Walk1200km led this couple to the greatest walk of their lives – down the aisle!

It was at Woolshed Creek Hut in Hakatere Conservation Park that Donna met Pete. It was a cold, wet day tramp with one of her two sons. Pete had walked out first and left some pistachios and liquorice in little bags under the windscreen wipers on Donna’s car, along with his card. 

But even after subsequent walks, Donna says, “It took him seven weeks to ask me out and hold my hand, and he said that my answer wouldn’t have bothered him. If I had said no, he would have carried on enjoying my company as tramping buddies. It’s pretty special.”

Both are ardent trampers. Glazier Pete grew up in Mt Somers but was living in Ashburton when he met Donna, an Otago-born and Timaru-based lifeguard and swimming instructor. They both go to the hills “for recharging, rejuvenation, a bit of peace and quiet”. 

After they met, Donna explains, “we wanted to be together because neither of us has ever met anyone with the same hunger for adventure, exploring new places, and getting out in nature all year round.

“You see the best and the worst in people when they’re away from modern comforts and technology. There’s some pretty challenging situations in NZ weather and terrain. Whatever issues, challenges and struggles we come across in life, I know we’ll always be okay – we’ll be able to work together to get through because we’ve done that in the hills.

“And ultimately we decided, okay, being tramping buddies isn’t enough. We missed each other when we finished our trips and went our separate ways.”

Donna says Walk1200km was instrumental in their meeting. “It’s why I was out there that day: to add to my tally. And now he loves the Facebook posts, from me and others. He thinks it’s fantastic. Because he’s known people that have not done that sort of thing and then started and loved it. The challenge has put a whole new spin on their lives, just brought them a really amazing level of wellbeing by getting out in nature.”

That shared interest is the lynchpin for Donna and Pete: “He loves the fact that I don’t own any high-heeled shoes, but I’ve got several pairs of tramping boots.” 

They were married in their tramping boots at Oban Church on Rakiura Stewart Island last September. And for their honeymoon? Kiwi spotting on Rakiura’s Northwest and Southern Circuit tracks.