Indholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2026 i Wilderness

ON THE DAY this issue went to print, Australia introduced its social media ban for under-16s. New Zealand may follow, as may others. I'm as much a fan of social media as anyone – Facebook is crucial to our Walk1200km group – but we are all aware of its drawbacks, namely the scrolling addiction, bullying and the predators ‘befriending’ children. Every parent worries about it and every parent will likely learn of someone who is victimised. You're probably wondering why I am blathering on about this; you didn't buy Wilderness for an online safety talk. Wilderness is a genuine family magazine. In our ‘Last Weekend’ section (p6), proud parents celebrate their adventures with their kids, and on p46 you'll find 50 trip ideas to turn your summer into a fun-packed…

A breakthrough in hut heating technology was ‘turned on’ at Welcome Flat Hut in November. A reticulated heating system pumps water from the nearby hot spring to the hut, where it flows to wall-mounted radiators in the main hut, bunkrooms and wet room/ entrance. The fully-automated system is set to heat the hut to a cosy 18°C. It can run 24/7 and will switch off when the programmed temperature is reached. The hut warden can also turn it on or off if necessary. Solar panels fitted on the hut roof and a mini hydro scheme supply power to run the pumps and for Starlink, which provides remote visibility and management of the system.…

THIS YEAR marks the fifth anniversary of a walking challenge that began as a way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Wilderness, and which has morphed into a life-changing pastime for thousands of people. More than 7000 people have experienced the benefits of Walk1200km, becoming fitter, healthier and happier by building a daily exercise habit that's easy to sustain. Together they've walked more than 8.5 million kilometres and 13 billion steps. Along the way they've discovered the joy of walking – friendships made and strengthened, the changing seasons, new locations – and the power of regular activity to strengthen the body, boost the brain and improve overall wellbeing. Now it's your turn to experience these benefits. The beauty of this challenge is its flexibility. Walk anywhere, anytime – with the…

A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT NICK MCFARLANE Signing up to Walk1200km was a no-brainer for me. I've always been aware of the benefits of walking – it's pure gold for the body, mind and spirit – though I knew I needed more than just good intentions to stick with it. It's all too easy to lapse when you don't have a goal. Walk1200km provides that; there's no escaping the progress tracker! Last year my wife and I completed the challenge together but it was difficult with our conflicting schedules, so I did it on my own in 2025. We still walk as a family. Some of my best memories growing up were of hiking in the bush. We're giving our boys that. Apart from all the benefits of being out in nature…

AKU Footwear partner Aku is an Italian footwear company based in Montebelluna, the heart of the Italian sports footwear region. For more than 40 years it has been making footwear in its own facilities in Italy and Romania, for people who live, work and spend time in the outdoors. In order to reduce its environmental impact, the brand focuses particular attention on the durability of its products. Veteran Kiwi outdoorsman Craig Caigou says Aku footwear offers “everything I rely on to keep me nimble and confident on my feet”. “Aku has high-quality, comfortable footwear for all walkers, no matter their experience or where their walks take them. We're proud to support your Walk1200km goals, one step at a time.” – Hamish Pirie, Aku distributor Shop the AKU range at www.gearshop.co.nz…

WILDERNESS is proud to announce the inaugural Shaun Barnett Memorial Scholarship as a tribute to leading tramping author and photographer Shaun Barnett. Open to aspiring photojournalists of all ages, the annual scholarship offers up to $1000 to the successful applicant in support of their backcountry adventures and creative development. Who was Shaun Barnett? Shaun Barnett (1968–2024) was one of New Zealand's leading outdoor writers, editors, historians and photographers. For more than 25 years his words and images enriched Wilderness, where he also served as editor and later as roving editor. His work combined deep personal experience with meticulous research and a lifelong passion for the backcountry. He authored or co-authored many influential books, among them Classic Tramping in New Zealand; Shelter from the Storm; A Bunk for the Night; Tramping:…

IF YOU'VE TRAMPED off-track in the New Zealand wilderness, you'll be familiar with the importance of deer trails – trampled routes where deer travel that make passage through the bush easier. Pick up any guidebook covering off-track travel in New Zealand and you'll read hundreds of phrases about how useful these trails are. Indeed, Moirs Guide South has a section on route finding that is dedicated to using deer and wapiti trails. When travelling through untracked thick bush I try to seek out these trails, as they always offer the best travel. Over the years I've gotten better at sniffing them out, looking for scuffed leaf litter, deer poo and broken branches or antler rubbings that indicate where they have been. I've learnt that deer like spurs and ridges, and…

