Beyond the roads and carparks

Press, 6 June 1981, Page 17

Beyond the roads and carparks

Wild New Zealand. Published by Reader's Digest, Sydney, 1981. 311 pp. Index, illustrations, $29.95. The New Zealand Tramper's ■ Handbook. By Grant Hunter. Reed, 1981. 152 pp. $6.95.

(Reviewed by

Naylor Hillary)

New Zealanders keen to enjoy the beauties of their country fall into three groups. At one extreme are those who Stay with their car or bus, seldom Venturing further than to take a quick Stroll round a familiar attraction such as the Punakaiki rocks. At the other extreme are those who stride off into the “wilderness, prepared to forego comfort end safety to earn the reward of isolation in remote and beautiful places. In between comes a growing band of all ages who are willing to undergo some hardship, and to expend a good deal of energy, to reach parts of the coast, mountains and bush beyond the car parks. (All three groups will enjoy “Wild New ’Zealand”. Both these books will appealmost to those prepared to be moderately energetic and venturesome. After turning the lush pages of “'Wild New Zealand” it is hard to stay at home. More than 500 high quality colour illustrations demonstrate that New Zealand is still a beautiful country with vast areas appearing little touched by human activity.. To be sure the pictures do jiot show the litter, or the damage by vehicles such as trail bikes, which each rear reduca the unspoiled area. Nor do the pictures always suggest the vagaries and dangers of the weather, although there are ample warnings in the text. The publishers surely intend that this book should be sold beyond New Zealand. It.is one of the best records of the country’s scenery ever put together and ought to be a fine lure for tourists. But its most important job should be to send more New Zealanders out on to the tracks which it describes in some detail from N°rth Cape to Stewart Island. I* or those

looking for an introduction to unfamiliar parts of the country it is a treasure; even sights as familiar as the reflections in Lake Matheson have been captured in an unfamiliar mood. People seldom appear in the pictures, except to give an idea of the scale of such wonders as a giant kauri. Nor does the book attempt to give a guide to plants and birds although some familiar sights, such as keas or the black swans of lake Ellesmere, are identified. The authors are sometimes unsure how detailed their information should be. On the tracks of the Port Hills, for instance, they are downright confusing. But the advice for trampers is generally sensible, if brief. It seems that contributors have tried out the areas they descibe. Thus, where the Westland National Park Board guide gives a time for the return trip up Alex Knob as six hours, this book says seven hours, this sluggish reviewer, who recently took nine hours, thinks that seven is a fair figure for a fit, youngish walker. Three consultants and 11 contributors are named as having helped to put the book together. Among the illustrations, those by Phillip Temple are prominent. Most of the book is divided into 24 regional descriptions, but the authors for each section are not identified. Among the' regions it is pleasing to see eastern Southland, the Catlins, receiving the prominence it seldom gets. Other less familiar regions are the southern Wairarapa coast and part of the Kaikoura coast. Major holiday centres such as Queenstown ’ and Nelson are hardly noticed. “Wild New Zealand” displays much of the country’s, best scenery“ and tells readers where to find it. “The New Zealand Tramper's Handbook” makes an excellent, if modest, companion. It tells how to get to less accessible places, what to do when things go wrong, and how to get back safely. It is not a guide to tracks

and parks, although it does offer brief suggestions on tramping in most parts of New Zealand. Instead it is an intensely practical book, small and rugged (and light) enough to slip in a pack. Whether choosing a sleeping bag, building a fire, selecting a place to pitch a tent, or helping an injured companion, this book has sound advice. It is especially good at describing how to read a map and use a compass, and how to make the best use of the excellent maps available in New Zealand. The author is an enthusiastic South Island tramper on the staff of the Ministry of Works. His experience and advice are worth listening to. Indeed, this is a near-perfect book for those in the growing band of "middle range” outdoor enthusiasts who want to be able to venture away from civilisation for a night or two. but are not likely to have had wide or frequent experience of bush and mountains. There are omissions, especially in the section on food. To the list of light, dried foods should have been added the need for a laxative. Fresh meat might also have been included; its special savour after a hard day well repays the trouble of carrying and cooking for the first couple of days on a trip. Grated coconut could have been included in the scroggin recipe — it makes the mixture much easier to handle. The difficulty of melting snow to get water is mentioned; a warning against eating snow would have been timely. Generally, the book keeps to its subject — tramping. It does not attempt to make rock climbers or mountaineers out of its readers, but refers those interested to other books. Its general advice on snow conditions is that they should.be avoided except by those trained and equipped to handle them. Above all, this is a book to inspire a cautious confidence in readers. “'Don’t give.up and don’t panic” is its advice for ’those in trouble. It is .a worthwhile contribution to enjoyment and safety, away from soft living, "in outdoor New "Zealand.