Everyone knows the South Island is where it’s at when it comes to tramping. Fewer population centres, inordinate amounts of conservation land and the Southern Alps all conspire to make it marginally (can you hear the sarcasm?) better than the North Island.

That’s why I’m delighted to finally have a North Island cover this month. It’s been a long time coming – nine months to be exact. Yep, the last time we ran a North Island cover was November 2013.

This month we’ve got a whole host of trips for you to try in Tongariro National Park – in my opinion the best park (national park, that is) in the North Island. Plenty of huts, great scenery, easy accessibility and lots of options if you want to avoid the crowds – just check the interesting loop walk to Tama Lakes on p65 for example.

For you South Islanders, confident in the superiority of your own stomping grounds, who haven’t visited the park yet, I’ve got two words for you: start planning. As a winter destination it’s super accessible, safer (even with active volcanoes!) and slightly warmer than many of the parks in your neck of the woods.

You may have noticed a slight change to the print edition of Wilderness. We have reduced the proportions of the magazine slightly to make it feel and look more modern. I think the mag now sits more comfortably in your hands and the dimensions enhance the lay-out, making the overall package more attractive. If you have any comments, good or bad, I’d be keen to hear them.