Slow journeys
Travelling to our destination by car we tend to whizz through small towns and countryside that appear to have nothing to offer. Signposts point to sights that we know…
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Travelling to our destination by car we tend to whizz through small towns and countryside that appear to have nothing to offer. Signposts point to sights that we know…
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New Zealand’s premier private tracks experienced a difficult year, but Kiwi walkers are helping them bounce back. As with most in the tourism sector, Shaun Monk experienced some “nervy”…
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Most trampers know the feeling of limping into the office on a Monday morning, sleep-deprived and sore after a weekend well-enjoyed in the backcountry. “And you did that for fun? During...
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Wilderness Reader Panel Can you help make Wilderness better by participating in semi-regular reader surveys? Please enter your name and email address below. Join the panel! Thank...
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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…
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From stocking fillers to essential outdoor kit, the Wilderness guide to Christmas has something for every budget. Marmot Trestles 30 $189.95Don’t cancel your next overnight adventure just because the…
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Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Compact Plus sleeping bag liner Details: $99.99, 263gUsed by: Trips and family-features writer Jo ‘snuggles’ StilwellUsed for: 12 months This is one of my…
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On the West Coast, mountain biking is going off. Riders are pedalling into the three big wilderness trails already in the region, while, months before it even opened, bookings…
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From stocking fillers to essential outdoor kit, the Wilderness guide to Christmas has something for every budget. Marmot Trestles 30 $189.95Don’t cancel your next overnight adventure just because the forecast...
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Spend enough time in backcountry huts and you’re bound to meet some interesting people. Rob Gerard shares some of his hut tales Worst night ever in a hut We arrived at D’Urville…
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Welcome to the Wilderness Weekly Poll, where we gauge your opinions on outdoor stuff. Don’t forget, sign up to our Wilderness Weekly newsletter to get the results of this week’s poll…
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Boxing Day 2019 was my first day back tramping after a year dominated by breast cancer. My parents and I walked the fern-green Pakihi Track near Opotiki and it…
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A futurist games four possible scenarios for New Zealand’s tourism industry in a world that has (and hasn’t) managed to get a hold of Covid-19. The silver lining of…
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Welcome to the inaugural Wilderness 100 – an annual list of the best trips in the country. As you’d expect with such a list, we’ve applied careful thought and discussion,...
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A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world. An island-hopping stoat has wreaked havoc in Auckland’s pest free…
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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…
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A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world. DOC is considering restricting the number of people who can…
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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…
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A plant that provides foreground interest for landscape photographers. As a tramper, I naturally enjoy photographing the rolling tussock tops of backcountry ranges. Often, however, I yearn for something…
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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…
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Tired of cramped campgrounds and keen to foster a more symbiotic relationship with the landscape? Here’s the Wilderness guide to wild camping. By David Caudwell Have you ever been…
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The Gillespie Pass Circuit takes in the Young and Wilkin river valleys and crosses the 1600m-high Gillespie Pass – reached after a stiff 1000m climb. It’s a trip not…
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Buy a subscription to Wilderness in December or January, and you’ll be entered into the draw to win a share of nearly $5000 worth of the world’s best outdoor…
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Like great lungs, the Waitākere and Hunua ranges straddle the heart of Auckland to the east and west – though they both have very different stories to tell. With…
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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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Complete the crossword and rearrange the letters in the blue squares to spell out the hidden solution. Hidden solution: Sustenance for tramp (10,4) January’s hidden solution: WhiteheadSupport Wilderness Since…
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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…
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Forget the rugby, and the cricket, the real test is between which country wins the battle of the tramps. Ex-pat Kiwi Ricky French, with admirable lack of bias, weighs…
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The bear crawl exercise builds core strength and stability, and it may come in handy in wild weather. The bear crawl utilises several muscles at one time and by…
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A water filter or purifier offers peace of mind and guaranteed safe drinking water at a hut, alpine tarn or stream. How to filterAlways check – if possible –…
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Cactus Outdoor is ramping up production of face masks in the fight against Covid-19. Initially designed for tradespeople such as builders and painters, the masks are now under unprecedented…
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Matthew Cattin looks into why you might want to try a quilt and reviews two extremely light options. Zoned insulation is a growing revelation in the world of sleeping…
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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...
