the first thing he asks is can we stay in a hut Popa? Next fine day, we're packed and into the Kahurangi.
Hey mate, what’s the walk like from tarn hut back to the lees valley road? I’m thinking of going straight from road to tarn hut. How long do you think itl take? Also easy or hard terrain?
some interesting camera shots that was awesome - but why the music to ruin it? we tramp to get away from that. Great shot of the blue ducks. had to stop watching due to the music - bummer.
Thanks for your comment and sorry about the music. We have actually started using music only sparingly in more recent vids and often not at all. Will take your comments on board. Thanks again.
Hi there. Great video! And great channel! Question about access for this trip - can you drive there from the Murchison / St Arnaud side or only from Blenheim? For whatever reason Google Maps is adamant access from St Arnaud is on foot only. We'd be coming from Chch and would prefer to go via Murchison
An amazing river, full of wildlife, crystal clear waters and a great tramp. My friend Baz owns about 400 acres of land on the northern side of the river from the end carpark and around the curve of the river. Have spent some time up there, so clean and quiet. Pure New Zealand wilderness.
Thanks Malcolm, totally agree. I also saw a couple of old house buses and similar things over the river from the car park. It looked like a few people might be living/camping there.
Great video and how cool to see Whio! I seriously injured my knee last year and haven’t been able to tramp so it has been great to watch your videos as I build up to it again.
The track starts at the end of Pearse Valley Road which comes of Motueka river West Bank Road. It’s about 15 mins north of Tapawera. It’s well signposted and a 2WD road and not steep. Hope you get to go and enjoy it soon. Thanks again for watching.
Very cool. I didn't know about the resurgence or realise how significant Mt Arthur's cave networks were. Makes sense now thinking of all those chutes and potholes all over it. Incredible whio
Cheers Revilo. Got very lucky with the Whio in that spot. I didn’t know much about this track either until recently but it is very accessible and amazing bang for buck.
Omg Sam! I can't believe there were three Whio sitting there in the resurgence! Classic! I did this walk in March. Loved it. The forest was so beautiful as well as the river. Definitely my fave day hike of the summer. Awesome camp spot at the end there, for a wee overnighter I reckon. There definitely looked to be a track to somewhere at the top end of that clearing...Have you seen that awesome Caves book?? So fascinating 👍
I might need you to give me the name of that caves book as I don’t think I’ve seen it. The Pearse trip was such a pleasant surprise for me as to just how good it was and how easy it was to get to. I think the cave entrance is further up Isle Creek but there was a reasonable chance of getting soaked so I took a little track marked with tape nearby instead but that just led me to bush bashing for a couple of hours.
@@samandkevsoutdooradventures Its called Caves by Neil Silverwood and Marcus Thomas. Its a big coffee table book. I've currently got it out of the Mot library. Its so good. Yeah, I was also pleasantly surprised by its awesomeness.
Epic mission guys. Solid effort when things get less than ideal but you've got to keep going. I had a similar situation just over a year ago. Forgot to fill up on water before a climb up to a few hours of dry tops travel, and didn't realise until I was already committed. Was a punishing afternoon. Great video
Cheers Revilo. No plans to repeat the mistakes made on this trip in a hurry! As you say though, sometimes you find yourself committed and have to battle through.
That 40km day hike I did in your backyard recently, Hacket - Brooke st, I carried 3ltrs of water across the tops. Like you I’ve been caught out before and mistakes make the greatest teacher. Thanks for your intel for that trip btw and thanks for taking us on this one 👍
Cheers Dave, hoping to see the vid of your trip soon. As for the water, yep that was a major misjudgement. Hopefully the hard lesson we learnt will help others on this tramp.
@@samandkevsoutdooradventures I carry a 2l bladder bottle, it’s rolled up when not in use and handy for camp cooking and dry routes. It’ll be out this week (~50mins) as soon as I can figure out a tile and thumbnail 😆
Absolutely amazing sound. I recommend you visit the himalayan mountains k2 and Nangaparbat view point from one place. Whenever you start a short solo trip of 4-5 days, Moses Peak is a must. It is a 5300m height۔ from the top of moses pea which you can see the views of the K2 world second highest peak in the world, Nangaparbat, K6 k11 and K 12 views in one frame. best time from May to October. This is a family tracked.its open Zone, one did not need a trekking permit or have to pay Royalty fee to climbed this Mountain tower
Thanks for sharing. Really interesting video. Have you ever been up the Boyle River on the St James walkway and up over the opera range via maritana stream? I did it a few weeks ago. Great walk for you.
Thanks for the comment. Have been into the St James at both ends but have never down the whole track. Where did you leave the Marianna Stream valley and start climbing the Opera? Also where did you come down off the Opera? Sounds like a great option.
@@samandkevsoutdooradventures I walked into the magdalane hut then walked the 1st ridge on the true left of the maritana stream. Stayed the night up there hunting.then came back down but would be an easy walk along the tops and then down to the jervois hut. Google opera range and there's a write up by some trampers who did it a while back
hut was originally due south of where it is now by black birch stm on a wee clearing (remnants of it are still there) it never got any sun and very little use nzda shifted it and then extended it many years ago doubling its size gets good sun now and a lot of use and yes theres not a lot of water up there
Great video guys. I had the pleasure to finally visit here in February, although I came from the south, so was awesome to see Lake Peel. Thanks for another good one
