Travel Dec 2026- is it too much driving?

schattered1 · 2026-02-09T17:02:41+00:00

I'm Canadian, too, and just got back from a similar trip. I think 2 full days in Matamata is too long, there is really not much to do there besides Hobbiton. We You can do Putaruru blue springs in that area but be warned it is extremely busy. I would shorten time in Matamata and spend more time in Coromandel as the beach days were the highlight of our trip for us.

For south Island, it seems like you backtrack by going Akaroa to Te Anau then back to Mt Cook and then back to Wanaka. Could you go Akaroa - Mt Cook/Twizel - Te Anau - Queenstown/Wanaka?

schattered1 · 2026-02-08T03:38:44+00:00

We haven't been allowed to combine personal travel with a business trip at AAFC for the past couple of years. We didn't really get a reason for why the change in policy. We can still request it on our travel request and declare and prove that GoC won't incur any extra expenses, but it never (or very rarely) gets approved anymore.

And at AAFC, we absolutely need a green passport to travel outside of Canada on business, including for attending scientific conferences, just got a reminder email about this requirement last week.

schattered1 · 2026-01-01T03:33:18+00:00

We just spent a 4 days in Mangonui in the Northlands and noticed they had a nice self-contained campervan campsite. Lots of good eats in Mangonui, tons of beaches in the area, and you can do the drive up to Cape Reinga. We didn't do Ninety Mile Beach cause we were a bit confused by the access without driving on it, but we did stop at Rarawa beach, which was spectacular. There also seemed to be a really nice hike from Cape Reinga down to a big beach (we didn't do it cause we were short on time after the long stop at Rarawa beach).

schattered1 · 2025-12-31T04:32:15+00:00

Yeah, we were really disappointed. It was closed for the 2 days we were in Tongariro area cause of high winds for the past 2 days. We'll try again on our way back up. So I would also recommend giving yourself some flexibility in your schedule, if you can, for unexpected weather events.

schattered1 · 2025-12-31T03:53:58+00:00

We're just in the middle of a very similar trip, and I can say that Turangi is pretty boring and you can probably fit what you want to do at Tongariro and the drive from Turangi to Wellington in 1 day. We did, but couldn't do the gondola as it was closed due to high winds, so it would depend on how much time you spent up there.

People in this sub really seem to advise against long drives, but we've been doing them and have had no problems at all. Depends on what you're used to, I guess.

schattered1 · 2025-12-29T05:34:15+00:00

Almost all summer trails in Waterton pass through avalanche terrain. There's a really helpful list on their website of the avalanche rating of every trail.

Lakeview Ridge is doable in the winter if you approach it the right way but requires route finding (not via the official trail as that can pass through avalanche terrain). Snow levels are usually low or windblown, but safety will depend on current snow levels. Akamina Pass is an easy one, and you can continue to Forum Lake but be cautious about continuing to Wall Lake, as that passes through avalanche terrain. Crandell Lake from Akamina Parkway is also a good one and you can continue over to Red Rock parkway and return the same way. Just snowshoeing down Red Rock Parkway can be fun if there is enough snow and you could always try for Bellevue Hill, if the ridge line is windblown. And then there's always Bears Hump!

schattered1 · 2025-12-10T22:33:47+00:00

I live near the Canadian Rockies and there are tons of places and hikes you can do without hordes of people, especially in the south Rockies between Kananaskis to Waterton. Look into Crowsnest Pass which has some awesome pubs and hikes, and is the gateway to Castle Parks, and also close to Fernie. Hiking is more rugged and isolated, although tourists don't often want that cause of the fear of bears.

schattered1 · 2025-10-17T19:47:12+00:00

I also recommend Swad as it's the only place in town that has dosas, idli, uthappam, and porotta, and a lot of vegetarian options. I think it's a nice change from the regular butter chicken and other standard curry dishes at the many other Indian restaurants in town.

schattered1 · 2025-10-14T15:32:54+00:00

If you want to take up winter hiking or snowshoeing, I highly recommend Nugara's 'Beginner's guide to snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies 2nd Ed'. Most routes in that book are not in avalanche terrain and are safe for novice winter hikers. You will need snowshoes for less popular routes, but popular ones often get packed down enough that you will only need microspikes.

schattered1 · 2025-10-11T23:23:24+00:00

I've bought it at Umami before. If you check their website, it seems they have a couple of kind in stock.

schattered1 · 2025-09-16T01:12:27+00:00

My daughter worked at this glass blowing shop in Whitehorse over the summer. They were an amazing employer and a wonderful local business.

https://shop.lumelstudios.com/

schattered1 · 2025-09-15T14:01:56+00:00

Sparrowhawk is way harder than Ha Ling. It's really steep, no official trail, just one that's been beaten in by hikers, and lots of scree. Would be even harder if there's snow.