BIRDING is the art of noticing. It steals your eyes from the trail, kinks your neck and stubs your toes on rocks and roots. It trains your ears to anticipate the call of a pīpīwharauroa shining cuckoo announcing spring's arrival, and fires your adrenalin when a tūī's territorial trill exposes a roosting ruru. I've always had a healthy appreciation for Aotearoa's birds; as a tramper, I feel it's mandatory. What else in our ngahere keeps us company? While in tramping boots I've been lucky to observe some of our rarest species – pīwauwau rock wrens on the high saddles of Rees–Dart, and tussock-munching takahē in the Heaphy's Gouland Downs. Many a curious robin has invaded my personal space during forest lunch breaks, and I've been overjoyed to spot kea and…

ONE PLANET SONDER $729 / 773G / -8°C OVERVIEW Blending performance with adaptability, this tapered rectangular bag can be fully unzipped and has high-end lightweight features such as hydrophobic 800–850 fill-power down and 10D Vapour Vent DWR-treated fabric. The footbox is sheathed in highly water-resistant and breathable Pertex Quantum Pro fabric. The bag is available in three sizes and three temperature ratings. We checked out the midrange: -8/-2°C (limit/comfort). PERFORMANCE The Sonder's comfort-oriented cut is roomy in the hips and lower legs for plenty of wriggle room and side sleeping, and the footbox is narrowed and insulated for warmth. The hood has moderate 3D shaping but less head-enclosing depth than an alpine-oriented bag, and there is no neck baffle. During warmer nights I appreciated the ability to open this bag…

RURAL GP DR GERRY TREVELLA SLEEPING I've recently upgraded to a Nemo women's Disco 30, saving over 1kg in weight and a lot of real estate in my pack. I like the ‘Thermo Gill’ vents for temperature control. I pair it with a silk liner or a warmer Sea to Summit Reactor thermal liner, depending on the season and if I expect to stay in huts or camp. Although bulky, my self-inflating Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4 has an R-value of 3.2. SHELTER I USUALLY GO HALVES IN CARRYING A MONT MOONDANCE 2-PERSON TENT AND FOOTPRINT (2KG) WITH MY HUSBAND. FOOTWEAR I'm on my second pair of Vasque St Elias boots, which provide excellent water resistance on the South Island's braided river crossings. I carry neoprene wetsuit shoes, which might seem an…

Reading the Old Ghost Road special issue (December 2025), I allowed myself a spot of reminiscing. My then 16-year-old son Max and I decided to bike the newly opened track in November 2016 and struck an unseasonal snow dump. It made for great memories and lots of fun navigating off the ridge the next morning. Ten years on, Max is now a licensed builder and works with Rob Brown at the Backcountry Trust refurbishing and building a number of huts each year. Maybe the night at Ghost Hut sparked the idea that huts need to be maintained – and warm. – Stuart Burgess Stuart receives a pair of Oboz Sawtooth Ascent hiking shoes worth $229. Readers, send your letter to the editor for a chance to win. FOLLY OF A…

Outdoor equipment retailer Gearshop won four categories at the 2025 Most Trusted Business Awards. Gearshop took out awards for Most Trusted In-Person Store in Nelson, Top 20 Most Trusted In-Person Shop in New Zealand, Most Trusted Online Outdoor/Sports Shop (industry award winner in this category) and Most Trusted Outdoor and Sporting Goods Company in New Zealand (NZ nationwide brand winner in this category). “Being considered a trustworthy business by our customers means everything to us,” Gearshop owner Hamish Pirie said. “This is especially significant in the online retail environment where there are many unscrupulous operators. We're always really mindful of ensuring that all our customers have a great retail experience with us and can feel secure when they are buying from us,” Pirie said. Now in their tenth year, the…

In the past year, 26 volunteers from the Greater Wellington Backcountry Hut Network (GWBN) donated more than 2160 hours of their time improving the huts in their area, and across 32 tracks completed over 100km of maintenance. The group also launched a new project to supply cleaning materials to the 50 huts within its network, for hut users to then help keep the accommodation clean. GWBN chair Derrick Field had noticed a lack of basic upkeep. Mould and lichen were spreading inside huts, vermin were leaving droppings across floors, and nature was claiming back its place around previously cleared sites. “Cleaning the huts needs to happen, especially those at damp, high-altitude sites,” he said. “But the simple cleaning tasks are often neglected. We saw a solution in providing cleaning materials…

