Overlooking the tarn high on on Mt Anglem. Photo: Ray Salisbury

Soul food

Features, Off the Beaten Track

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Ray Salisbury

Ray is an author and photographer living in Nelson, and a longtime contributor to Wilderness.

By Ray Salisbury

There are people, other walkers and hunters, on Rakiura’s North West Circuit, but it can also be lonely, primeval and exceedingly beautiful.

Torrential rain, boot-sucking mud, voracious sandflies; a perfect storm of nasties that breathe life into the legend of tramping around Rakiura / Stewart Island. It’s so isolated that one is entirely on nature’s terms, removed from the comforts of urbanised society and a world away from the usual safety nets. Evocative names like Hellfire Pass, […]

About the author

Ray Salisbury

Ray Salisbury is an author and photographer living in Nelson with his wife and cat. He studied design and photography and has been contributing to Wilderness since 1997. His books include Tableland: The history behind Mt Arthur and EPIC: Adventures across Aotearoa. Ray began tramping with a camera more than 50 years ago and has visited over 500 backcountry huts.