Many of the STAR readers will remember the front page article in February’s Star about the upcoming Great N.Z.Trek. Having commenced at Cape Reinga eight years ago, this wonderful Trek has been taking place annually and involves a week’ s trekking through a different part of N.Z. each year.
This year it was the Wairarapa leg which started out from Alfredton and terminated at Lake Ferry on the 3rd March. In total there were 138 Horse riders, 65 Walkers and 35 Mountain bikers participating.
As well as all these people there was also a contingent of 92 support staff volunteers. Thus, in total there were 330 people involved moving daily from one camp site to another. No mean feat! The settled weather played a big role in ensuring the success and smooth running of the operation.
Kitty Johnson, the co-ordinator and a Trustee of The Great N.Z.Trek, wishes to thank the many farmers involved but particularly Don and Rachel McIntyre ( Alfredton) Jamie Falloon ( Bideford ),the Beetham family (Wainuioru ), Shayne Rankin and The Taratahi Training Farm ( Gladstone ) Liz and John Hancock ( Martinborough for 2 nights and Rest Day !), Clive Payton and Phyll Pattie (Tuhitarata ), and Mike Warren and family (Lake Ferry). These farmers provided campsites knowing that the dry weather was already affecting them and yet still had feed for the many horses.
The area covered showcased many parts of the Wairarapa. The scenery was breathtaking on many days particularly from the top of some of the ascents that the Trekkers undertook!
The much needed Rest Day in Martinborough was truly fabulous. There was something for everyone to enjoy from sipping a good cup of coffee at one of the many cafes to visiting a vineyard !
This year’s Great N.Z. Trek has been quoted as being one of the best yet!
A notable feature was the huge interest shown by many local farmers at each stopover. Many of them would arrive on site and join the Trekkers for the evening meal!
Congratulations to all the Trekkers who started and finished the week. It is never easy but the rewards can’t be measured! A further $20,000 was raised which goes towards research to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. ( to the Malaghan Institute ).
Anyone who may be interested in being part of next year’s Trek can to go to the website: www.greatnewzealandtrek.com for information. It is currently scheduled to commence the first week of March, 2014 from the top of the South Island.
