u/naturestroll

Hello. It's been a dream of mine for a while to do some hiking in New Zealand. I'm ready to do it, physically and financially. The basic plan is to do a series of some of the best day hikes New Zealand has to offer, primarily in South Island. I would like to arrive in early February, right after children return to school, and stay for about a month. I'm going on 49 and am quite fit. I have a lot of experience hiking in Chile, Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), the Pyrenees, and the Alps. I've done some longer day hikes, such as the Laguna de los Tres hike to Fitz Roy from El Chalten. Although I'm already in shape, I will be doing more training specifically for this outing. Here's what I've come up with. What do you think, overall? Do you think it's feasible? Do you have any recommendations? Is there anything you think I should be aware of? Thank you for your input!

Day 1: Fly to Los Angeles (overnight airport hotel)

 

Day 2: Fly to Auckland (evening flight)

 

Day 3: Arrive Auckland morning (overnight airport hotel)

 

Day 4: Fly to Queenstown (overnight)

 

Day: 5: Ben Lomond Track via Skyline Gondola

 

Day 6: Rent car and drive to Te Anau

 

Day 7: From Te Anau

 

Option A: Kepler Track: Kepler Track Carpark to Luxmore Hut

 

Option B: Broad Bay to Luxmore Hut

 

- return to hotel

 

Day 8: Drive to Milford Sound, or do the Key Summit Track, or both

 

- return to hotel

 

Day 9: Gertrude Saddle day hike (or Key Summit Track as a backup)

 

- return to hotel

 

Day 10: Drive from Te Anau to Glenorchy (overnight)

 

Day 11: Routeburn Track (from Routeburn Track Car Park to Lake Harris; perhaps onto Conical Hill) (Earnslaw burn can also be done from Glenorchy)

 

- return to hotel

 

Day 12: Drive to Wanaka (overnight)

 

Day 13: Shotover Saddle from Raspberry Creek Carpark

 

Day 14: Rest day (Isthmus Peak Track and Roy’s Peak options)

 

Day 15: Drive to Mount Cook NP

- Try to stay in park

- If not, stay in Twizel

 

Day 16: Mueller Hut Route (includes Sealy Tarns)

 

Day 17: Backup day (consider Hooker Lake via Hooker Valley Track)

 

Day 18: Drive to Arthur’s Pass (overnight)

 

Day 19: Avalanche Peak (check Mt. Bealy to Avalance Peak traverse option)

 

Day 20: Backup day (Bealey Spur option)

 

Day 21: Drive to Christchurch

- return rental car

- Fly to Taupo

- rent car and drive to Tongariro area (National Park Village or Turangi)

Day 22: Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Ketatahi Car Park)

Day 23: Backup day

Day 24: Backup day

Day 25: Drive to Auckland (overnight)

Day 26: Fly back to US (arrive Los Angeles same day; overnight at hotel)

Day 27: Fly back to Miami

Hello. I've been wanting to visit New Zealand to do a series of day hikes for a couple of years, and I'm finally in the financial position to do it. I would arrive in early February and depart in early March. I'm going on 49 and, an avid swimmer, I'm quite fit. I've done a lot of hiking in Patagonia and Europe, including longer day hikes like Laguna de los Tres and Mirador Base las Torres in Patagonia, and the Ayous Lakes Circuit in the Pyrenees. Do you think this itinerary is feasible? Is there any part of it that causes you concern? I tried to build in plenty of backup days to account for poor weather and physical exhaustion. Thanks for your input!

