DOC has received 37 proposals for new Great Walks as the department plans to build two new Great Walks by 2021. The proposals included 30 different walks across the…
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American pro skier Chris Davenport is a busy guy. When he’s not climbing one of Colorado’s highest peaks or carving lines down the steepest slopes of the European Alps, he’s spending...
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A little-known Wanaka view Isthmus Peak Track, Otago While Wanaka’s Roys Peak has become a parade of trampers, Isthmus Peak Track, 32km north of the town, offers the same…
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Libby Bowles is cycling around New Zealand, inspiring children to ‘tread lighter’ and help reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean. For the past month, Libby Bowles has been biking around the…
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In late summer, the grassy expanses of Totara Flats become a sun-baked golden brown, with the small totara copses offering shady lunch spots or sheltered camping. Several huts have…
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The rock wren is the only true alpine bird in New Zealand, living above the bushline for its entire life New Zealand once had six species of the wren.…
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The upcoming review of the General Policy for National Parks is timely. The phenomenal increase in tourist numbers and the associated pressure and strain that has put on everything…
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Letter of the month Christmas poem I was delighted to receive a poem from my nine-year-old daughter on Christmas Day. We live in Island Bay, Wellington, and as a…
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Balmy weather and meadows of Mt Cook lilies made a 25 day traverse of the Southern Alps feel like a holiday, according to Dulkara Martig. Martig was part of…
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Our feet are without a doubt the powerhouse behind a successful tramp, yet we often ignore caring for them – to our peril. The following tips will ensure you…
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Time your visit to the mountains to capture the best (or avoid the worst) light. Sunrise Witnessing high mountain peaks bathed in a pre-dawn, pink alpenglow can be a…
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When traversing glaciated terrain, falling into a deep blue crevasse would be your worst nightmare. While exploring the Tasman Glacier, I practised some crevasse rescue techniques. Now I just need to…
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Louise Reynolds discovers new tracks on New Zealand’s original privately-owned hiking trail It’s often said necessity is the mother of invention. In the late 1980s, rock-bottom wool prices, the worst drought in…
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Land search and rescue personnel should be treated like the highly skilled professionals they are and get paid for their time. After a 37 year involvement with mountain rescue, I’ve come to realise…
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A broken car and a five-hour nighttime Tararua trip begin a lifetime of tramping for one seven-year-old. It wasn’t the best text message to receive a couple of hours…
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It’s summer and even in the mountains, the heat is sometimes relentless. Four of us are wandering around the central Ruahine Range – Waterfall Hut is our destination. The…
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Complete the crossword and rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell out the hidden solution. Send your answer, name and address by October 18 to: wildernessword@lifestylepublishing.co.nz, or…
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These five two-person tents cover every season and every budget. MSR Access 2 $1299 Pros: The most flexible poles of any tent on the market, snow-shedding walls, streamlined construction, four-season use. Cons:...
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On a week-long rafting trip, Mick Abbott comes to view rivers in an entirely different light Big rivers are my adversary. I’ve walked for 30km on the true left…
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Burnett and Wakamarama ranges, Kahurangi National Park These two heavily forested mountain ranges stretch from the Heaphy Track to Farewell Spit, dividing Golden Bay from the upper West Coast…
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The latest in gear news, trends and innovation A Featherless hoody Marmot’s Featherless Hoody has an interesting name: if it doesn’t have feathers, why bring attention to that? Presumably,…
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Overnight oats with coconut and ginger I find soaking oats gives them a deliciously soft and creamy texture. I often take a big batch of this recipe on long trips for...
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Strong legs are just one part of the puzzle when it comes to staying on your feet Strong legs will help with the awkward slipping and sliding experience of river and...
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A guided walk company wants to build a private lunch shelter on the banks of Lake Howden on the Routeburn Track Great Walk. Ultimate Hikes has applied for the concession...
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A conservation project in Abel Tasman National Park has struck a new agreement which will ensure environmental gains are guaranteed by future governments. In 2013, conservation minister Nick Smith and…
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Jollie Brook Circuit, Lake Sumner Forest Park After seeing The Hobbit, my Dad and I were aching to get back into Middle Earth’s majestic backcountry. With our fitness levels at...
