Wilderness

FILMMAKER BOBBIE REEVE was in his early 20s when Dragonfly ZK-AFB disappeared on a scenic flight between Christchurch and Milford Sound. Likely downed somewhere in the Southern Alps, its pilot Brian Chadwick and his four passengers were never seen ag

MY AFFAIR WITH the outdoors started with a baptism of sorts. The moment of my dunking was recorded in a photograph taken by Mum. I’m up to my shoulders in the Mataura River, staring back at the camera across the current and stones of the riverbed. Da

Get your photo published here to receive a $30 Silva Pocket Thermo Compass for accurate wayfinding and temperature-sussing. Learn more about Silva at e.ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz

It was good to see some advertising for trail running shoes (‘2021 Trail running shoes’, January 2021) as New Zealand is such a great place for trail running. It was a bit disappointing, however, that the accompanying photo was not that of a trail

MOUNT COOK VILLAGE is known for its stunning mountain views, which can be enjoyed from multiple angles and heights, no matter how hardcore a tramper or climber you might be. There’s lots to see and do, so you’ll need to get your tramping boots on to

STRAPPING TAPE has many uses: reducing blisters, easing pressure points and repairing gear to name a few. It’s also effective at relieving pain you may experience while tramping. Taking the load off the infra-patella (the bit below your knee cap) ca

One of the most beautiful camping spots in the world can be found at Stony Bay at the northern point of the Coromandel Peninsula. Ancient, twisted and drooping pohutukawa tower over a sheltered bay that catches the sunrise around its bush-covered hea

THE MANGATAINOKA Hot Springs of Kaweka Forest Park have received a modern makeover. The popular natural hot springs, reached via the Te Puia Hut track, were closed for renovations in late 2020, but have reopened in time for summer soaks. The previous

North Island trampers are often considered impoverished by their southern counterparts, and to some extent that’s true. We northerners don’t have anywhere near the selection of summits, the range of ranges, nor the mightiest mountains. But that doesn

WE ALL WAIT with bated breath to see what the coming year has in store. Can we reopen our borders, relax quarantine measures and will the rest of the world be able to use vaccinations to bring Covid-19 under control? The general feeling among my frie

IF YOU HAVEN’T GONE off track and want to test your map-reading skills, a descent from 1688m Mt Somers is the perfect first experience. From Sharplin Falls car park, follow the Mt Somers Track clockwise over Hookey Knob and climb steadily west along

WHEN MISSIONARY, explorer and botanist William Colenso came this way in 1845, he was attempting to cross the Ruahine Range. Of Te Atua Mahuru he famously wrote, ‘When at last we emerged […] on to the open dell-like land just before we gained the summ

The ubiquitous nor’wester was howling out of the maw of the Rangitata as we set off, sending powerful dust storms across the barren riverbed gravels. We hunched into the gale, steering a course for the canyon of Black Birch Creek. After a failed atte

Celebrate the uniqueness of New Zealand hut life and locations, or share the perfect camping scene. For the wilderness photos that make you go ‘wow’. Whether taken from a mountaintop or deep in the bush, it should be a view to savour and the best ph

Features: This nifty daypack is made from 100D nylon, with a 500D bottom. One large zip compartment provides top-loading access, and two mesh side pockets and a front stretch pocket store smaller items. A small scratch-resistant organisation pocket w

AT 953M, Te Aroha is the highest point on the Kaimai Mamaku Range and the broadcasting tower at the top is a landmark seen for miles around on clear summer days. It’s rumoured that on such days you can see Mt Taranaki from the summit, but on our chos

WITH PRIME MINISTER Jacinda Ardern’s December announcement of a trans-Tasman tramping bubble* set to open up early in 2021, it’s a good time to examine the pros and cons of tramping in New Zealand, versus hiking in Australia. From tracks to wildlife

ENTRIES HAVE OPENED for the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival, with extra incentive for Kiwi filmmakers to get involved. The festival will run in Wanaka from June 25 to 29 and in Queenstown from July 1 to 3. It will also be broadcast online for a mo

AS A TRAMPER, I naturally enjoy photographing the rolling tussock tops of backcountry ranges. Often, however, I yearn for something to anchor the foreground and to provide a contrast against the red-gold tussocks. Mountain tarns make pleasing foregro

THE GREENSTONE – Caples Circuit is a well-known classic due to its easy-flowing trail amid grand mountain scenery. However, the Aisla Mountains that separate these two lush river valleys offer a more rugged backcountry experience that is worth the ef

THIS LEFTOVER SALAD is nutritious, versatile, and, best of all, an excellent way of using up your vegetables before you head away for the weekend. For an extra hit of protein, add canned tuna or chicken before eating. 2 cans of brown lentils1 can of

THE MAJORITY OF the time, you can follow a track and not be concerned about losing your way, but anyone can become lost even on the easiest of day walks. A map is a vital tool that can help walkers correctly confirm their location. Look at the map il

And then you see it. After months of anticipation, track closures, a lockdown, a flight, two shuttles and a water taxi, Glade Wharf emerges from the mist in the northernmost reaches of Lake Te Anau. It’s the fabled gateway to Aotearoa’s most famous w

As the film crew unloads into the Kauaeranga Valley car park, I’m relieved to be carrying a half-full day pack. I’m used to hauling a lot of camera gear, but nothing like this. The drone batteries alone weigh twice as much as the mirrorless camera I’

With an ergonomic design to naturally fit your hand for a comfortable grip. When using a knife or multi-tool with other tools, the tools not in use should not protrude into the hand. Some handles also offer a textured surface for non-slip grip. On mu

THE SUMMIT OF Mt Gibbs offers spectacular views in every direction. Brown rocky ridgelines with patches of snow emerge from steep forest-clad mountains which stretch to the horizon. It isn't until the summit is reached that the picturesque Island Lak

My Norco Range climbs and descends almost anything so long as I’m feeling fit and brave. It’s a far cry from the non-suspended steel frame bikes of my youth. For adventure riding it’s important to have a comfortable wide shoe. My Shimano SH-MT71 sho

THE SPOTTED SHAG (parekareka) is a largely marine-based cormorant that can be found roosting on cliff edges. It spends a lot of its time at sea diving for food and can hold its breath for up to 70 seconds. Endemic (occurring only in New Zealand) spec

How did your fascination with Dusky Sound begin? I live near Queenstown and spend a fair amount of time in Fiordland, so I’ve been fortunate to cover various stories in Dusky and the rest of Fiordland for magazine features and documentaries over the

THE SKYLINE WALKWAY provides a van- tage point over both Wellington City and the South Island. It spans most of Wellington’s western suburbs and can be walked from north or south. The rolling hills of Ohariu Valley, the sunset over Cook Strait and ex