Is an umbrella the most underrated piece of tramping kit? This thru-hiker thinks so. I set off from Bluff to walk Te Araroa this summer with a sun umbrella wedged in the side pocket of my pack. The thru-hiker’s obsession with weight is legendary, and in a sub-culture where some won’t even carry pots and stoves, […]
About the author
Naomi Arnold
Naomi Arnold is a Nelson tramper, journalist, and author. She particularly enjoys writing about nature, travel, science and adventure. Some of her favourite assignments have been reporting on dotterels from Rakiura, stoats from Preservation Inlet, ice science from Antarctica, and tramping Te Araroa while writing her 2025 trail memoir, Northbound.
The 2026 Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition
A tale of adventure and tragedy
Mt Peel, Kahurangi National Park
25 huts to visit in 2025
A lofty location for Brass Monkey
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My gear through the decades