Between 23 November and 8 December 2025, an eight person "expedition" of Polish Men and Women Mountaineering Club of Edmonton explored the South Island of New Zealand. During this trip we visisted: Christchurch, Edoras, Mt.Cook/Aoraki National Park, Lake Wanaka, Queenstown and Fiordlands National Park.
The members of the expedition were: Piotr Rajski (Leader), Dragan Radovic, Andy Rutkowski, Ewa Stroemich, Mike Trzecieski, Barbara Walter, Jolanta Wroblewska-Wilk and Marianna Zaremba
If you are interested, below you will find links to the semi-humorous posts on Facebook giving some account of what took place:
Day 1 - Travel to NZ and Christchurch
Day 2 - Edoras (Mt. Sunday)
Day 3 - Mt. Cook/Aoraki
Day 4 - Mt. Cook/ Aoraki
Day 5 - Lake Wanaka
Day 6 - Rob Roy's Track
Day 7 - Queenstown
Day 8 - Fiordlands NP (Lake Marian)
Day 9 - Fiordlands NP (Milford Sound)
Day 10 - Te Anau
Day 11 - travel back to Christchurch
Day 12 - Christchurch
I discovered the Skoki area about 4 years ago. I could not believe that after hiking in the Rocky Mountains since 1997 or longer I have never been there.
Great things took place during this trip to Raspberry Ridge Lookout Loop, combined with the birthday celebrations of our Dear Mike. On the summit, perhaps a combined result of altitude, the presence of his beloved Barbara, and the champagne consumed, our Birthday Boy reached such the levels of elation that it looked he could have been taken to the heavens at any moment! (To see it all on the film, click: https://youtu.be/SwllDe-Ku3M).
On the last day, having only half a day for some activity (the rest reserved for the drive home), we followed Pani Przewodniczka (Lady Guide) to the launch pad on Mount Seven. Here we befriended a Bulgarian (!) paraglider, Branko, who kindly agreed that we take a few photos with him.