Walking despite chronic illness I live with Ankylosing Spondylitis (a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes chronic back pain and stiffness) and other complications. Initially, I really had to push myself to get out for a walk when I was in pain and the fatigue was too much, but I soon realised how amazing I felt afterwards – and that feeling has inspired me to keep going. Now I've walked over 1100km and I feel better than ever, and hope to inspire others in similar situations. Anna Fraser WALKING THROUGH LIFE'S CURVEBALLS After back surgery, Walk1200km helped my recovery and reminded me how lucky I am to walk. Even short walks in tough conditions count, proving that every step matters. Sharon Boulton Regaining health and confidence I joined to lose…

THE TWO RED HUTS Some trampers don't mind spending hours marching their way up a wide, flat riverbed; others would rather do almost anything else. If you're in the first camp (or willing to give it a red-hot crack), Waimakariri Falls Hut and Barker Hut are worth the effort. Both routes involve multiple river crossings, cross avalanche terrain and are the kind of river march that has tested many a tramper's sanity. It's a rite of passage, really. Both routes begin at Klondyke Corner on the true left of Waimakariri River, just north of the Bealey Bridge. You can start via O'Malley's Track on the south side, but most trampers stick to the riverbed since it's usually faster and more straightforward. From Klondyke, follow the riverbed for 12km+ (about 4hr…

THE TWO SPECIES of cuckoo that breed in Aotearoa fly to the tropical Pacific to escape the winter cold – and who can blame them? The spritely shining cuckoo or pīpīwharauroa flies up to 4500km to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea each year. That's not bad for a 16cm bird that weighs 23g and fuels up on small caterpillars and insects. The enigmatic long-tailed cuckoo or koekoeā, which is more than twice as big (40cm) and four times heavier (125g), flies up to 6500km to western Micronesia or eastern Polynesia – the longest over-water migration of any forest bird species. Both return to Aotearoa in spring, stay through summer and depart again in autumn. The pīpīwharauroa is the more common and familiar of the duo, with the male's distinctive…

From lush forests to rugged coastlines, New Zealand is a playground of possibilities when it comes to getting little people excited about tramping. What makes a hike child-friendly? It's not necessarily what you might think – flat and easy can mean boring. Kids crave adventure. Think slightly technical terrain that's fun – tracks to climb, creeks to play in and swingbridges and boardwalks to cross. Remember to bring delicious snacks – maybe a thermos of hot chocolate. You're aiming for memorable experiences, not kilometres, so keep the journey fun rather than focusing on the destination, and short enough that it stays interesting. Our practical hut system allows us to turn many walks into overnight adventures and explore the backcountry safely. Huts give kids more space to move in the evenings…

$180 / 600G (M), 472G (W) OVERVIEW The sole is a sticky rubber with a tread inspired by a tree frog's grip – there are hundreds of hexagonal lugs with etched grooves to maximise surface area and shed water. It has a textured topsole and durable nylon webbing straps backed with quick-drying recycled polyester padding. PERFORMANCE On a formed track with unbridged stream crossings in the Waitākere Ranges, traction from water to rock or track was secure, and the textured topsole helped prevent the foot from slipping. The padded straps are an excellent upgrade on webbing-only straps: they don't rub or cause irritation when wet. One caveat: the heel padding tends to fold beneath the foot when putting on the sandal, requiring it to be pulled aside. The super soft…

Get your photo published here to receive a meal from Real Meals worth $18. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz. LEARN MORE ABOUT REAL MEALS AT www.realmeals.co.nz.…

Competitors in the inaugural Paparoa Ultra will race the 55km Paparoa Track this March. The event sold out within 10 days of entries opening. “It started as an idea to gather 20 or so friends to run the track in a race format, but we soon discovered how excited people were for this event, and so the idea grew quickly,” said event organiser Andrea Hughes (pictured). Entries are limited to 120 in order to be mindful of other track users. The ultra will be a community affair, with local businesses involved in as much of the race organisation as possible, Hughes said. Twenty per cent of race revenue will be donated to a West Coast conservation project or local business.…

From basic bivouacs hidden in the alpine heights to fully serviced huts with flush toilets and roaring fireplaces, across the motu New Zealand has more than 950 public huts. Some must be booked in advance and others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. They provide a refuge in the backcountry. But what about the freedom that taking a tent offers? In the backcountry, you can camp wherever you like. Perched within nature, camping offers solitude away from other trampers. It's just you and the stars at night. You will have to carry your tent and a sleeping mat, though, and a digging tool for toileting, and if you don't have an ultralight tent, you'll be adding around 2kg to your overall pack weight. A hut can offer more comfort. It'll…

