Tramping in New Zealand

Tramping, known elsewhere as hiking or bushwalking, is a popular activity in New Zealand.

Tramping is defined as a recreational activity involving walking over rough country carrying all the required food and equipment. [cite book
last = Orsman
first = H. W.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Dictionary of New Zealand English
publisher = Oxford University Press
date = 1999
location = Auckland
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 0-19-558347-7] The term is generally used for trips that are of at least one overnight stay in the backcountry.

History

Alpine climbing as a recreational activity was taken up in the early days of European settlement and tramping became popular with the widespread use of the motor car. From the 1950s tracks, huts and bridges were built in the forested areas of New Zealand to allow easy access for hunters to cull the introduced deer which had become a threat to the biodiversity of New Zealand. As tramping became popular these facilities were increasingly used by trampers. In later years tramping has become popular for both local and foreign tourists.

Tramping clubs were formed in many towns and cities with regular trips being organised. The clubs sometimes own a bus to transport club members to the tracks.

Tramping tracks

A network of tramping tracks has been developed throughout New Zealand of varying length and difficulty. A small number of tramping tracks cross private land either in part or in full. All of the major tramping tracks are on public land that is administered by the Department of Conservation.

Huts

There is a network of over 950 backcountry huts throughout New Zealand operated by the Department of Conservation on public land. [cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/summary.aspx?id=38342|title=Backcountry hut information|publisher=Department of Conservation|accessdate=2008-09-09] Some areas have privately owned huts on public land used for commercial tourism operations. The majority of the huts were built by the now defunct New Zealand Forest Service for deer culling operations. Other huts were built by alpine clubs, schools, ski clubs. Some of the buildings on public land that are readily accessible by vehicle, are generally "baches" or "cribs" built by private individuals when control of the use of public land was less stringent. These baches are not made available to the public.

ee also

*Camping in New Zealand
*Tourism in New Zealand

References

External links

* [http://www.doc.govt.nz Department of Conservation] - Government department responsible for managing public land
* [http://www.fmc.org.nz/ Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand] - an umbrella lobby group representing outdoors organisations
* [http://www.tramper.co.nz/ New Zealand Tramper] - tramping related information.
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/TheBush/BushAndMountainRecreation/Tramping/en Tramping] - Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand