What would you think if I told you that you could climb up the Duke's Nose, discover Mt Damfool or fish the Ugly River? Funnily enough, I'm not joking - these are real names of real places throughout New Zealand. And there's plenty more where they came from! In what's bound to be a hilarious trip, make it your mission to head to a place with a funny name. Don't worry if you can't think of any, I've collected a few myself to help you out. Read on to check out a few of my favourites.
Mt Damfool
Silly Pool
Mt Awful
Mt Damfool
This mountain stands in the Waimakariri district, and at 2030m tall it's fairly prominent. Along with other mountains in the area, Mt Damfool provides a diverse climbing opportunity - it's often walked purely because it has a funny name.
Silly Pool
Those who aren't silly will recognise this pool as a valuable trout-fishing spot on the Tongariro River. Accessed via a DOC walkway, you'll often find anglers here trying their luck.
Mt Awful
This 2192m mountain stands in the Mount Aspiring National Park, and yes, ‘Mt Awful' is misleading - often snow-capped, it actually offers a great climb to anyone that isn't put off by its unfortunate name.
Duke's Nose
Cape Foulwind
Ugly River
Duke's Nose
If climbing up a duke's nose sounds unappealing, think again. The Duke's Nose, a landmark visible from Whangaroa Harbour in Northland, is a rocky cliff naturally carved into the shape of a face in profile - with a rather large nose, hence the name. Climb it and you'll be rewarded with unforgettable views.
Cape Foulwind
Captain Cook gave this area on the West Coast its name in 1770 when he experienced particularly bad winds. Despite the name, Cape Foulwind is a lovely place to visit. With a rugged, beautiful landscape, the lighthouse and resident seals, there's nothing foul about it.
Ugly River
Despite the images its name conjures up, the Ugly River is in fact beautiful, flowing through pristine native bush in the rugged Kahurangi National Park. However, because of its isolation, access is somewhat difficult. But it's worth the effort to find, because trophy-size fish can be caught here!
Bald Knob Ridge
Drybread
Pigroot
Bald Knob Ridge
If you're hiking the Lake Waikaremoana Track, a New Zealand Great Walk in the Eastland region, you'll pass Bald Knob - a breathtaking vantage point with views over Lake Waikaremoana. It isn't signposted and may be tricky to find, so a guided tour may be a good idea.
Drybread
One of the most isolated places in Central Otago, Drybread was once a mining town. When the gold rush dwindled, Drybread grew smaller and smaller until it was practically deserted, bar a few buildings. According to local legend, a miner once said, when asked how he was, "dry bread, seldom better" - and that's how the name came about.
Pigroot
Although not a technical name, this is what locals call State Highway 85 in Otago. Various reasons are given for this name, apparently an early surveyor named John Turnbull Thomson, who was famous for giving animal names to places, gave it this name after an encounter with an inquisitive local boar.
