Wilderness

ONE OF MY BIG REGRETS on returning to New Zealand from my extended OE in Europe was not joining a tramping club. It was a few years ago now and social media and other online groups like MeetUp were in their infancy or didn’t even exist (OK, it was mo

I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Wilderness 100’ (May 2020). There is one glaring omission. I completed the Anatoki Kill Devil Track in Kahurangi National Park six months ago. It pushed all my buttons. The hot shower that can be had at the Anatoki H

Get your photo published here to receive a Light My Fire ‘Re-kit’ Cup/Straw/Spork made from environmentally-friendly bioplastic and worth $20. Learn more about LMF at e.ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz

AN UNLIKELY team of junior architects and planners have helped DOC rebuild a popular West Coast hut. Formerly the Manson-Nicholls Memorial Hut, the newly-completed 20-bunk Kōhanga Atawhai Manson Nicholls Hut is now open, with a few special touches fr

Fly along the Southern Alps or race along the Milford Track – with Google Earth Pro you can virtually tramp anywhere in the world. Upload your own tracks onto the map and follow them as a virtual flyover, giving an overview of a tramping trip. I hav

TAUPŌ FILMMAKER Michelle Green is ‘one of those last-minute people’. She got into tramping on a whim, and her YouTube channel Long White Gypsy followed shortly after to document the process. One year later, she completed the North Island section of t

“I AM EVERYBODY’S nightmare,” says tramper Paul Brewer. “I snore on my stomach, on my back, on my side, standing up – I’m just a loud snorer.” The clamorous condition has affected Brewer – and his neighbours – since he was a young boy and he’s yet to

“WHERE’S HELGE?” Shaun asked. I looked up from the stove, concerned. We had all spent the morning on a quick there-and-back trip from Carrington Hut to Waimakariri Falls Hut. On the descent, Helge, being fitter and faster, had gone ahead as we neared

WETLANDS SERVE a vitally important role as natural ecosystems. They harbour a rich diversity of native plants and animals, filter water and act as sponges which can buffer flooding. Māori valued wetlands as hunting grounds, and as a source of fibre f

WINTER HAS its disadvantages: cold, short daylight, more uncertain weather. But it makes up for these deficiencies by the transforming effect of snow, by the pleasingly low angle of the sun and – perhaps best of all – by fewer trampers. Oturere Hut l

GIVEN A sparkling Westland winter day and the option of a panoramic perch high on a snowy ridge, what better place to take in the vantage than Mt Brown Hut on the western edge of the Newton Range. A well-marked track leads through the forest from Lak

THE POHUTUKAWA trees spill down onto a crescent-shaped beach that is only accessible on foot. It’s Whale Bay, deservedly recognised as one of the best beaches in the country. While the walk to Whale Bay takes just 15 minutes, it can be included on a

A WINTER CLIMB of Mt Bealey showcases the beauty of Arthur’s Pass National Park. The park has sometimes been referred to as the ‘poor cousin’ of national parks. It doesn’t have the same reputation for spectacular scenery or the outstanding Great Walk

THERE’S MUCH to recommend on the Pupu Hydro Walkway, including an uphill steep enough to get your blood pumping, beautiful views of the surrounding area and, most significantly, a water feature dripping with local history. The walkway follows an old

Tararua Forest Park LOOKING FOR A solid day with steady rather than steep hills to test post-injury fitness, I settled on Renata Hut. It’s in a seldom-visited corner of the Tararuas, despite having one of the closest access points to the urban area

WHEN THE RICHMOND RANGE Appreciation Society set off on its inaugural tramp over the Alpine Route last winter, only one of the three trampers – me – could claim full membership. The five-day route has much to commend it – a satisfying tramp around a

FOR WELLINGTONIANS, the 22,000ha Remutaka Forest Park makes for an easily-accessed outdoor playground with dozens of tracks and family-friendly huts. Among the park’s many attractions is the historic Remutaka Incline. The railway line between Welling

A KTI personal locator beacon provides peace of mind on any tramp. Impact-resistant case and retention lanyard, mirror, 10-year battery life, 66 channel GPS, 406MHz and 121.5MHz transmission. 1409. www.safetybeacons.co.nz Dad's trail running adventu

“LOADS OF PEOPLE GO OVER ALL THE TIME,” THE BLUE LAKE HUT WARDEN SAID, AS IF WAIAU PASS WAS A SUNDAY STROLL IN THE PARK. I am sceptical. “Look,” he continued, “tomorrow’s weather is cloudy with 40km/hr south-east winds. That won’t be a problem. Gale

WHEN THE STING OF A LONG DROP HITS YOUR NOSTRILS OR HUT SNORERS ROB YOUR SLEEP, TRAMPING CAN SEEM MORE PUNISHMENT THAN PRIVILEGE. And who has the composure to practise gratitude when both feet call it a day after eight hours of neglect? Or a weka st

I’ve been climbing for nearly three decades. During that time I’ve been lucky enough to discover and explore secluded corners of New Zealand’s unique and special Alps as well as take part in mountaineering expeditions to some of the world’s great ran

IMAGINE YOU’RE climbing a clagged-in slope at dawn, headlight on, eyes scanning for the next track marker when all of a sudden the clouds begin to thin. Moments later, you ascend above a sea of white into clear blue skies. As the sun rises, the surro

IF YOU WERE planning a walk to Smith Creek Shelter via the lower Dobson Loop Track from Kiwi Ranch Road, you could glean a lot of information from the map before starting out. This information could help you determine whether you were up to the walk

DO YOU LOVE the taste of sushi but can’t be bothered with rolling it up? This sushi salad is a quick option that is full of flavour and easy to make. You can substitute whichever veggies you prefer and for extra protein try topping it with a fried eg

Lifelong mountain biker Bryce Lorcet runs Cyclewerks, a supplier of bikepacking products. He says much of the gear carried on a bikepacking trip is the same lightweight gear a tramper would take on a hiking trip, with only the method of carrying the

EARLY MORNINGS can mean cold starts, quickly warming up as you get going. Instead of rapidly overheating and having to stop, I prefer multiple light layers that allow me to control my temperature while on the move. I can manage my system without havi

$349.95 / 280g (m), 198g (w) Features: Made with recycled (75%) 3M Thinsulate Eco Featherless synthetic insulation that is claimed to equal 700 fill power down insulation and keep you warm when it’s wet. Insulation is strategically placed over the up

$659.99 / 434g (m), 357g (w) Features: The warmer cousin to the popular Micro Puff, Patagonia’s Macro Puff is filled with high loft PlumaFill, stabilised by minimalist stitching. The hood is helmet-compatible, and an extended hem provides low cover.

Silicone-coated ripstop nylon fabric keeps rain out and handles strong winds and snow-loading. Steep sides shed snow. There are large vestibules for gear. Multiple guyline attachments provide extra stability and strength – essential for the exposed

Why did you want to do Te Araroa? I was mid-thirties, alone and rudderless. On paper everything was sorted but that made every day I wasn’t worse. You read a lot about people sorting their act out on these long pilgrimages and in Te Araroa I hoped t