Day 1: Fly to Los Angeles from Miami (overnight at airport hotel)

Day 2: Fly to Auckland (overnight at airport hotel)

Day 3: Fly to Queenstown (overnight)

Day: 4: Ben Lomond Track via Skyline Gondola

Day 5: Rent car and drive to Te Anau

Day 6: From Te Anau

Option A: Kepler Track: Kepler Track Carpark to Luxmore Hut

Option B: Broad Bay to Luxmore Hut

- return to hotel

Day 7: Drive to Milford Sound, or do the Key Summit Track

- return to hotel

Day 8: Gertrude Saddle day hike (or Key Summit Track as a backup)

- return to hotel

Day 9: Drive from Te Anau to Glenorchy (overnight)

Day 10: Routeburn Track (from Routeburn Track Car Park to Lake Harris; perhaps onto Conical Hill) (Earnslaw Burn is also possible from Glenorchy)

- return to hotel

Day 11: Drive to Wanaka (overnight)

Day 12: Shotover Saddle from Raspberry Creek Carpark

Day 13: Rest/backup day (Isthmus Peak Track option)

Day 14: Drive to Mount Cook NP

- Try to stay in park

- If not, stay in Twizel

Day 15: Mueller Hut Route (includes Sealy Tarns)

Day 16: Backup day (consider Hooker Lake via Hooker Valley Track)

Day 17: Drive to Arthur’s Pass (overnight)

Day 18: Avalanche Peak

Day 19: Backup day (Bealey Spur option)

Day 20: Drive to Picton (overnight)

Day 21: Take ferry to Wellington (overnight)

Day 22: Drive to Whakapapa (overnight)

Day 23: Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Day 24: Backup day

Day 25: Backup day

Day 26: Drive to Auckland

Day 27: Fly back to US

Hello. I bought a 2021 Toyota Corolla SE in September 2021. I've driven it sparingly, having put about 7,500 miles on it. A couple months ago, the dealer told me that it's cold cranking amps were too low. I don't recall the exact number; it was between 200 and 250. I received a recommendation to get an EverStart Platinum battery in the H5 size. Do you recommend that or something else? Thanks.

Hello. I bought a 2021 Toyota Corolla SE in September 2021. I've driven it sparingly, having put about 7,500 miles on it. A couple months ago, the dealer told me that it's cold cranking amps were too low. I don't recall the exact number; it was between 200 and 250. I received a recommendation to get an EverStart Platinum battery, but that apparently won't fit my car. Other recommendations (that are supposed to fit) are: (1) Duralast Platinum AGM (Size H4 or H5); and (2) DieHard Gold or Platinum (Size H5). Would you please tell me what battery to get? One thing to note. Although I don't drive a lot, I live in Miami, where it almost never gets cold. Thanks!

Hello. I bought a 2021 Toyota Corolla SE in September 2021. I've driven it sparingly, having put about 7,500 miles on it. A couple months ago, the dealer told me that it's cold cranking amps were too low. I don't recall the exact number; it was between 200 and 250. I received a recommendation to get an EverStart Platinum battery, but that apparently won't fit my car. Other recommendations (that are supposed to fit) are: (1) Duralast Platinum AGM (Size H4 or H5); and (2) DieHard Gold or Platinum (Size H5). Would you please tell me what battery to get? One thing to note. Although I don't drive a lot, I live in Miami, where it almost never gets cold. Thanks!

Hello. I have a Dell EBT2250 running Windows Home 11, Version 25H2. OS Build 26200.8246.

Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 265 (2.40 GHz). 32.0 GB (31.5 GB usable). 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor.

I have several files saved on the C: drive in the Documents folder that I've deleted. After deleting them, I deleted them from the Recycle Bin. But my understanding is that they can be recovered with special software.

I read that you can use CCCleaner to write over the free space on your computer. Is it safe to do that? If so, would it work?

Is something else recommended? I was hoping not to overcomplicate this task because I'm a basic user.

I also need to delete files from external hard drives and thumb drives. Same issue. I don't want them to be recoverable.

Thank you for the information.

I don't have much else to add. Single male, so don't need to make that much. Want the stainless steel or clay pot to avoid chemical leeching. Will cook both white and brown rice. It would be a plus if I could steam some veggies while cooking the rice. Thanks!