WALKING UP GONDOLA HILL TO SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE
19 FEBRUARY 2023
WHY Did We Sign Up For This?
We love doing hikes and walks in Picton - it's such a lush part of New Zealand and the tracks that are high in elevation pretty much guarantee a pretty epic view at the top! We found out that there was a fundraiser walk for the Kaipupu Sanctuary that was going to be on private land up Gondola Hill, so we decided to sign up and do it because we could support the Kaipupu Sanctuary and at the same time, go on a track that is usually closed to the public. The track is often used by walking groups and we think that the owners of this land are extremely generous for allowing fundraising groups to use their land!
The girls were VERY excited to know that there would be a sausage sizzle and lemonade at the summit. This was definitely the first hike we have done where we have hot food and ice cold drinks waiting for us and this meant we didn't have to take much food up with us which made the backpack lighter.
The Kaipupu Sanctuary is an 'island' not far from the Picton foreshore and it's so well-guarded against pesky predators that even the mainland has to keep its distance thanks to a predator-proof fence. The only way to get to the island is via boat or kayak and you're free to explore it any time day or night. The volunteers do an amazing job of looking after the sanctuary and keeping it as predator free as possible! There is a loop track on the island that's 2.7kms long which takes around 45-minutes to complete and you'll be rewarded with beautiful native bush and views of the Queen Charlotte Sounds. We haven't done this track yet but it's on our to do list in Marlborough (the list is getting smaller - yay!).
There were a lot of people doing the walk and what surprised us was the majority were an much older than us and boy did they show us up!! The track was relentless - it was steep and uphill the WHOLE WAY and it was one of the hottest days in summer so we were absolutely drenched in sweat and wondering why on earth we signed up for this again?
There were people in their 70s and 80s smashing the track - seriously, we were stopping constantly needing to take a break for our legs and lungs, and these people were absolutely incredible and so fit! We thought it was very inspiring. One lady told us that it's hard for us because the kids are at school and we go to work and we had to say errrr nope no school or 9-5 work for us and we hike all the time, so we have no excuses!
The girls made friends with a lovely lady and her dog and were chatting the whole way up the hill. It was a great distraction for them and Bella always seems to make the nicest friends on our hikes - which clears up a misconception that homeschooled kids don't get social interactions and are shy! Everyone on the track was lovely and really supportive and drenched in sweat like we were!
The track was a 4WD track that we followed up with dense bush either side of us. As we got higher and higher, the views became clearer and pretty outstanding and we even had a curious Weka bird pop out from the bush and cross to the other side of the track. This was the first time we have seen a Weka and I did have to ask someone what it was!
The girls were VERY excited to know that there would be a sausage sizzle and lemonade at the summit. This was definitely the first hike we have done where we have hot food and ice cold drinks waiting for us and this meant we didn't have to take much food up with us which made the backpack lighter.
The Kaipupu Sanctuary is an 'island' not far from the Picton foreshore and it's so well-guarded against pesky predators that even the mainland has to keep its distance thanks to a predator-proof fence. The only way to get to the island is via boat or kayak and you're free to explore it any time day or night. The volunteers do an amazing job of looking after the sanctuary and keeping it as predator free as possible! There is a loop track on the island that's 2.7kms long which takes around 45-minutes to complete and you'll be rewarded with beautiful native bush and views of the Queen Charlotte Sounds. We haven't done this track yet but it's on our to do list in Marlborough (the list is getting smaller - yay!).
There were a lot of people doing the walk and what surprised us was the majority were an much older than us and boy did they show us up!! The track was relentless - it was steep and uphill the WHOLE WAY and it was one of the hottest days in summer so we were absolutely drenched in sweat and wondering why on earth we signed up for this again?
There were people in their 70s and 80s smashing the track - seriously, we were stopping constantly needing to take a break for our legs and lungs, and these people were absolutely incredible and so fit! We thought it was very inspiring. One lady told us that it's hard for us because the kids are at school and we go to work and we had to say errrr nope no school or 9-5 work for us and we hike all the time, so we have no excuses!
The girls made friends with a lovely lady and her dog and were chatting the whole way up the hill. It was a great distraction for them and Bella always seems to make the nicest friends on our hikes - which clears up a misconception that homeschooled kids don't get social interactions and are shy! Everyone on the track was lovely and really supportive and drenched in sweat like we were!
The track was a 4WD track that we followed up with dense bush either side of us. As we got higher and higher, the views became clearer and pretty outstanding and we even had a curious Weka bird pop out from the bush and cross to the other side of the track. This was the first time we have seen a Weka and I did have to ask someone what it was!
A New Zealand Weka (another one of our flightless birds)
Views across Picton
It's Amazing What The Promise Of Food Can Do
We have never seen Bella more determined on the steepest hike that she's ever done! Our girls surprise us with some of the harder hikes, like Roys Peak in Wanaka (16kms and uphill the whole way to the summit) and the Lower Quail Stream to Upper Harling Track in Blenheim and this track up Gondola Hill - yet some of the quicker, flat walks and hikes we have done have been a battle! It was definitely the promise of a sausage and lemonade at the top that did it.
