16-year-olds challenge themselves on New Zealand Great Walk
Published Tue 19 Nov 2024
In October, in the shadow of Mt Doom, two Venturer Scouts went on an epic adventure.
Liam Phan, from 1st Canley Heights Scout Group, hiked the Tongariro Northern Circuit in New Zealand, which passes by Mt Ngauruhoe – or Mt Doom to Lord of the Rings fans. He was accompanied by fellow Venturer Scout Jenny from 2nd Bankstown Scout Group and supported by Venturer Leader Tracy on the trip, which was partially funded by a $5200 grant from the Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund.
“It was an unforgettably, invaluably, truly amazing experience for me,” the 16-year-old said. “The Tongariro National Park and New Zealand scenery were absolutely stunning; seeing and hiking in a network of three active volcanoes was exhilarating. We admired the snow-capped peaks, along with the breathtaking views of its terrain.”
Liam chose the track as he had long desired to hike New Zealand as a Scout. He chose this trail as he wanted one that was not too long but would still be challenging physically and logistically. It was also in a perfect weather zone – it was not too far south to be completely icy and snowy, but the cold would still be a challenge in terms of camping and hiking.
He said the hike exceeded his expectations.
“The views were stunning – the lakes were vibrantly green. Every single day had its own unique terrain,” he said.
“Day one was a long day of built path amongst short grasses and shrubs, allowing us to see Mt Ruapehu and beyond. Day two was full of intense and constant saddles; the many ascents and descents and the recently wet weather overnight made the shortest distance seem the most challenging.
“Day three was the most challenging though – we had to climb two very steep mountains and had a total elevation gain of over 1000m. We reached the highest point here (1868m), but also saw the best views. Day four was probably the easiest – it had decently regular terrain. The views of the village we started and ended in near the end of the track was definitely a treat.
“The many uphills and downhills tired us out and we took many breaks, but we always got to stay in the shelter of the trail’s huts every night. It helped me connect with the beauty of nature, appreciating what the Earth has to offer.”
One of the perks of choosing one of New Zealand’s Great Walks was the inclusion of huts along the trail to shelter them overnight. While the trio had brought their tents to allow them to camp outside, if necessary, the network of public huts allowed them to rest, as well as protecting them from one overnight storm.
It also saw them spend time with other hikers and was the source of one of the more unexpected moments of the trip.
“During the second day of hiking we had to cross a shallow but fast-flowing stream, and there were not that many surface-level rocks to cross without getting wet,” Liam said. “Tracy and I both got our shoes completely wet.
“When we reached Oturere Hut for the night and started a fire in a metal, furnace-style fireplace inside, we had the genius idea to dry out our shoes by placing them upside-down ONTO the metal surface on top of the furnace. At first it was working quite well, and our shoes were drying, but that was when the fire just started. We left them there, and a Latvian couple reached the hut a little while later.
“While we were chopping wood outside for the next campers, one of the Latvians came out and told us our shoes were BURNING!
"Most of my shoelaces were burnt off, and the top of it was charred. Clearly, we were too tired to realise our shoes would burn if we placed them on the furnace! My apologies to them – they had to deal with the smell of burnt shoes. Luckily our shoes were still wearable and lasted us to the end of the trip.”
Liam thanked the LTAF committee and Dick and Pip Smith, its sponsors, for funding the hike. The funds helped cover the transport to the hike, such as flights to Auckland, buses to Taupo and a shuttle service to the trailhead. An overseas adventure is not an easy feat logistically, requiring approval from both Scouts NSW and Scouts Australia.
“I am very grateful to have the opportunity to go on this journey and for their financial support,” he said. “I wouldn’t have done it without them.”
Want to go on your own adventure? Applications for the Leadership Through Adventure Fund are open for all ages.