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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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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…
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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…
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An area twice the size of Egmont National Park is set to be added to Kahurangi National Park. In a victory for conservation, the Government announced the addition of…
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Readers responded with harrowing tales of misadventure when we asked them to share their near misses in the outdoors. Here’s a selection of the best entries. Winning entryFrostbittenBy Danielle…
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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…
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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…
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When it comes to getting enough sleep in a front country hut, you really have to just hope for the best I like nothing more than to wrap myself…
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Your votes and been counted, and the 2019 Wilderness Reader’s Choice Outdoor Awards have come down to the wire. But there can only be one winner in each category,…
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Entries are now open and we’re calling on all Wilderness readers and aspiring outdoor photographers to enter the 2021 Wilderness Photo Competition. You’ve got until March 4, 2021, to submit...
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Tramping in general, and tramping photography in particular, seem to attract people with a certain mindset. We are lovers of extra elbow room, and a mountain shared can feel…
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Letter of the month Wild Cuisine meals inspire hut-envy Having recently completed an extremely enjoyable tramp along the Milford Track with a group of nine work colleagues and their…
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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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Maungauika/North Head, Auckland In the 1880s, when the Russians were the enemy, the government constructed coastal defence systems as a deterrent. The three guns were state-of-the-art and the barrels…
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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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Looking out the window of the ski club lodge on Mt Ruapehu’s Whakapapa side, I eyed up a route I’d been ‘finger tramping’ on the topo map for a…
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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...
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Nothing breaks the spirit like a bad night’s sleep in the backcountry. Matthew Cattin shares some advice to get you warm, comfortable and well-rested. Prep your bed early Down…
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Buy a subscription to Wilderness in December or January, and you’ll be entered into the draw to win a share of nearly $5000 worth of the world’s best outdoor…
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Tired of cramped campgrounds and keen to foster a more symbiotic relationship with the landscape? Here’s the Wilderness guide to wild camping. By David Caudwell Have you ever been alone...
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As the 2020-21 Te Araroa Trail season gets underway, Vikki Baker reflects on her experience of the trail and how walking the length of New Zealand changed her life.…
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January: River tubing, Tararua Forest Park Imagine a fine, warm day, the sun glinting off the rapids, the walls of a bush-clad gorge rising above, and your feet pointed…
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The dramatic landscape and rich history of the Dusky Sound have been captured by Peta Carey in her book Tamatea Dusky. How did your fascination with Dusky Sound begin?I…
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Support Wilderness Since 1991, Wilderness has had one simple goal: to help Kiwis 'See more, do more, live more' of New Zealand. If you value our mission, please consider…
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Trail running is much like tramping. Both involve tracks, dirt roads and off-track travel. The big difference is that trail running is done at a quicker pace. So what…
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January: River tubing, Tararua Forest Park Imagine a fine, warm day, the sun glinting off the rapids, the walls of a bush-clad gorge rising above, and your feet pointed downstream,...
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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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BikeMy 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.…
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Robert Mads Anderson has just written one of the best books ever published about climbing Everest. Roger Foley interviewed the Kiwi-American climber about it. I recently read one of the...
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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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Time spent outside helps you understand where you stand in the grand scheme of things, writes Dougal Rillstone My affair with the outdoors started with a baptism of sorts.…
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This quick, easy salad is filling and fresh, and works well as a pre-packed lunch or dinner on your first day on the trail. This leftover salad is nutritious,…
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Fancy a hike followed by a hangi? That’s the premise of Book A Marae, where trampers can gain a cultural experience by overnighting on remote marae. More than 20…
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Nothing compares to the feeling of bringing a missing loved one home. The closest buzz LandSAR dog handler Dave Krehic can relate it to is the first rugby try…
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Most people might think you’re crazy to sell your house to travel the country with your newborn baby. But not Judit Angeli. She explains how and why she did…
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Unprecedented demand combined with production and freight delays means outdoor retailers are struggling to keep their shelves full. Outdoor gear retailers and distributors are advising trampers to buy their…
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Three Kiwi trampers open up about their health issues, and how it shapes their experiences in the outdoors At 33, John Davies’ life changed forever. After a run of…
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Both Chris and I uncovered many delights and surprising details about the Tararua Tramping Club during five years working on the book. Most members won’t know that one of…
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If your goal is to convince a budding tramper they’ve chosen an enjoyable, pain-free pastime, the very least you can do is book them a bunk for the night.…
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With its start and finish separated by more than 450km of winding roads, the Heaphy Track poses a logistics problem for riders and trampers: how to get back to…
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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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Trampers often incorrectly confirm their position because it’s where they believe they are. It’s called confirmation bias and can cause a lot of problems. Recently I witnessed two examples…
