Banks Track

Okay, so I'm here on Banks Peninsula, and I've just started what's called the Banks Track. It's pretty cool because it was actually the very first privately owned walking track in New Zealand, opening up back in 1989. It's a 31-kilometer journey, and it's only open from October through April, so make sure you plan your trip right.

The track itself is pretty diverse – you're going through rugged coastline, forests, bush, and even pastures, hitting a maximum altitude of 699 meters at Trig GG. I'm doing the three-day classic walk, which started with a bus ride from Akaroa to a farm in Ōnuku. From there, it's 11 kilometers to Flea Bay Cottage, then 8 kilometers to Stony Bay Cottage, and finally 12 kilometers back to Akaroa.

The landowners, mostly farmers, set this up to help with income after droughts and subsidy removals in the 80s. It’s a great example of ecotourism. Keep an eye out for wildlife, too – I've heard you can spot yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals, and even Hector's dolphins, plus some neat plants like nikau palms and kahikatea. The accommodation huts along the way are really unique and well-equipped, which is a nice bonus.