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Brand of the Year With five generations of manufacturing experience, the Ellis family’s products have been on expeditions that have become part of the fabric of Kiwi exploration, including…
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There are some things every wilderness survivor has in common, discovers Carrie Miller Jamie Hareb planned his nine-day solo hike meticulously. A “born and bred skier” with a passion…
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Two new Great Walks, new day walks and short walks, and an upgraded online booking system that could facilitate differential pricing for Great Walks are all on the conservation…
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Short walks on Otago’s Peninsula promise unique wildlife encounters and scenery, writes David Barnes Otago Peninsula has had high praise from some eco-knights. Sir David Bellamy said it…
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Warwick Briggs has tramped the Dragons Teeth more times than anyone. But the Teeth are a dangerous place and no one can become complacent. Warwick Briggs balanced on a…
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In perfect conditions, Mt Rolleston in Arthur’s Pass National Park offers stunning coast-to-coast views. Two climbers describe the route they took to reach one of New Zealand’s prized peaks.…
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First the moa, then the huia, now the backcountry singalong. Matthew Pike asks why such a popular tramping pastime joined many of our native birds on the road to…
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We all love shiny new gear, but don’t often love its price tag. Here’s how to keep on tramping with the right kit but without busting the bank Kitting yourself...
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Paul Rush meets up with end-to-enders on Western Australia’s Bibbulmun Track The narrow sandy track twists and turns abruptly through tightly-packed coastal heath and offers a new surprise around…
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The Tararua Mountain Race is considered by mountain runners as one of New Zealand’s hardest trail runs. The event goes from Kaitoke to Otaki Forks across the inhospitable tops…
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The future of national parks could be in for a shake-up. For the first time in 13 years, the General Policy for National Parks is being reviewed. Wilderness asked seven…
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From the hi-tech to tried and tested, here’s all you need to navigate safely in the wilderness. Silva Ranger S $79.99 Liquid-filled capsule and luminous needle balanced for…
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Rathkeale College Tramping Club isn’t averse to risk-taking in the outdoors There’s a crucial ingredient in every tramping trip that goes beyond gear, food, and navigation devices. It’s trust,…
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A job in the outdoors doesn’t have to be something you do until you find a ‘real’ job. Rewarding career paths exist for those who want a lifetime outside…
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A decadent treat that uses the natural sweetness of kumara and the goodness of goji berries. Profile Makes 16 truffles Cook time 30min Prep time 10min Cost $10-$15 Ingredients…
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As e-bikes gain in popularity, Meghan Walker looks at the pros and cons of allowing motorised bikes in national parks At first glance, the bike I was about to hop...
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Turangi offers a unique walking weekend experience that combines solitude and exploration of the town’s unique thermal attractions Discovering hidden gems in New Zealand’s diverse landscape is one of…
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In 1991, Andrew Mitchell was working for what was then David Hall Publishing as the editor of New Zealand Windsurfing. That magazine was only published for part of the year, so...
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Looking at Murchison Hut, you’d have no inkling it may soon tumble 200m onto Murchison Glacier in one of the largest landslides in the Southern Alps’ recent history. But,…
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Get your photo displayed on our last weekend page and you’ll receive an Opinel No.5 folding knife worth $20. Find entry criteria here. Click on an image below to view the gallery.Get unlimited…
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We’ve all got a bucket list – those trips we want to tick off before we clock out – but what’s on yours might not be on ours. So…
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The New Zealand cycle trails provide 22 great reasons to swap your boots for a bike. Here’s how to do it, by Jonathan Kennett New Zealand now has 22…
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A new school offers a different type of education – one focussed on outdoor play. It’s 11am on a Monday morning at a little school next to the bushy…
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Getting a protein fix in the hills is as simple as opening a dehy bag of food – but what if you want fresh meat? After a long day…
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Avalanche fatalities in New Zealand are low compared to many other nations, but experts here say that is more down to luck than anything else Ending up in a…
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David Barnes lays down his argument for opposing the Routeburn tunnel and Snowdon monorail projects I write this with a sense of déjà vu. In 2004, I penned a…
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The story of New Zealand’s leading woman mountaineer By Pat Deavoll Craig Potton Publishing $40.00 In many areas of life, the achievements of women often don’t get the same…
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Beach hopping Orokawa and Homunga Bay, Orokawa Scenic Reserve, Bay of Plenty North of Waihi Beach, a track follows the coast, winding through regenerating bush to two magical bays which…
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Get unlimited access Browse all articles, trips, gear reviews and buyer’s guides for as little as $6/month. Subscribe now or view our current special offers Already a subscriber? Login…
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The ice axe has seen a dramatic evolution in use and design over the past 100 years, by Ross Miller Surely, if one piece of equipment encapsulates the spirit…
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Hazel Phillips explores a range of tramping snacks that aren’t your usual fare and reaches a higher plane of culinary delights. A one thousand calorie snack. It’s either something that would...