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When it comes to planning your trip food, a basic understanding of nutrition goes a long way When it comes to pre-tramp food prep, I’m more of an aimless…
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Do New Zealanders need to rethink the way they talk about predator control? Hating possums seems to be as compulsory for New Zealanders as supporting the All Blacks. From…
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While tramping the Paparoa Track, Tara Papworth met a teenaged unicyclist who believes that wherever two wheels can go, one wheel can too Macgregor Jones likes a challenge. When…
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Night photography is one of the final frontiers where a dedicated digital camera still reigns supreme. But even with the best camera equipment, photographing clear images of the Milky…
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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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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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Wilderness tests three vacuum-insulated flasks that promise to keep drinks hot on cold winter days. How we tested For both hot water tests, we boiled water and filled each…
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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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When your boots are bone dry, it’s easy to underestimate a river. Terra firma is familiar, safe, and on the opposite bank there is plenty more of it; a…
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Suspended by a rope in the flow of a frigid waterfall, SAR team member Cliff Jones decided a nap wouldn’t be such a bad idea. He’d been hanging there…
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It’s a dead-end for vehicles, but for trampers it’s just the beginning. Few towns boast such rich country for exploration: the Routeburn Track Great Walk, the Rees-Dart, Greenstone-Caples, Cascade…
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You may feel as if you have stepped into Aotearoa’s past as you walk the Wattle Track on the island sanctuary of Tiritiri Matangi, in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. Delving…
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Is there anything so stirring to bravado as a high jump into water? The rush of acceleration, the stomach’s queasy lurch, the shock of the plunge, and finally the…
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“I like the way you’re looking at the ice before putting your axe in. People waste a lot of energy just bashing around wildly.” Did guide Adrian Camm have…
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Here at Wilderness magazine HQ, we’re on the lookout for two new columnists. Wild Cuisine: Are your tramping meals the talk of the track? We’re looking for an inventive outdoors...
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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…
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An incredible service ensures blind and low vision New Zealanders can access the outdoors in all its forms. It’s the most amazing publishing service you’ve never heard of. Each…
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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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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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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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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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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 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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Things I learned recently about Ruapehu: A plane crashed on the Mangatoetoenui Glacier in 1952, and took 31 years to reappear, 600m from its crash site; the aforementioned Mangatoetoenui…
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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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It’s extremely difficult – if not impossible – to accurately describe your location on a map unless you use a grid reference. Heather Grady explains how Our maps have…
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David Caudwell plunges into the mangled slopes of the Douglas Range to discover how disorientation, despair and anger can be used not only to forge stronger paths on the…
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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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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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Support Wilderness Since 1991, Wilderness has had one simple goal: to help Kiwis 'See more, do more, live more' of New Zealand. If you value our mission, please consider…
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It’s always a good time to launch an armchair expedition and travel through the pages of a classic adventure tale. Six adventurers share the book that inspires them into the wilderness.…
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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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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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I feel cold as raindrops seep through my hair onto my neck and, with icy fingers, I grip my hiking poles tighter. I’m watching the sun flare red with…
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Could there be a better hut in the country than Asbestos Cottage in which to sit around an open fire in a manuka armchair strung with potato sacks, unfurl…
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Forget the rugby, and the cricket, the real test is between which country wins the battle of the tramps. Ex-pat Kiwi Ricky French, with admirable lack of bias, weighs the...
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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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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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The top tips for avoiding a tramping tragedy Know your limits: Inexperience is one of the biggest killers. Slowly build your experience and seek advice from those who know more than you. River crossing: Learn the correct...
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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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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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Welcome to the Wilderness Deal Finder, where we showcase the best gear deals offered by our Wildcard partners. Check out the deals below…. Peak to Plateau Ladakh Crew Sock…
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Fancy a hike followed by a hangi? That’s the premise of Book A Marae, where trampers can gain a cultural experience by overnighting on remote marae. More than 20 marae...
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You got this,” I tell myself, as I plunge my paddle into the murky brown water. We are five minutes into our three-day canoe trip down the Whanganui River…
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Mt Taranaki’s Lake Dive Hut has been destroyed by a fire, DOC has confirmed. It’s thought the hut burnt down over the weekend, though the cause remains unknown at…
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