Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Wilderness

WHO IS THE 2025 Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year? No spoilers here: turn to page 28 to find out. We received a whopping 2600 entries this year. Thank you to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the winners. On page 34 Ray Salisbury writes about the classic Five Passes route. Every time I’m asked if I’ve done this trip, I cringe. A decade ago, I flew over from Australia with my partner to tackle it, but due to a series of stuff-ups, we had to turn back on the third day. It was a lesson in what not to do. I was a newbie tramper and left the logistics to my experienced partner - who downloaded a GPX that turned out to be a variation on the route, which we…

If you blink, you may just miss him. He’s speedy, he’s infamous, he’s had a song written about him, and he’s just become the oldest person to hike Te Araroa in the 2025 season. At 82 years old, Ernst Schweizer didn’t plan on breaking any records. He’s just a fella who loves a big hike. Schweizer “knocked the bastard off” and touched the Stirling Point signpost on March 20. He had set out from Cape Rēinga on November 2. “I surprised myself,” he said. “I can still walk those young ones into the ground, especially on the flat.” During the hike he met Elliot Williams, at six years old the youngest person on Te Araroa this year. Elliot was hiking with his parents and three siblings. Elliot’s mother, Courtney, said…

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THESE two long-tailed parakeets embody the vibrant green hues of Aotearoa’s native forests. Little wonder then that, in te reo Maori, ‘kākāriki’ also means ‘green’. Like their bigger and bolder kea and kākā relatives, kākāriki are also curious and energetic. When flying they are swift and agile enough to jink and veer rapidly, which helps them to avoid their aerial nemesis, the kārearea New Zealand falcon. The red-crowned is the larger of the two, growing up to 28cm and 80g, with rātā-red feathering that extends from the bill onto the crown and behind the eyes. But although it may have been anointed Bird of the Year in 2010, the yellow-crowned kakariki’s golden glow outshines it. The yellow-crowned bird is slightly smaller, growing up to 25cm and 50g. It has a…

THERE IS a persistent fallacy that down insulated jackets (and sleeping bags) should never be washed. However, if you want many years’ use from your jacket (and given its price, you’ll surely want to), washing it at least once a year will improve its longevity substantially. Even an old, sad-looking synthetic insulated jacket can be restored to its former glory with a decent clean. CHOOSE THE CORRECT CLEANING PRODUCT Forget regular laundry detergents, which leave a residue that prevents down and synthetic insulation from repelling moisture and lofting properly. Instead, use a specialised wash such as Gear Aid Down Cleaner, Nikwax Down Wash Direct (or Nikwax Tech Wash for synthetic insulated jackets), or Grangers Down Wash for any insulation type. HAND OR MACHINE WASHING ⇨ Your jacket can go in…

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START ON the Lower Silica Rapids Track and head south-west through mountain beech forest. The track crosses Whakapapanui Stream on a high bridge at the outset then gradually ascends towards Waikare Stream, which is also bridged, and passes the intriguing Golden Rapids. A short, sharp climb at Waikare Stream has you out of the forest and onto a boardwalk over an alpine bog. Expect to see large dragonflies and alpine plants and shrubs here. Over your shoulder you may see Mt Ngāuruhoe poking above the forest. To your left, if clouds haven’t obscured it, is Mt Ruapehu. At the end of the bog the track dips back into the forest and heads west, skirting the tributary headwaters of Whakapapaiti Stream. Slips have cleared large sections of forest, but the trail…

MAKE YOURSELF SMILE I am from the prairies of Winnipeg, Canada - almost smack dab in the middle of the country. I didn’t grow up with tramping, but after moving to Aotearoa in 2014, it is something I now love. I began with small day tramps and soon multi-day hikes became my idea of fun. I knew I wanted to walk Te Araroa the minute I heard about it. I thought, ‘If I can walk for one day, I can walk for two, if I can walk for two, I can walk for three.’ I asked for a sign that I should put work on pause and hit the hills. And a sign from the universe came. I was showering, conditioning my hair, scrunching my eyes shut as soap suds…

Nick Allen has dedicated his life to challenging the notion that a neurological diagnosis is the end of one’s ability to get outdoors. This year he is climbing 52 peaks higher than 1000m. In his mid-20s Allen was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder and confined to a mobility scooter. He spent the next five years in rehabilitation, eventually climbing a 6000m peak in the Himalayas. Following that, in 2015 he set up Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust, an organisation supporting people with neurological disabilities to get outdoors. “Getting into a green space, hearing the sound of water or wind in the trees, smelling the forest and engaging our senses in nature has the effect of calming our central nervous system,” he said. “Outdoors is where I feel the most freedom from…

