Wilderness

HOW MANY PEOPLE wouldn't have taken up tramping were it not for the Great Walks? I know of at least three, and they're mentioned in this issue. Teresa Moreno was 38 when she began tramping. Her debut track was the Routeburn and it spurred more trampi

I'm writing to share how much I enjoy Wilderness. I bought a subscription for my husband in 2020 but it was I who got hooked on the magazine. But sometimes an inner voice says ‘why are you reading this? You're not a real tramper!’ I tell this self-cr

Get your photo published here to receive a meal from Real Meals worth $17. Learn more about Real Meals at www.realmeals.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz. ■

As we head into spring, rivers will soon be affected by changing weather patterns and snowmelt and can quickly become dangerous hazards. Drownings occur every year. The Mountain Safety Council advises those inexperienced in river crossing to select t

The Backcountry Trust has been granted $1million over two years via DOC's Community Conservation Partnership Fund. The amount granted is less than the $1.6 million the trust applied for. For the past three years, DOC has provided the trust with $450,

Megan Dimozantos has been elected president of Federated Mountain Clubs. She talked to Wilderness about her priorities, future challenges and her unusual tramping habits. What are your top priorities for the term ahead? Iwi engagement is one thing hi

Being able to see and visit many outdoor places remains out of reach for people with limited mobility, and one in four New Zealanders is classified as having a disability. Disabled Persons Assembly National President Joanne Dacombe said, “Making trac

This year's wild weather has damaged many tramping tracks and over the past decade numerous winter weather events have caused widespread damage. Last year on the Dusky and Kepler tracks, heavy snow was followed by significant wind that caused many tr

Ann Wilde says the trail in AH Reed Park through to Whangārei Falls is “lovely and peaceful among the trees”. Glen Hill-Willis recommends the 4km Milford to Takapuna coastal walk. “There are such appealing views of the gulf, beaches and bays, and fre

FOR DONNA MILLAR, walking and tramping are four-season pursuits – in part, as she says, because “in the Otago and Canterbury regions, we can't always wait for perfect weather”. Her solution is a combination of research, merino layers, a PLB, wet-weat

HARPER PASS TRACK in Arthur's Pass to Windy Point on the road to Lewis Pass: a journey I give the fingers to. A few friends do, too. We've even been known to give fingers from a plane if we can identify the terrain. We refer to Harper Pass as Stupid

POISON LAID, avalanche potential, river crossings, weight limits on bridges, pictures of undesirable animals. Whether temporary or permanent, signs on tracks tend to carry the weight of enforcement, and their numbers seem to be increasing. Friends, w

LAST YEAR, I tramped a difficult section of Te Araroa Trail – the Richmond Range. I spent New Year's Eve at Rocks Hut with several others, and the following two days were fantastic: wonderful weather and perfect views. I felt strong and everything wa

APPROACHING THE SUMMIT of Pyramid Peak, the simmering lake came into view, steaming like soup in a white bowl – although the sudden whiff of sulphur reminded us this was not a soup you should ever taste. There's no alpine scene in Aotearoa quite like

THE JOURNEY TO AMBER COL is varied and interesting, with boulder-hopping and mostly off-track travel. It's also an accessible overnight tramp off the beaten path close to Christchurch. The start is at Hawdon Shelter before walking to Hawdon Hut and a

THE WAIOHINE is by far the longest river in the Tararua Range, winding down from wide U-shaped valleys in the north, through narrow gorges and the open expanse of Tōtara Flats, before tumbling through the Waiohine Gorge. Waiohine campsite is an entry

IT'S A FARM track to start, up the true right of Diedrichs Creek from the Diedrichs Creek Bridge on Whitcombe Valley Road. There are narrow laybys on the road for your car, but be careful not to block farmers’ accessways. The farm track has walking a

FOR SOME, the northern end of Kā Tiritiri o te Moana / the Southern Alps begins at Lewis Pass, on the border of Canterbury and the West Coast. This puts Mt Technical (1870m) as the first significant alpine peak, and a worthy objective for any intrepi

Seven days and five of Aotearoa's greatest backcountry lakes. That's the promise for my partner Agustina and me. I'd been reading blogs, watching videos and studying Topo50 maps that would enable us to construct a route encompassing the highlights of

Lisa and Peter Dudfield from Cambridge completed the Heaphy Track with their teenage daughters in 2020. It was their second time around after first doing the walk 20 years ago, combining a kayaking trip around Abel Tasman and a friend's wedding in Ne

Imagining anything like a war zone in Anchorage, or any bay in Abel Tasman National Park, is a stretch. The place is peace personified; surrounded by native forest and shimmering sea, reached by foot or boat. It's where toes can be curled into golden

You've probably heard all the above comments. You may even think all of the above. But are they true? Should you give the Great Walks a miss? The answer is no. According to the Department of Conservation, these are premier tracks that pass through di

THE WALK starts from a parking bay through the predator-proof fence. The track then crosses a wetland and heads straight up the hill to follow the South Coast Track, which is marked by white posts. As you climb, it's worth gazing back towards the wet

The one hike that Gregory Gould really wanted to check off was the Milford Track. “I didn't intend on doing any other Great Walks at the same time, initially,” says Gould, who lives in Wellington. “I booked the Milford about a year in advance, and de

Māori Beach was once a busy settlement with a school, several houses and a sawmill. Now it's a peaceful and picturesque area with regenerating forest, and a popular swim spot. Jason Palmer has lost count of the number of times he's been there. “It's

Petronella Spicer from Christchurch is totally blind. She's no stranger to tramping and the Great Walks, having ticked off Lake Waikaremoana, the Abel Tasman, part of the Kepler and part of the Milford. “The Blind Foundation (now Blind Low Vision New

IMAGINE THAT you are walking along a track and come to a bridge. Consider the following situations: ● The bridge is sound, and you are not afraid. This is a good situation. You can cross the bridge safely and continue your walk. The lack of danger is

I've had my Thule Versant 60l for years. It was when I was looking for something I could afford. I keep looking to upgrade but it's actually really good so I can't justify a new one yet. It weighs around 2kg. The Marmot Echo Featherless puffer is sup

Most hiking shoes are made from a combination of leather and/or synthetic materials such as mesh or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is a rubber-like material. They are light, easy to break-in and care for, highly breathable and quick-drying.