Crampon-free winter routes
To celebrate Wilderness’ partnership with smartphone mapping app ViewRanger, Matthew Pike has pulled together four easy-peesy winter walks Ah, winter! The perfect excuse to put your feet up. For the...
Matthew Pike
Reluctant partners
How to lure your loved one into the outdoors… if they hate the outdoors! “What’s the point? You spend three days walking through mud, rain and fog with a lead...
Secret spots of national park rangers
National Parks, Ranger Secrets
Every national park has its star attractions – the box office draw cards. Yet New Zealand’s 14 national parks combined cover an area the size of Otago and within that...
High places
What’s your favourite mountain hut? It’s a question those who spend time guiding in the mountains are often asked, so when Matthew Pike queried some of New Zealand’s top mountaineers...
How to deal with slow coaches
Racing ahead isn’t really an option, writes Matthew Pike I despise the dull pain that intensifies with every stride. I hate not knowing whether my legs will collapse in a...
A best kept secret
An Englishman in New Zealand wonders if the sandfly is part of a great nation-wide conspiracy Sandflies are New Zealand’s best kept secret. When you go to Australia you know there’ll...
A latte with your bunk, sir?
Would making Great Walk huts more luxurious really be such a bad thing? James MacKay Hut is one of the Heaphy Track’s main stops and will soon join its sister huts...
Off the beaten track in Abel Tasman
Whariwharangi Hut, Abel Tasman National Park Just about the only criticism of the Abel Tasman Coast Track is the number of people who walk it. The golden beaches, easy walking...
New Zealand vs The World
We often dream of climbing the great summits of the world. But for most of us, work, money and commitments stop us from reaching those lofty heights. Luckily, New Zealand...
Rangitoto, an island sanctuary
Rangitoto Summit via Rangitoto Coastal Track, Hauraki Gulf Marine Park One of the most fascinating day trips from Auckland is to Rangitoto Island, less than half an hour’s ferry journey...
Ethnic diversity in the hills - where is it?
Matthew Pike asks why we’re not used to seeing different ethnic groups in the hills and what can be done to change it When was the last time you passed...
Angry coast
Te Henga Walkway, Te Henga-Bethells Regional Park, Auckland If you want dramatic cliffs, waves smashing into rocks and elevated ocean views then head to Bethells Beach (Te Henga) just 45...
A northern walk as diverse as the Heaphy
Few venture to Glorit. Most have never heard of it. Yet it’s just an hour from Auckland’s CBD and is in an area of such rugged beauty that Matthew Pike...
Is this New Zealand's worst tramp?
Features, Off the Beaten Track, Free Articles
Inspired by promises of mud, toil and absolutely no views, Matthew Pike heads to Coromandel’s Table Mountain for a trip that’ll live long in the memory “So what’s the trail like...
The walk that saved the Milford Track
How a group of young trampers opened the world-renowned track to the masses When 40 excited teens and twenty-somethings boarded a bus bound for Fiordland, they had no idea they were...
The uninhabited island
Browns Island Recreation Reserve, Hauraki Gulf Marine Park A kayak’s a wonderful thing. It allows you to explore places that are inaccessible by foot; whether it’s a secluded beach, curiously...
To the high point
Te Toiokawharu, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park The southern end of the Waitakere Ranges provides the highest hills in the region. It also provides views of sheer rock cliffs among otherwise...
Naming rights
Why are so many of New Zealand’s natural features left unnamed and how easy would it be to name a few yourself? Wilderness goes in search of the answers “Wow –...
Cliff hanger
It happens all the time: a tramper commits to an horrendously exposed move only to find halfway through, their nerve has left them. Unable to go forward or retreat, what’s...
Alpine gran
Jo Morgan didn’t take up mountaineering until she was 58. Now she’s addicted Mothers worry about their kids. They want to make sure they’re not doing anything silly which means...
Secret hot pools
Tarawera Trail, Lake Tarawera Reserve I’d been itching to try the Tarawera Trail ever since it opened in December last year. Once that ribbon was cut, the public could, for...
Big mountain skier
Not content to simply climb the highest mountains, Mark Sedon straps on skis for a super quick descent. Most of us who have studied the map of an area...
Student humour in the backcountry
Ongaruanuku Hut, Waitakere Regional Park So who knew there was a hut in the Waitaks? I didn’t until recently and then discovered there were three (there may be more); one...
Jory Akuhata’s Te Araroa challenge
When I called Jory Akuhata to interview him for this article, I interrupted him replacing his spectacles frame. He’d recently broken the original and decided to attach a new frame...