#microchallenge04: Find a face Partner prize: Bridgedale Midweight Merino Performance Fit socks! #microchallenge05: Eat an ice cream Partner prize: A $100 Back Country Cuisine Voucher #microchallenge06: Take a shade photo Partner prize: A pair of AKU Fly Rock Mid GTX boots worth $380! Seen that you’ve won? To claim your prize, email a photo of yourself holding this issue of Wilderness to: walk1200km@lifestylepublishing.co.nz. Only registered Walk1200km participants are eligible to win, so make sure you’re registered!…

This year, we received a whopping 2600 entries in the Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition. Whittling down the entries was a vicarious trip around the country, from sketchy ridgeline scrambles to joyous river crossings. The quality of the entries in the wildlife category, in particular, was especially high. Thanks to everyone who submitted, and huge thanks to sponsor Panasonic New Zealand for supplying the amazing Lumix camera prizes. OUT THERE WINNER Judges’ comments Alistair Hall: An original photo from my favourite national park. Grant has worked hard to get a unique perspective - I love the scale of the trampers exploring this vast volcanic landscape. Mark Watson: A sense of scale, depth and subtle, well-observed light in an extraordinary landscape are the qualities Grant has expertly blended to make…

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MSR NEOLOFT $599.99 / 802C (REC) / R4.7 OVERVIEW This mat introduces a new gold standard of comfort for packable sleeping mats. It’s nearly 12cm thick and offers car-camping luxury for less than 800g (mat only) in a packed size that’s practical for multi-day tramps. It has stretch-knit fabric, reflective insulation and raised side baffles that contribute to the best possible sleep. EASE OF USE The extra-large pump bag will inflate the mat in under 90 seconds via a one-way inlet valve. Turning the outlet valve bleeds pressure for easy fine-tuning, and opening it fully provides rapid deflation. The cornerlocated TwinLock valves help prevent accidental deflation when adjusting pressure in the dark. WEIGHT AND PACKED SIZE Considering its high R-value, the NeoLoft’s packability is comparable to some three- or four-season…

THE DRY ACHERON Track is the first walkway established by the New Zealand Walking Access Commission under the Walking Access Act 2008. The route crosses both Big Ben and Dry Acheron stations which, combined, cover around 4600ha. From the small car park on Coleridge Road, follow the DOC markers and cross a stile into farmland. This section is just under 1.4km long and includes two gates. Stick to the marked route at all times to stay within the boundary of covenant areas. Cross a second stile, follow the markers along a hedge and veer left with the fenceline to cross a third stile at around 2km. Here you drop down and enter the Dry Acheron Stream. Depending on the water level, you’re likely to get wet feet. DOC markers are…

THIS TRIP starts in Howard Valley just after a low ford of Louis Creek. Head west up the wide 4WD road to enter the public conservation estate and native forest. About 1.5km on a short side-track on the right drops down to the Louis Creek fossicking area. Recreational gold mining is allowed here using a crowbar, pick, pan or sluice box. Continue straight ahead past a private dwelling for 500m until the track reaches the confluence of two streams. The river bank is eroded here, so cross carefully to reach the ‘Jewellers Shop’ on the far bank. This was the ambitious gold claim of Charlie Smith, who spent seven months building a dam and water race in the upper reaches of Louis Creek. From 1915 about 150 men were employed…

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.…

The popular walking track connecting Stony Bay and Fletcher Bay at the northern tip of Coromandel Peninsula may soon re-open. A 670m section of the Coromandel Walkway was closed after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the region in 2023, when landslides made parts of the track impassable. “We appreciate the community and visitors have been patient as they wait for us to reinstate this track,” said DOC Coromandel supervisor Matt Flynn, “and we’re glad they will soon be able to enjoy a wonderful Coromandel coastal experience again.” DOC has cleared some of the smaller slips and commenced work on the main slip at the end of March. It is hoped the track will reopen in mid-April. “We’re conscious this is a popular and picturesque asset that draws visitors to the northern peninsula,…

