-
Silverstream-Bull Paddock-Lost Stream Traverse: A 3-day trip in Leatham Conservation Area
“You don’t need your teeth to walk out.” The best adventures sometimes happen when your original plans fall through. Standing at the edge of an uncrossable Dart Ford, our Luna Tops dreams were washed away—but the Raglan Range was calling with a Silverstream-Bull Paddock-Lost Stream Traverse. What followed was a three-day masterclass in New Zealand…
-
Climbing Te Ao Whekere: An Alpine Adventure in the Seaward Kaikōura
Listening to the calls of two kea at 5:30 am isn’t your average wake-up call, but on the rugged slopes of the Seaward Kaikōura Range, nothing is quite “average.” From our infamous “Rubbish Bag” campsite to the 2,590m summit of Te Ao Whekere, our journey was an energetic yet magical traverse of unstable scree and…
-
Torlesse Range: Foggy Peak, Castle Hill Peak & The Gap
The distinct, rugged rectangular incision or large ‘missing tooth’ in the skyline of the Torlesse Range known simply as ‘The Gap’ is a very popular area for trampers in Canterbury. Because The Gap is easily visible from the Canterbury Plains, the Port Hills, and the Craigieburn Range, its striking silhouette only adds to the allure…
-
Mt Titiroa: The Fiordland Mountain Covered in ‘Snow’ That Never Melts
The snows of Mt Titiroa Think you need alpine gear for a white-capped summit in mid-summer? Think again. In plain sight above Lake Manapouri is Mt Titiroa—a mountain that uses a clever geological trick to stay white all year round. The plan was simple: chase the Fiordland sunshine up to the summit. From a ‘deserted’ campsite…
-
🐤 Back from the Brink: My Time with the Takahē Recovery Programme
Ka tū te moho, kia ora ake anō. The takahē stands, in order to live again. What does it actually feel like to save a species? At 3:00 AM, it sounds like a chorus of loud, prehistoric calls echoing through the Burwood Takahē Centre. By mid-morning, it feels like “swimming” through waist-deep red tussock and…
-
🦖Ferny Gair Conservation Area – in search of the strange ‘dinosaur cave’
Hidden within the rugged terrain of Marlborough’s Ferny Gair Conservation Area lies a local mystery: a lone cave icon sitting silently on the topographical map below Mt Harkness. Intrigued by the prospect of finding a “secret dinosaur cave,” Tony, Matt, and I set off from the Awatere Valley on an ambitious 5 day tramp to…
-
The Garden of Eden and Allah Ice Plateaus – a 7 day traverse by a baby dinosaur
-
The Garden of Eden and Allah Ice Plateaus- Episode 3
-
Avalanche-Lyell-Bealey Peak Loop – The ‘Triple Crown’
The Avalanche-Lyell-Bealey Loop in Arthur’s Pass had been on my tramping list for ages. There was even once a race over Avalanche Peak, though unfortunately, it stopped running before I got the chance to compete. While researching the route, I stumbled across the nickname “The Triple Crown” for this loop—it stuck with me immediately and…
-
Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track: Holding on to your Pantaloons!
The Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track is a popular front-country tramp in Craigieburn Forest Park. This classic 34km Canterbury hike offers an incredible variety of terrain, from gentle valleys and lush beech forests to high alpine saddles with panoramic views with options for side trips such as summiting Mt Bruce for more experienced parties. In winter, the…