WEEK 1 Congratulations on your first steps towards 1200km! You'll experience many benefits, including the feeling of excitement and anticipation. As you set off on walks this week, know that your immune system is already getting a boost and you're less likely to get sick. Many people find exercise helps them sleep better, and they have more energy throughout the day. See if your dependence on boosters like caffeine and sugary treats starts to decrease as you walk regularly. WEEK 2 Your physical confidence, accuracy and balance will improve with each day of walking. Keep it up! Walking also unleashes creativity and helps you think outside the box. You may notice stress and anxiety levels decreasing as a result of time in nature, and as you become attuned to your…

IT HELPS WITH PERIMENOPAUSE IT IS EASIER TO ACHIEVE THAN YOU THINK. I DID IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2025 AND WALKED A TOTAL OF 222 DAYS TO ACHIEVE THE 1200KM, EIGHT WEEKS AHEAD OF THE 12 MONTHS. IT'S MOTIVATING, AND MY PERIMENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS HAVE IMPROVED SINCE I STARTED. I HAVE WALKED TWO HALF MARATHONS AND A FEW TRAMPS, BUT MOST OF MY WALKS WERE DONE IN THE STREETS AROUND MY HOUSE. YOU DON'T NEED FANCY EQUIPMENT AND YOU CAN DO IT ANYTIME OF THE DAY. I PLAN TO DO BETTER NEXT YEAR! Trish Brasell It helps you notice the small things When walking every day, you get to appreciate the flow of the seasons, the way sunset shifts in the sky, the little signs of coming out of…

These three fun #microchallenges will help you to appreciate your surroundings and have fun on your walks. Our favourite six #microchallenge completers receive a money-can't-buy limited edition Walk1200km badge, and the best entry for each challenge receives a prize from our partners. #microchallenge1: A BENCH, A VIEW AND YOU Ease into Walk1200km with one of our favourite challenges. Find a bench with a brilliant view and take a photo of the seat, the view and you! #microchallenge1 Partner prize: A pair of Bridgedale Midweight Merino Performance Fit socks! #microchallenge2: TAKE WILDERNESS FOR A WALK The magazine about walking wants to go for a walk, so show it (and us) your favourite track, reserve, bush walk or mountain view. #microchallenge2 Partner prize: A $100 Further Faster shop voucher! #microchallenge3: CLIMB A…

IT MIGHT BE the most expensive landscape photography book in New Zealand, but fine art landscape photographer and author Peter Latham's dedication to his craft stretches over decades – and it shows in his $180 publication, Land of Light. Latham's fascination with photography began in the 1970s when he would collect his developed photos from the pharmacy. “I thought that was magic; snapping away as a youngster on a Kodak Instamatic camera, depositing the film canister at the chemist and collecting the photos a week later. Most were terrible, but sometimes there might be a couple of decent snaps,” says Latham. That wonder has led him to an extraordinary career. For eight years he worked as a cruise ship photographer on board 17 different liners, including the Queen Elizabeth 2…

WILDERNESS Subscribers, listen to Sarah read her story and answer a few questions about this trip in the online version of this story. EVERY TRACK and hut has its own story, its reason for existence. On this trip in South Westland, the routes we followed and the huts we stayed at harked back to a bygone era of New Zealand pioneering, farming and backcountry history. Paul and I followed a historic Māori pounamu route, a track to access a mine and the cattle-drive route used before there was a road. The huts we slept in were variously built to shelter deer cullers and roadmen, were purpose-built for tramping or erected as a memorial. It's hard to believe that the final section of the road from Paringa to Haast was only…

WATERPROOFING Waterproof shoes have a membrane that also provides breathability to move moisture away from the foot. Non-waterproof shoes are naturally breathable and tend to cost less. It's worth considering a non-waterproof model if you're hiking mostly in dry conditions. UPPER Most hiking shoes are made from a combination of leather and synthetic materials such as mesh or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is a rubber-like material. They are light, easy to break in, breathable and quick-drying. EYELETS AND LACES Fabric lace loops are common; metal or hard plastic eyelets are found on shoes intended for demanding use. PROTECTION Rubber or fabric overlays may be used at the toe box, heel and on the sides of the shoe. They protect feet from knocks and the upper material from abrasion. MIDSOLE Most…

Tell us about the guidebook and its intended audience SH: It was an inherited project, a hit list of about 100 grade 1 and 2 routes for experienced mountaineers to tick off. But it evolved considerably and is now mostly aimed at beginners, because we saw a real need for something they could get their teeth into. We whittled down the list to about 50 peaks so we could give good route descriptions. For each region, we've started with what could be considered a tramping peak, extending through to a more challenging aspirational peak. We've tried to make it as accessible to the audience as we can. How did you divvy up the research? SH: There were plenty of lower South Island climbs from my university days that I remembered…