Winter’s a special time to be in the mountains; there’re less people around, frost tickles the plants, the landscape becomes a pillowy white and the light takes on a special quality. Shorter days guarantee more sleeping time and if you’re really lucky you’ll cop a nice long fine spell. Some of my more memorable trips […]
About the author
Mark Watson
Wilderness gear editor Mark Watson divides his workdays between graphic design, writing and photography. His passion for tramping, climbing, cycling and storytelling has taken him all over Aotearoa and the world in search of great trails, perfect moves and epic light. He has published four books and his photographs have featured in numerous publications. Especially motivated by long distance travel, he has tramped Te Araroa and cycled from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.
Dirt bike trial on Tongariro Northern Circuit gets approval
The 2026 Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition
Knockin’ on heaven’s door
Te Araroa’s screen legend
The 2026 guide to sleeping mats
Subscribe!
Each issue of Wilderness celebrates Aotearoa’s great outdoors — written and photographed with care, not algorithms.Subscribe and help keep our wild stories alive.
