Fighting through the wet tussock jungle towards the shelter of Boulder Lake Hut. Photo: Victoria Bruce|All smiles after a beautiful day on the tops between Green Saddle and Adelaide Tarn. The Dragons Teeth in the background. Photo: Victoria Bruce|Admiring the Dragon’s spiky teeth from the saddle below Mt Douglas. Photo: Victoria Bruce||Emilie arrives

Dragons, devils and drunken sailors

Features, Off the Beaten Track

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Victoria Bruce

Victoria is a keen tramper, journalist and author of the award-winning book Adventures with Emilie.

By Victoria Bruce

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September 2025

View more by author

Victoria Bruce

Victoria is a keen tramper, journalist and author of the award-winning book Adventures with Emilie.

By Victoria Bruce

My mouth watered as I pored over the ridges and contours of Kahurangi National Park on my map. From our little bach near Kaiteriteri, the huge and tempting vastness of Kahurangi was almost close enough to touch. With school holidays imminent, I planned a route that took in as much as possible: a partial traverse […]

About the author

Victoria Bruce

Victoria is a keen tramper and author of the award-winning book Adventures with Emilie. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Queensland, has written for news agencies at home and abroad, and has held communications advisor roles within the public and private sector. These days she’s freelancing, writing books and spending lots of time outdoors with her daughter Emilie, exploring the rough and rugged mountains of the South Island’s West Coast and beyond.