Climbing hard, climbing long
Last year Graham Zimmerman achieved a feat that had the rest of the alpine world talking. It led to him becoming only the second New Zealander to ever be nominated...
Trampers, a pain in the grass?
Is the urban-rural divide putting landowners off allowing trampers to roam their land? Matthew Pike discovers not all farmers think trampers are more trouble than they’re worth A tramper’s eye...
Sandwiched between the volcanoes
Tama Lakes via Waihohonu Hut, Tongariro National Park From Waihohonu Hut you can see both Mts Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. It’s a stunning view of two of the North Island’s iconic...
Lonely mountains
Mountain climbing in New Zealand is in decline. Some blame climate change, others the perception of danger and the multitude of other activities vying for people’s time. But even though...
Castle in the sky
Manaia, Whangarei Heads, Northland One of the joys of driving north to Whangarei is when you cross Pilbrow Hill and see, for the first time, the dramatic Whangarei Heads and...
The dire state of alpine huts
As many iconic alpine huts are becoming dilapidated, harder to reach and, occasionally, wiped out altogether, Wilderness asks if private funds really are the way forward for high altitude bunkhouses Backcountry huts began...
A sting in the 'tale'
Wasps are a pain in the… wherever they sting you. We all know that. But some experts believe there are parts of the country where they’re even more destructive to...
Tent WOF
For many of us, now’s the time we dust off the tent for another season’s use. But how can we make sure we get no nasty surprises when the heavens...
Best Tramping Towns: #2 Nelson
A blend of alpine tramping, golden beaches, cafes and… low wages. Matthew Pike asks if the reality lives up to the hype Picture a giant, three-sided rugby stadium. At the...
Hut passes in the north – why bother?
For many of us, the backcountry hut pass is about as useful as a ticket for the failed Fiordland monorail. Matthew Pike asks what value there is for those living...
How did they first draw contour lines?
Even before the age of Pong* and 404 error messages, map makers were able to draw lines representing the height of every square metre of New Zealand. Matthew Pike asks...
Lakeside serenity
Kawakawa Bay Track, Taupo This is a great way to experience Lake Taupo while avoiding the hustle of the town. Kinloch is a small village just 20km or so west...
Leading Ladies
Students recognised for their mountaineering leadership skills want to see more women taking charge of the big trips. Matthew Pike asks what needs to change to make that happen… Sylvie...
Wild People
Retracing the final steps After talented young climber Ari Kingan lost his life near the summit of Mt Aspiring/Tititea, his close friends retraced his final steps to find out what...
The greatest taste
The ride from Kaiteriteri to Tasman might be the most scenic section of the Great Taste Trail. When I heard the most scenic section (to date) of the Great Taste...
Can a tramper climb Aoraki/Mt Cook?
What would it take for a tramper of average fitness to propel themselves to the top of New Zealand’s highest summit? Wilderness finds out In 2009 British comedian Eddie Izzard ran...
I ate tutu… and lived to tell the story
Unlike our Antipodean neighbour, New Zealand has very little in the way of harmful flora and fauna. Yet Matthew Pike recalls brainlessly encountering the most harmful of all… and how...
Te Araroa Trail in sandals
Naresh Kumar overcame excruciating pain, persistent possums and being swept away by a torrent to become the first to complete the Te Araroa Trail in sandals For most who complete...
Misnamed and misplaced
Dun Mountain and Little Twin, Mt Richmond Forest Park This walk consists of numerous misnamed features. Dun Mountain is actually a craggy hill rather than a mountain, Little Twin is...
Not a trip for bunnies
Rabbit Pass has a fearsome reputation. Its waterfall face ascent is notorious, but, as Matthew Pike discovers, so long as you handle the steep stuff with care, this spectacular trip...
Use your annual leave in style
Each year kiwi adventurer Grant Rawlinson uses his 20 days’ holiday to the max. Matthew Pike speaks to him about trips from Ruapehu to Aoraki and Scotland’s Ben Nevis to...
Trail angels
Accounts from those who have walked the Te Araroa Trail are teeming with tales of selfless souls offering a bed, hot shower, meal, or tent space. Matthew Pike asks these...
Young and restless
For most adults, the highest peak in The Remarkables Range is a tough, exposed trip. But seven-year-old Georgie Chinn enjoyed every moment – once the ‘boring’ walking had finished. Matthew...
Wanaka's must-climb
Roys Peak, The Stack Conservation Area, Otago / Moderate Think of day walks near Wanaka and Rob Roy Glacier Track immediately comes to mind with its hanging ice and waterfalls,...
A warm welcome
Many laughed at Tom O’Brien when he said he’d build 27km of track through iconic Otago landscape using just a pick and shovel. But two years of hard slog have...
