She leads students on trips ranging from two to six days. 

“I feel what’s important these days is a little bit less about ‘surviving’  and more about ‘thriving’,” she says. “An opportunity to support people to connect with themselves, each other and Te Taiao.”

For Lacey, it’s all about “doing the mahi and packing the treats”.

Pack

Macpac Ravine 2‭ ‬65-litre‭. ‬It’s durable‭ ‬and simple‭. ‬

Nifty Additions

I pack fairy lights to lighten the mood. An ice cream container lid becomes my whiteboard with students. A pee rag delicately dangles off the side of my pack (which I reckon has revolutionised wahine wees) and I almost always pack a chair. 

Clothing

I generally opt for a ‘sacrificial set’ and a ‘sacred set’. Polypro for ‘sacrificial’ to walk in, leaving the ‘sacred’ merino set for camp. The layering game is key and I’ve found Macpac fleecy tights and a quality synthetic-fill jacket to be game-changers. Earth Sea Sky rain gear once felt like a small down payment on a house but they have really earned their keep over the years. They are my go-to for any moist, Marlborough day.

Footwear

It seems like leather tramping boots are almost archaic as people opt for the minimal approach but my Zamberlan Trail Lite boots have been a pair of legends for countless kilometres.  

Sleeping

If we’re going to spend a third of our lives in bed, we may as well make it great, even when we’re outside. Inside my Macpac Minaret tent is an Exped Synmat, extra long and extra wide for the added comfort. It packs down to 595g and I’ve never regretted it. I keep snug in a Sea to Summit Traverse XT2 sleeping bag with the added luxury of a Nemo Fillo Pillow making sleep easy pickings.

Cooking

This time of year, my MSR Whisperlite is super reliable in the cold as long as I haven’t accidentally bought paint thinner again to try and fuel it. It slots seamlessly into my MSR Stowaway pot with a simple spork. A mesh bag stores all my kai, keeping it contained and allowing me to easily spy the best of my snacks.

Safety

When it comes to navigation, I’ve been told you’re better to trust your compass than your heart, so I always have mine handy, and with a laminated map. The best $5 I ever spent was on the NZ Topo50 Maps app, for those days I’ve found myself geographically challenged. There is no replacement for good judgement and experience but carrying a potentially lifesaving PLB (Ocean Signal RescueME) in case things go wrong, offers peace of mind. First aid and fire lighting kits are also non-negotiables.