We were super thankfull to fiiiinally be at the top of Gondola Hill so we could have some food and drink and rest our tired legs - the girls really enjoyed their sausage and lemonade (although Sienna's face when the sourness of the lemonade hit was hilarious!). The views from the top were AMAZING! We had views as far as the eye could see across Picton and the Queen Charlotte Sounds and of course we could see the Kaipupu Sanctuary from up there too. The volunteers had set up a picture frame with the sanctuary in view and we took the opportunity to get a family photo in it. We chilled for a bit, taking in these amazing views and dreading going back down in the heat!
We had done the Tirohanga Track in Picton a few weeks before, which was almost behind Gondola Hill, and we have to say the view wasn't as good as the one we got on this day and we were thankful that it was an absolute stunner of a day to head up (because who wants to hike up on a crappy, cloudy day?!).
The volunteers of the day were all volunteers of the Kaipupu Sanctuary and they were all super lovely and so passionate about what they do. We had a chat with one of the volunteers about the sanctuary and it gave us the chance to ask a few curious questions we had. She was telling us about possums in New Zealand and how they have learnt to adapt since coming over from Aussie. We learnt that since possums are vegetarians and there isn't enough of the vegetation they like in New Zealand, that they are now eating meat and even living in the snow and are growing thicker coats to survive in the cold! It was pretty amazing to learn and off this and it was a great education lesson for the girls.
We were super thankfull to fiiiinally be at the top of Gondola Hill so we could have some food and drink and rest our tired legs - the girls really enjoyed their sausage and lemonade (although Sienna's face when the sourness of the lemonade hit was hilarious!). The views from the top were AMAZING! We had views as far as the eye could see across Picton and the Queen Charlotte Sounds and of course we could see the Kaipupu Sanctuary from up there too. The volunteers had set up a picture frame with the sanctuary in view and we took the opportunity to get a family photo in it. We chilled for a bit, taking in these amazing views and dreading going back down in the heat!
We had done the Tirohanga Track in Picton a few weeks before, which was almost behind Gondola Hill, and we have to say the view wasn't as good as the one we got on this day and we were thankful that it was an absolute stunner of a day to head up (because who wants to hike up on a crappy, cloudy day?!).
The volunteers of the day were all volunteers of the Kaipupu Sanctuary and they were all super lovely and so passionate about what they do. We had a chat with one of the volunteers about the sanctuary and it gave us the chance to ask a few curious questions we had. She was telling us about possums in New Zealand and how they have learnt to adapt since coming over from Aussie. We learnt that since possums are vegetarians and there isn't enough of the vegetation they like in New Zealand, that they are now eating meat and even living in the snow and are growing thicker coats to survive in the cold! It was pretty amazing to learn and off this and it was a great education lesson for the girls.
What A Nightmare
The track down... ohhh the track down... it was a nightmare on our knees! We did some research after the track on how to avoid knee pain and one of the most common suggestions is to use walking poles. There were a lot of people using them that day and after doing 16kms on Roys Peak in Wanaka, we can see why they are so highly recommended and we're definitely going to look into getting some for us.
We were some of the last people to head back down and it was quite nice as it meant it was a quieter track. We got to soak in all the views on the way down which was such a treat! One elderly man caught a ride down the hill with the volunteer car and I honestly don't blame him - the heat and knee pain was real. If this track wasn't a fundraiser and we had just decided to do it on our own, then I honestly don't know if we would have made it to the top... it was just too hot and that's not always very fun!
We had promised the girls a nice cold ice cream after we finished the track, so we stopped at the playground near where we parked (how they had the energy to play on that I don't know) and stopped in for an ice cream in Picton - a well deserved treat!
We were some of the last people to head back down and it was quite nice as it meant it was a quieter track. We got to soak in all the views on the way down which was such a treat! One elderly man caught a ride down the hill with the volunteer car and I honestly don't blame him - the heat and knee pain was real. If this track wasn't a fundraiser and we had just decided to do it on our own, then I honestly don't know if we would have made it to the top... it was just too hot and that's not always very fun!
We had promised the girls a nice cold ice cream after we finished the track, so we stopped at the playground near where we parked (how they had the energy to play on that I don't know) and stopped in for an ice cream in Picton - a well deserved treat!
Conclusion
We absolutely loved the view from the top of Gondola Hill and are thankful for the owners of the land for allowing visitors to head on up. It was really nice to support the Kaipupu Sanctuary and we enjoyed meeting lots of people along the way.
Click here to learn more about the Kaipupu Sanctuary and consider donating or becoming a volunteer.
Click here to learn more about the Kaipupu Sanctuary and consider donating or becoming a volunteer.
Gallery of the Kaipupu Sanctuary Fundraiser Hike
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
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