West Coast Discovery
Josh James dreamed of hosting his own TV survival show but he never imagined his face would be broadcast worldwide. Matthew Pike speaks to the Discovery Channel’s next star Josh...
Who will train our trampers?
As of this year, training in backcountry skills and bushcraft by the Mountain Safety Council will be a thing of the past. The organisation is cutting its volunteer-run courses to...
A dislocated tale
Greg Ross dislocated his shoulder in remote West Coast tiger country. He shares his week-long fight for survival with Matthew Pike The moment he fell, Greg Ross knew he was...
Walk as Maori once did
Walking barefoot, keeping his diabetes at bay and carrying gear he’d made himself, Jory Akuhata was no ordinary Te Araroa tramper. Matthew Pike catches up with him The first night...
Huts of the future
Ron Pynenburg is responsible for designing more backcountry huts than anyone in recent history. He explains to Matthew Pike what makes a good hut and what the future may hold...
The landlocked island
A thriving environment, home to native bush and vibrant birdlife all protected by a predator proof fence is just one highlight on this Waikato getaway, writes Matthew Pike Many...
Disputed territory
There’s an excellent online mapping database that tells you where you can legally walk across New Zealand. But what if landowners refuse to acknowledge it? Matthew Pike finds out Have...
Shifting sands of time
Every rock provides clues to its often dramatic and violent past. Matthew Pike heads to one of the country’s most geologically fascinating spots to meet geology’s answer to Sherlock Holmes...
Extreme hut bagger
Is it possible to visit every hut in New Zealand in just 900 days? Matthew Pike speaks to the man who’s devoting three years of his life to the task...
Soft skills harden you up
Matthew Pike discovers how building rafts and climbing rocks may be the key to you getting a job Imagine you’re an employer. A new position has become available and you...
Going the extra mile
As lovely as the Heaphy and Routeburn tracks are, wouldn’t running and walking them day after day become boring? Matthew Pike finds out by speaking to those who do just...
Death of the backcountry singalong
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 extinction...
Highs, lows and disbelief
Lydia Bradey was involved in one of New Zealand mountaineering’s most famous controversies. Matthew Pike speaks to the woman at the centre of it all One would expect the best...
A wild corner
Whatipu to Mt Donald McLean, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park At the south-western tip of the Waitakere Ranges, at the mouth of the Manukau Harbour, lies the much weather- and ocean-beaten...
Power to the people
A scheme giving volunteers the money to maintain their favourite huts and tracks has been running for more than a year. Matthew Pike finds out why the budget has been...
Haunting tales
LandSAR volunteer Phillip Melchior discovers the incidents leading to a rescue are often just as fascinating as the rescue itself If there’s one thing an experienced mountain search and rescue...
Should we be scared of cows?
Cows, horses and deer are normally docile creatures. But their large frames and occasional tempers can make walking through a field of them an intimidating prospect. Matthew Pike discovers how...
Steep-ed in history
Waitawheta Hut via Waiorongomai Valley, Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park Waitawheta Hut is understandably the most popular overnight stop in the Kaimais. It provides a feeling of seclusion with views out...
Mountain Safety Council: Evolve or die
Matthew Pike asks if the Mountain Safety Council continues to be relevant in the 21st century The more changes the Mountain Safety Council makes, the more it seems to baffle...
William Pike: Embracing the challenge
Losing a leg has enriched William Pike’s life. Matthew Pike (no relation) asks him how Lying in a hospital bed reassessing his life goals, William Pike couldn’t have imagined that,...
Whanganui River: A journey through time
A trip down the Whanganui River is cultural, historic, relaxing and fun. Matthew Pike discovers every journey has a different story to tell The river now had a more sinister...
Tracks, camera, action
Matt Jenke must have pinched himself when given the job of walking New Zealand’s best trails for Google. Matthew Pike asks if the reality matches the dream The man I...
December 2015 Editor's Letter
As soon as I learned Google had added seven of New Zealand’s Great Walks to Street View, I was hooked. What a fabulous idea, I thought, being able to walk...
He who dares, wins
Ben Dare, co-founder of the New Zealand Alpine Team This year a keen group of climbers will fly from New Zealand to Peru to enjoy six weeks of high-altitude heaven....
Troubled waters
Mike Joy, author and senior lecturer in ecology and environmental science at Massey University It’s like the neglected child of our environment. While the state of our birdlife and forests...
Reflecting on the lives saved
Noel Bigwood, Making Tararua ridge top travel safer Judd Ridge, between Field and Kime huts in the Tararuas, is less than 5km long. The terrain isn’t overly tricky and on...
