About Me

My name is Ashein Abeysekara and I moved to the Ashburton District in 2019 from Auckland in search of easier access to the Southern Alps and the prospect of an affordable mortgage. As I drove south from Christchurch on a picture perfect day towards Ashburton for my interview, I was stunned to see a stunning backdrop of snow covered alpine peaks in the distance. Upon returning home, a quick inspection of the topographical map and it was instantly obvious to me that this is an incredible region of unexplored and untapped natural beauty. All the tourists hurry past this entire district and rush off towards Lake Tekapo skipping out some of the most accessible high alpine scenery in the south island.

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I thought at first that maybe the locals wanted to keep this secret to themselves and that there was a strong community of outdoor enthusiasts residing in the area. After all, what else is there to do in Ashburton? I could not have been more wrong! Most people did not even realise that these mountains were here! And so it was, a myriad of fantastic alpine scenery ignored by both the locals and the tourists alike. I write this guide with the hope that one day more people can see the beauty of this district and all that surrounds it the way I do.