Circumnavigating the lake
What a way to spend your summer holidays.
Liger students Joel van Beers and Nikau Barnes, both 15, have spent the last two weeks on an epic adventure to circumnavigate Queenstown's Lake Whakatipu.
The youngsters are hiking, biking and kayaking around 250km around New Zealand's third-largest lake, raising money for the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust along the way.
They left town on 10 January with 20kg backpacks, hiking from the Memorial archway at Marine Parade downtown, up the Remarkables and into Wye Creek, where they camped the night. They then hiked out to the Devil's Staircase, on to Kingston, kayaked across to Halfway Bay, hiked to Longburn Hut, and kayaked from Refuge Point to Walter Peak.
When the Lakes Weekly Bulletin spoke to them on Sunday, they were at Kinloch, staying in old bus for two nights, with the plan to kayak, hike and bike back to Queenstown, hopefully crossing the finish line back at the Memorial archway on Monday afternoon at around 4pm.
"It's been incredible," says Joel. "We just wanted to be outside for the summer really and that's been the highlight, just being out in nature all this time, especially Wye Creek on the second day.'
It's not all been plain sailing though, and the route has been adapted as they've gone along and overcome adversity.
"It's been really hot, and also the sandflies have been really annoying, giving us lots of bites. One particular night, staying in Halfway Bay, there was just so many sandflies. Blisters have also been a problem. We were going to walk it all, but I decided to wear some thin socks and they've given me bad blisters, so we've adapted by adding in some kayaking.
"But it's been fantastic. We've had so much support and we've been able to do some good for the community by raising money for the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust."
Joel and Nikau have visited reforestation sites along the way as they raise money and awareness of the Trust's native reforestation efforts, a project close to their hearts. They been supported by Patagonia Outdoor Clothing & Gear, Outside Sports, Real Meals, Fernhill Dairy, private landowners, RealNZ, Walter Peak Station, the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, and outdoors experts, along with encouragement from scores of locals.
They are documenting their expedition on Instagram (@inthe_outdoors) and fundraising via Givealittle where they've raised $2767 so far.
