Five Foot Ronna

14/09/2025

Tongariro Alpine Crossing 2025 - thanks for the memories! Our group probably had four good knees between us, but what we lacked in joint stability, we made up for in life experience. Check out our windy adventures here 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

Liz and I had first planned to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (TAC) back in March 2024. Unfortunately, a storm blew in that week, and it g...

03/09/2025

Great news! After a few months offline, I think I've finally found a new home for my future tramping blogs. Yay! There's a small backlog of tramping adventures I'm yet to write - it turns out my last one was from an overnighter to Ōtapukawa Hut in Te Urewera earlier in the year. Some of my past adventures will also be available again.

September is a bit chocka with weekend events, so I'm hoping to squeeze in an overnighter in October. Keep an eye on here if you feel like going bush for the night.

19/08/2025

Mt Urchin Track, August 2025

With almost 600m of elevation gain over 3km, there's no easing into this one. It's a walk of two halves - the first 30 mins is a steady climb in a stunning beech forest. The temperature dropped a couple of degrees by the time I reached the ridge, with clumps of snow greeting me where the track was yet to see the sun.

Up until the last kilometre, it was fairly steady underfoot. One of the best mountain tracks I've been on in a long time. As I drew closer to the edge of the bush line, the track became more rutted, eroded sections at waist high and tramping soon became a scramble.

When the bush gave way to the sub-alpine zone - the route up to the summit marked by poles. I was about half-way up when I saw the clouds rolling in from the west, threatening to steal my views. I snapped a photo before the mountains were completely covered, then continued up to the summit.

The wind had picked up at the trig and foiled my plans of lunch with a view. I did walk along the tops for awhile, but it seemed the cold wind was determined to keep me company.

This was definitely one of my favourite tramps this year - hard to believe that you can experience an alpine environment just 2.5 hours from the car park.

17/08/2025

Betty, my adventurous RAV4, hadn’t had a good dust bath in a while. The deeper I drove down Kaimanawa Road, the more I felt like a kid about to sneak lollies before dinner—buzzing with excitement to explore a new forest.

I pulled into Urchin Campsite mid-arvo, and after 3.5 hours in the car I was itching to go for a walk. Although, anyone with an over 40 year old bladder knows, no tramp begins without first going to the loo. That's where I discovered the best backcountry bog...ever. Cleanest, non-smelly long-drop I've been in my life. And I've been in some real stinkers!

After a quick snack (and realising I left the bread at home), I checked out the Tree Trunks Gorge Track. Just 9km return (starts at the campsite), and honestly, it’s a gem. If you're into forest bathing, add this to the list.

I bailed at the river crossing, about a kilometre from the end. I had my eye on the Pillars of Hercules track and figured I should keep some fuel in the tank. The knees thanked me for it.

Spoiler alert: No pillars were spotted on the Pillars of Hercules track, but there is an epic 40 suspension bridge above the gorge.

15/08/2025

Super excited for this weekend's adventures in the Kaimanawa Forest. The weather forecast is mint. 😍

12/08/2025

📣 It's NZ Poetry Day on Friday, 22 August and I'll be sharing a couple of my poems at this FREE open mic at the Whakatāne Library. Come check it out, bring a mate or two.

10/08/2025

Day date goal unlocked! The tall fella and I joined 50+ legends this weekend for Rotoehu Ecological Trust's spring rat baiting. I knew pest trap lines wouldn't be a romantic frolic in the bush, but some of the windfalls were definitely next level.

Did you know there are over 500 kōkako in this 1600-hectare forest? Keep up the amazing work RET!

I'm all about sharing the love, so if you have a love of the bush, or our native kōkako, connect with Rotoehu Ecological Trust and Manawahe Eco Trust to learn about volunteering opportunities.

01/08/2025

📣 Anyone keen to volunteer for a morning of rat baiting in Rotoehu? Aaron and I are heading over (from Edgecumbe) and have a couple of spare seats. We'll probably head to the hot pools after, so bring your togs.

Pre-register with the Rotoehu Ecological Trust.

🚨 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - SAT 9 AUG 🚨

We need your help! Our spring rat control op kicks off on Saturday 9 August - and with over 1,800 bait stations to fill, we’re (VERY) short on hands. This mahi is critical to protect one of the world’s largest kōkako populations right here in Rotoehu 🌿

🗓️ Saturday 9 August
📍 Meet at Pukehangi & Rotoehu Road corner, 9am
🥜 Heads up: bait contains peanut products

Just a 50-minute drive from Tauranga, Rotorua or Whakatāne - perfect for a Saturday morning mission!

Bring:
✔️ Sturdy boots + long sleeves
✔️ A backpack + water
✔️ A reusable cup
✔️ Your enthusiasm (and a friend!)

We’ll provide snacks, hot drinks (yes, !), PPE + all gear. No direct bait handling required.

📲 RSVP now – follow the link in bio to our linktree and select "Our next work day" for all the info. Then use the form to RSVP. Or if you'd rather keep things old school - just flick us an email to [email protected]

23/07/2025

Just your typical Wednesday… if your office has trees, mud, and pest traps.

Swapped the desk for the bush and spent the day volunteering with the legends at Manawahe Eco Trust. I tagged along with Ken and Sue on their trapline and watched them set up an AT220 automatic trapper — baited with mayonnaise. Yep, Caesar salad vibes.

Next time, I'm hoping to run my own line (Pete says it'll take an hour — five traps, easy). But let’s be honest, I’ll probably turn it into a full-on National Geographic moment.