A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.

When Dutchman Tom Boerman sold his house, he wasn’t about to move into a new one – he’d already decided to become an adventurer. And soon, he took on the challenge to become the first person to walk across every continent of the world (including Antarctica).

Memories of walking Te Araroa Trail several years ago inspired Tom to take on the task. And after nearly 600 days of his five-year challenge, he’s back on New Zealand soil, and it feels like a second home.

“To me, it looks like everyone who lives under the equator is more laid back, open, chilled, and just keen to help,” he said in an interview with Stuff, who then asked where his allegiances lie when it comes to the Trans-Tasman rivalry.

“That’s an easy answer,” replied Tom. “There’s no wildlife that can harm you here.”

He realised he needed to do something incredible with his life when watching a video on YouTube about older people regretting the things they didn’t do when they were younger. And on this trip he’s raising money to rebuild four schools in Nepal that were destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. Read more here. 

“Something has gone seriously wrong”

A strong case has been made for finding the funding to maintain our backcountry huts by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean in Stuff’s opinion pages.

She’s responding to DOC’s decision to stop funding the Backcountry Trust, which works with volunteers to restore these iconic, and often historical buildings.

“If DOC now faces financial pressures that impact on its ability to fund maintenance of backcountry huts, then something has gone seriously wrong,” she said.

“DOC has a responsibility to make sure people have a safe and enjoyable experience when they connect with nature on public conservation land and huts play in important role in fulfilling that obligation.”

She adds that, overall, huts are in good nick and revenue from hut payers hasn’t dropped in recent years, so it can only be a financial mess that’s led to this decision. Read her full opinion piece here. 

Everest expedition memorabilia bought by Reinhold Messner

Renowned Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner has bought key artefacts from Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s successful 1953 Everest ascent.

The collection was sold at auction by Patrick Stobart, son of Tom Stobart who was a cameraman on the expedition, and captured footage of the climbers used in the film The Conquest of Everest, which documented the climb.

The collection includes tickets and a programme for the first screening of the film, a pickaxe, and a food packet signed by expedition leader John Hunt. Read more here. 

How to find the tracks that aren’t on the map

A good place to start for those in the Kāpiti Coast region is by asking Gary Crilley.

Gary runs along the extensive trails in the surrounding forests and hills, finding routes few people ever use, including one that leads to the world’s largest northern rata.

“There are no tracks [to the tree],” he said. “You have to know where it is. Someone posted the GPS co-ordinates, so I found my way through. There are a lot of tracks around, so you have to work your way through. The tree is in really good nick. Its age is estimated to be between 1500 and 2000 years. It’s massive.”

Gary shares his knowledge on the Facebook group Kāpiti Trampers & Adventure Walkers. Read more at New Zealand Herald.