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Bikepacking is essentially tramping by bike and is a fun way to cover a lot of ground. Bikepacking is a new name for an old sport: multi-day mountain biking…
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Four places to see curious mounds all going by the name beehive. Summer has arrived, the sun is warm, the birds are singing and the bees are buzzing. Shouldn’t…
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How a first ascent by Riddiford and Cotter shaped climbing history By Lyn McKinnon Otago University Press, $49.95 FROM THE first look at this book there is a hopeful expectation of…
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Fifty people cramming into a 16-bed hut, toilet waste spread around a pristine lake, freeloaders – we’ve heard the gripes. When it comes to discussing pressures on the conservation…
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From abseiling down waterfalls to cliff jumping into deep blue pools, canyoning offers an experience few have tried PERCHED ON MASSIVE boulders amongst pools of sparkling waters at the top of Sleeping…
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As Arthur’s Pass prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its discovery, John Wilson recalls the history of the area and his own walking experiences there Every day hundreds…
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If you like living on the edge, you must try New Zealand’s scariest tramps Words and images by Shaun Barnett, Geoff Spearpoint, Richard Davies and Mark Watson Waterfall Face,…
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A five-day kayak circumnavigation of one of New Zealand’s most beautiful places, Great Barrier Island. When the first salty wave crashed over my face, soaking me thoroughly and blurring…
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If your tramping companions aren’t up to the kind of trips you want to do, then you might have to start going solo. Hazel Phillips knows that predicament all too…
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Everything was ‘just perfect’ for Christian Prehn as he hiked through Nelson Lakes National Park. But then something happened near Travers Saddle and no one knows what became of him. …
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It’s back and better than ever thanks to three beautiful camera prizes from Fujifilm. So don’t forget to pack your camera, or smartphone, on your upcoming trips – everyone who...
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Wilderness has paired with Wanaka Search and Rescue for a four-part series reviewing basic backcountry skills. Part 3 looks at first aid kits and getting fit for your summer…
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It’s cold, wet, white, and dark. Now that you know the downsides to winter, you can begin to appreciate the good: it’s quiet, spectacular, spiritual, and white. These 20 trips – day, overnight and...
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Will DOC allow business growth to erode wilderness values? In recent years there has been such a strong push towards supporting tourism and making money within the Department of…
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Auckland’s only multi-day track makes an epic trail run, writes Alastair McDowell Ever since its creation in January 2010 my friend Timothy Burrell and I have shared the dream…
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Nervous Knob, Craigieburn Forest Park, Canterbury It is pre-dawn deep in the forests of Craigieburn Conservation Park and it is deathly dark. I have been walking steadily uphill towards…
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New Zealand seems to be one of the few places in the world where water can still be drunk straight out of backcountry streams, free from worry. Or can…
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Walking side by side at an incredible location, gazing into a campfire under the stars – it’s probably not surprising that many relationships originate in the backcountry. For Wynne…
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Description: Small thorny shrubs growing between 1-3m tall, flowers are white to pink about 5cm in diameter with yellow centres and multiple stamen. They bloom in the spring, and…
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Stars filled the sky from one silhouetted mountain to another as we settled into our tent nestled among the tussock for a quiet night camping up high. During the…
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After nearly 40 years as a LandSAR volunteer, alpine cliff rescue specialist Chris Prudden has seen it all. He shares some recollections of his time helping people out of…
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Waiau River Trail, Bay of Plenty “Sometimes it’s so quiet, my ears ring,” says Kerry Snowden as we paddle the Waiau River, just 45-minutes drive north from my home…
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Making a fire in a desperate situation will do more than warm you; it will lift spirits and offer hope – two essential ingredients for any successful survival situation…
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The ‘secondary survey’ involves physically moving our hands over the patient’s body in an attempt to identify an injury that the patient may or may not be aware of.…
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Ever wondered where are the favourite spots of those who know the backcountry better than anyone? We’ve canvassed DOC rangers around the country for their must-do, must-see tracks, valleys,…
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So often we are bombarded with articles and advertisements on weight loss but there are lots of people including trampers who want extra strength to help them go further…
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Taking care of your body after a long tramp is as important as the preparation before. After all, for those of us with the bug, there is always another…
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Scott Kennedy finds out the hard way that not all dreams can be made into reality Every day I look from my living room window the ridge taunts me,…
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Even before Scottish footwear brand Anatom produced its first boot six years ago, its founder Gordon Fraser had measured 60,000 feet. On a visit to New Zealand, he shared some…
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All this incredible tramping and camping gear could be yours! Buy a subscription to Wilderness in December or January, and you’ll be entered into the draw to win $5060 worth of top-of-the-line kit from MSR,...
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Buy a subscription to Wilderness this month and you’ll receive a Lifesystems Trek first aid kit worth $39.95. Choose your subscription now! Lifesystems Trek A recommended kit for Duke of...
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