The Pinnacles, Coromandel Forest Park 6hr return, 12km Chosen by: Karen Murray I walked to The Pinnacles and back in a morning via Webb Creek Track. I started really early as I wanted solitude. I loved the walk because it challenged me, offers superb views and has an interesting history. Part of the track follows an old packhorse route once used by kauri bushmen to haul timber out of the forest. Stone steps cut into the rock at Webb Creek provided sure footing for the horses in the early 1900s, and still do the same for walkers today! I’m glad I took my walking poles as I have bad knees and it was muddy. It’s mainly steps all the way and then a ladder climb to The Pinnacles lookout (759m).…

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. #microchallenge 10: Become a one percenter! One of our most popular microchallenges is back: do one walk of at least 12km - or 1 percent of the challenge. Be sure to describe where you went and how this walk compared to your usual outings. Include proof (e.g. a screen grab of your walking app) and a photo of yourself at completion! #microchallenge10 1% Partner prize: A Big Agnes Impassable 20 pack worth $360! #microchallenge 11: Amazing autumn What makes autumn a special time to walk? Is it the…

“As we haul our weary bodies skyward over schist slabs, bursting lungs and aching thighs remind us: ‘This is not the Routeburn.’ Beaten paths are for beaten people … but they are useful launching pads for adventures into the wilderness. Beginning on the famous Routeburn Track in Mt Aspiring National Park, we planned to detour off the tourist trail into places less travelled. Seven trampers. Six days. Five passes - that was our mission. Our 80km tramp - over the famous Five Passes route - would include some long days as we climbed half the height of Everest, witnessed nature at her finest and enjoyed close-knit camaraderie. The start of our intrepid journey reads like a comedy of errors. I leave my cap in the car and have to return…

Norwegian Les Bergersen was many things - a shearer and a wrestler, to name two - but most of all, he was a talented carpenter. Les used a broadaxe to craft a hut near Mangawhero River on the southern slopes of Ruapehu. Made from cleanly hewn kaikawaka, the hut was capped with a corrugated-iron roof and sported a shingle on the door that read ‘Bergersen’s Hut’. The single room had an open fireplace, a bed, table and chair, cupboards and a bookcase. Les kept his prize broadaxe stashed carefully under a secret loose floorboard. The hut had a purpose. In 1943 Les was called up for military training to serve in World War Two but was having none of it. He was married with a young family and had witnessed…

HOODS Hoods improve warmth considerably by trapping warm air around a wearer’s head without blocking visibility. Hoods on alpine or climbing jackets will fit over or under the helmet. Drawcords are often used to tighten the hood but, as with cuffs, elastic hood hems ensure a more snug and warmth-trapping fit. BAFFLES Down jackets use baffles to keep the fill from moving around. Some synthetic garments also use baffles amongst other techniques. Seamless (welded or seam-sealed) construction reduces heat loss through the stitching. POCKETS Two handwarmer pockets are the norm. Large ‘drop-in’ internal pockets can be used to store items close to the body. Lighter and more compressible jackets will stuff into one of the pockets or a separate stuff sack for transport. FILL POWER When choosing a down jacket,…

FROM THE PARKING area, walk past the DOC sign and the water tanks. Soon after, the road narrows to a walking track which climbs gently into the Waimā Forest. Beneath a low canopy of punga, rimu and rewarewa, small watercourses - easily crossed by rock hopping - cut through the track. Water pipes run along the side of the track, as the area is privately owned and has a farming history. After around 30min, there are glimpses of Hokianga Harbour. A short, steep, scramble up a bank reveals more views before the track plunges into a valley filled with lush, green subtropical forest. The track creeps along the edge of a muddy clay bank before the terrain flattens next to a small but fast-flowing river. The track winds deeper into…

THE POPULAR Sunrise Track starts at Sunrise Track car park on North Block Road and follows the edge of a paddock and native bush. After an easy 10 minutes there’s a junction to Triplex Hut. Keep left here and begin the 650m climb to Sunrise Hut. The track through beech forest is wide and well-maintained, with many switchbacks. At 900m it levels off briefly and there is a bench for a deserved rest. Sunrise Hut is perched in a perfect place to catch the dawn. Views over farmland below extend all the way to Hawke’s Bay, which glimmers in the distance. The hut is 2-3hr from the car park, so bookings fill up fast, especially on weekends. The track behind the hut emerges above the bushline within 100m, then it’s…