Undercover track cutters
Frank King and Honora Renwick, cutting tracks into the back of beyond It’s hard to pin down exactly what changes an entire culture. But there’s a fair argument to suggest...
Ascent of the great descents
Matthew Pike discovers why New Zealand could be on the cusp of a canyoning boom Many of New Zealand’s most popular outdoor pursuits have legendary names synonymous with the activity’s...
No ‘normal life’
Brando ‘Wildboy’ Yelavich, walked the New Zealand coastline How hard would it be to spend 18 months of your life undertaking an adventure that captured the imagination of the nation,...
Science vs balderdash
Alison Balance, presenter of RNZ’s Our Changing World, is a zoologist, wildlife film maker and writer In a world where more conflicting information than we could possibly dissect in one...
Arctic explorer
Tara Mulvany, sea kayak circumnavigator extraordinaire For explorer Tara Mulvany, no corner of the globe is too remote. In fact, the fewer people there are, the more likely she’ll be...
All you need is love
Phil Rossiter, chairman of the Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust At 85km, the Old Ghost Road from Lyell to Seddonville in the Buller region, is the country’s longest single track, and last...
A recovery of Himalayan proportions
Nick Allen, founder of the Mastering Mountains Trust Four years ago, Nick Allen could only travel in a mobility scooter. Having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) aged just 25,...
No. 19 - Walk the best bits of Te Araroa
Most of us don’t have the luxury of asking our boss for four months off work, so completing the entire length of the Te Araroa Trail isn’t a realistic option....
No. 12 - See the first sunrise
Join Ngati Porou whanau and visitors for the annual 4WD journey up to the site of nine carvings in time for New Year’s day break. This wonderful experience allows you...
No. 7 - Go for the most spectacular
The Waterfall Face leading towards Rabbit Pass is the most famous (or infamous) spot on the Rabbit Pass route. It’s steep, exposed, and scary. But it’s not the trail’s most...
No. 5 - Paddle a serene stretch of coastline
One of the reasons I love tramping is for the feeling of solitude – the ability to kid my mind into thinking I’m the only one who has ever explored...
Wet wedding in the Eglinton
For this tramping couple, a wedding in Fiordland represents what they love most in life: the great outdoors When Rebecca Van Amber and Dylan Hegh decided to get married, they...
Letter from the Editor: Not yet missed out
FOMO; one of those irritating acronyms you see on Facebook. Like YOLO (You Only Live Once), LMAO (Laughing My Arse Off) and the utterly ridiculous ROTFLMAO (Rolling On The Floor...
How much tramping equals a steak ‘n’ cheese pie?
Is it OK to pig out after a tramp, or does it undo all the hard work? How many times have you finished a tough tramp and craved a calorie-laden...
None shall pass
Matthew Pike uncovers the fall-outs and government botches that have led to a favourite tramping region becoming increasingly shut off to public access As trampers we often take for granted...
All part of the service
Matthew Pike speaks to the man brightening up the backcountry by helping to restore a valuable piece of tramping history Hotdogs on a stick are a bit of a culture...
Editorial, March 2016
A very worrying stat emerged from a chat I had with the Federated Mountain Clubs: that 30 per cent of access points to public conservation land are not legally binding....
Great Walks at tipping point
With tourism at an all-time high, and expected to keep rising, how long can Fiordland’s track facilities hold out before a major overhaul is needed? Matthew Pike finds out In...
Fighting for our access
Retiring CEO Mark Neeson has led the Walking Access Commission from its birth to a group helping to open rivers, beaches and backcountry to thousands of Kiwis. Matthew Pike catches up with him
Letter from the Editor: April 2016
Those of you who can’t bear it when I write editorials are in luck; this will be my last. This is also my last issue as a full time member...
Island hopping
Sea kayaking Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands, Northland Just the name Bay of Islands conjures romantic images of a winterless world of secluded beaches, draping pohutukawa and leaping dolphins. For...
When you run out of tracks
Matthew Pike meets trampers who say there is a host of trips to try even when you’ve exhausted those dotted lines on the map It’s bound to happen eventually. After...
Meeting your heroes
Is the reality of coming face to face with Abel Tasman National Park as good as it’s hyped up to be? Matthew Pike kayaks the full length of the park...
Seven reasons why NZ reigns supreme
As he returns to his native grey and overcrowded England after five years on these shores, Matthew Pike gets all nostalgic about the land he regards as the world’s finest...
10 things we missed during lockdown
As the alert levels drop one-by-one and our access to the mountains is restored, we dream about the things we’re most looking forward to on our first trip back in...