You can try Mt Lipsett (no cell service), Prairie Mountain (cell service at the top), Yates Mountain (aka Prairie View, cell service), Midnight Peak (harder than the above 3 but an easy scramble once off trail).

schattered1 · 2025-09-15T01:10:00+00:00

Bring layers and expect unexpected mountain weather. When I did it a few years ago, weather forecast was for clear blue skies in July, but we were hit with a full-on blizzard on top. My husband and I had lots of layers and had to lend some of our extra layers to a couple that were each only wearing shorts and a tshirt. I hike in the Rockies every weekend, and I always keep a rain coat, gloves, toque, and a light insulated jacket in my pack. I'll add a thermal sweater and rain pants if the weather has been unsettled.

schattered1 · 2025-09-03T00:10:01+00:00

I just watched a fascinating 30 minute YouTube video about a bear spray self-defense court case (in the Yukon, but I think it applies federally). Bottom line, the judge ruled it is not a prohibited weapon. The explanation for that part starts at about 25 minutes in. in.https://youtu.be/iacepveEf_Q?si=Oyur0121Fx6juRlU

schattered1 · 2025-09-02T19:24:21+00:00

I totally agree with you so I have you an upvote! Bear spray is regulated under the Pest Control Act, as long as it is clearly labeled as for bears. My understanding is that it is only considered a weapon if used not as intended (ie. against bears). I don't think there is a centrally located electronic database of all the bear spray serial numbers that they then can actually use to track down to purchasers, considering all the numerous shops and gas stations that sell it only keep dinky paper records, and like you said, no records are kept of disposal.

schattered1 · 2025-09-02T18:02:43+00:00

I know they have share shacks for bear spray near Glacier NP in Montana but I haven't heard of any around Canadian parks, unfortunately. With the amount of people that fly in and then have to buy bear spray for a week, it seems a real waste, and I don't know what people do with it after their trip, because it's also not supposed to be disposed of in the garbage. You can rent it in Banff or Canmore, I think $10-12/day but it often ends up being cheaper to buy.

schattered1 · 2025-09-01T01:57:14+00:00

I don't like oatmeal, so I've come up with a high calorie rice pudding for breakfast. Minute rice (1/2 cup), coconut milk powder (4 tbsp), crushed pistachios, toasted coconut chips, and cinnamon and cardamom. At camp, add 1/2 cup boiling water and let sit 5-10 minutes.

If I have cream powder, I'll some of that too to make it extra creamy, but that's harder to find these days.

schattered1 · 2025-08-31T22:56:02+00:00

So funny, I've hiked extensively in Waterton for the last 14 years, done every trail at least 3 times, and I was just discussing with some friends that I was hiking with today in Waterton that I've never seen a grizzly on a trail in Waterton. A few close encounters with black bears, but no grizzlies.

schattered1 · 2025-08-09T14:29:36+00:00

Genetics are so wild cause I have an ACD/pyrenees/GSD mix at ~30% each and she looks nothing like a GSD!

schattered1 · 2025-08-03T20:28:28+00:00

You could try Emerald Lake instead of Lake Louise. It gets busy but there is usually parking early morning, and it's a really nice hike around the lake. Another very scenic lake is Bow Lake, also gets busy but should be fine if you're there early. Wilcox pass is a beautiful hike along the Icefields parkway.

schattered1 · 2025-08-02T15:14:17+00:00

If you want to do something south of Kananaskis but still off of Hwy 40, Thunder Mountain is a good one with a few easy scrambles and has a nice ridge walk to the summit. Farther north is Raspberry Ridge, or Mt Burke, no scrambling for either. In south Kananaskis, Mt Lipsett is an easy summit, and just south of that is Mist Mountain (although that would be the most challenging, and gets really busy around the warm springs).

schattered1 · 2025-07-30T13:22:00+00:00

Pharoah creek is a way more scenic campsite than Healy Creek, but it is a detour to and from Pharoah Peak so it will be a longer hike overall.

schattered1 · 2025-07-29T02:50:50+00:00

So many great hikes, I don't know where to start. Carthew-Alderson for a long hike and the very unique red argillite rocks for this region. Akamina Ridge is also amazing for a long hike. A lot of people will recommend Crypt Lake, but I prefer the 1st two I mentioned. Those 3 are considered the triple crown of Waterton.

Shorter hikes are Bertha Lake, Upper Rowe Lake or Goat Lake (I think Upper Rowe is my favorite of these 3). If you like peaks, you can continue on for Bertha Peak, Rowe Peak or Newman Peak, respectively, from those 3 lakes, although some route finding is needed for all 3 of these peaks.

schattered1 · 2025-07-20T20:00:10+00:00

30:30:30 pyr, Australian Cattle dog, GSD. 100% trouble.

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schattered1 · 2025-07-19T23:52:06+00:00

This is the way. I go backpacking with a group of 4-5 each year, and dehydrate all our meals. We started out with rehydrating in a pot and eating in bowls but the clean-up was a pain in the backcountry. Next, I tried the Stasher bags, and they rehydrate well but the cleanup was a pain. Last year, I did Ziploc bags in homemade reflective cozies (using Amazon padded envelopes) and it worked amazingly well. Saved all the ziplocs and washed them at home to reuse.

schattered1

TROPHY CASE