Innehållsförteckning för March 2025 från Wilderness

WE KIWI TRAMPERS TRULY ARE A LUCKY BUNCH. And, a part of that luck resulted from the NZ Forest Service combating a potential disaster when a booming deer population in the 1970s led to a hut-building boom by the service. The huts were for deer cullers, and the result is a network of backcountry accommodation that is unique to New Zealand. In this issue, out of more than 900 huts that now dot the country we’ve highlighted 25 amazing shelters. But as we celebrate these huts, a warning. Late last year, cash-strapped DOC (when has it ever not been cash-strapped?) proposed charging up to $57/night to use a basic hut or bivvy (neither of which currently incur any fee), and to increase the fees of standard huts and campsites. The…

Those canoeing the Whanganui River, Aotearoa’s wettest Great Walk, can now find shelter in three new buildings. Located at Ngaporo Campsite, Mangapurua Campsite and John Coull Hut, the buildings mirror the shape of a wharenui. They have been blessed by Ratana church minister Robbie Williams. The idea for the wharenui was first pitched in 2015. Original rain collection structures, installed in the early 1990s, provided minimal protection from the elements. The new buildings provide shelter and cultural context while continuing to function as water catchers. DOC’s Jim Campbell said that in time the department will build more of the shelters along the awa.…

BUSHLINE RASPBERRY APPLE BIRCHER $11.99 Start your walk on the right foot with this ready-to-eat bircher breakfast. With a combination of nuts, seeds, raspberries and Nelson apples. www.yumnz.co.nz MOUNTAIN KING TRAILBLAZE $229 Walk further with these lightweight, easily assembled four-section poles used by some of the world’s best mountain athletes. www.furtherfaster.co.nz BACK COUNTRY CUISINE APRICOT CHICKEN, FROM $11.99 A nourishing savoury casserole with freeze-dried chicken and apricots on rice. Gluten Free and no added dairy. www.backcountrycuisine.co.nz AKU FLYROCK MID GTX $379.99 This boot has dynamic fit technology that increases comfort and stability by adapting the heel tension to a walker’s natural stride. www.gearshop.co.nz BRIDGEDALE HIKE LIGHTWEIGHT MERINO PERFORMANCE $54.99 A lightweight sock for day hiking or warm weather walks. Bridgedale construction ensures dry comfortable feet both on and off-trail. www.ampro.co.nz…

1 Lane Cove Hut Northland A romantic seaside retreat where you can watch the fish jumping. Tucked into a tranquil arm of Pekapeka Bay in the Whangaroa Harbour, this destination is idyllic. Sip coffee on the deck while the tide caresses the kōwhai and mangroves beneath. This serviced, wood-panelled cottage accommodates 16 in three large rooms and must be booked. Access is from Totara North, about 10km north of Kaeo township. Walk along the well-marked Wairakau Track over a low saddle. The benched path descends through luxuriant rainforest and grassy flats to the harbour then skirts a tidal estuary before climbing a rocky trail to Lane Cove. An adventurous scramble up the Duke’s Nose, a rock formation that towers above the hut, provides sublime 360-degree views. Grade Easy–moderate Time 2–3hr RAY SALISBURY 2 Leitchs Hut…

When the landslide struck Howden Hut, rousing Kristin Vella from sleep, she thought the building had been ripped from its foundations and washed away in a torrent of water-the way Dorothy’s house was whipped up by a tornado in the Wizard of Oz. The reality was almost as scary. It was February 2020 and Vella, an Australian living in Auckland, was walking the Routeburn Track with family members. Rain was forecast, but that was normal for New Zealand, she thought - especially for Fiordland. The family had warm and waterproof clothes and plenty of food and spent their first night in Howden Hut, near the southern end of the track. Next morning the weather had taken a turn for the worse. “It was really, really wet. The kind of rain…

SHAPE Mummy bags are the warmest and lightest as they have less unused space. Bags vary in size and won’t suit all body shapes, so it’s best to try before buying. Some are specifically designed for women and are shorter and slightly wider at the hip. ZIPS Zips provide access and ventilation. For maximum warmth and minimum weight, half or three-quarter zips are best. A full-length, two-way zip allows greater ventilation, and same-brand bags can often be zipped together. BAFFLES Baffles form parcels of down and place insulation where it’s most needed. In mid- to high-end bags with greater loft, baffles are separated by internal panels. On cheaper bags they’re sometimes sewn through. FABRICS Lightweight ripstop nylon or polyester fabrics treated with a PFC-free water repellent are common in bags…

A HIGHLIGHT of this walk, the 30m Hūnua Falls, is within sight of the car park, itself an easy one-hour drive from the CBD. It was quite different in Victorian times, when visitors travelled by steamer to Clevedon then walked to the waterfall. To view the falls from below, take the short path over the footbridge to the right of the cleaning station in the Hūnua Falls parking area in Falls Road. For the loop track, return to the car park, pass through the cleaning station and cross the bridge over the Wairoa River to Cosseys Gorge Track on the left. After 480m turn right onto the Hūnua Falls Loop Track to a lookout and a panoramic view of the forest and the falls. Return and continue on Cosseys Gorge…

MAJOR PEAK towers over a vast landscape spanning the Thomson and Ailsa mountain ranges to the west of Lake Wakatipu and the Harris Range to the east. Although mountaineering equipment isn’t required in summer months, standing atop the 2126m peak is no easy feat. Tough scrambling and vital navigation skills are keys to success. The track begins at the Lake Face Creek Falls car park. A poled route leads through a small forest where the base of the falls can be accessed. The route then ascends sharply on the waterfall’s edge until a fence is reached. Climb this and follow the orange marker poles across farmland. The poled route eventually ends at a barbedwire fence where Whakaari Conservation Area begins. Follow the fence line to a gate. Good navigation skills…

FIRE SAFETY IN HUTS There are white folded fire blankets in most serviced huts, and I'll bet you're like us - not noticing them until they're needed. So a big thank you to DOC for installing these blankets and having them strategically placed by a kitchen bench or near the door. They work wonders if you start a fire in a hut. They are easy to use and, after drying, to fold and repack for reuse. Recently, in a hut in Nelson Lakes National Park, an older gas cooker was correctly attached to the cylinder but something faulted and it caught fire. The flame adjustment handle melted, the blaze grew and if it were not for the fire blanket it may not have been extinguished. We were worried that the…

In summer 2022, artist Jacob Paterson walked the South Island leg of Te Araroa, tramping 1400km in 60 days. He created a drawing each day and has recently been revising them. He shared a sneak preview with Wilderness. “I had a lot of spare time,” Paterson said. “I walked for maybe four to ten hours a day. At the hut, i cooked dinner and then drew what I saw or what I remembered from the day.” The practice became a daily habit. “Some of them are really good, some are rubbish,” Paterson said. It was not about being perfect but about the simple craft of putting pencil to paper and sitting in the moment. “I grew up tramping in the South Island with my dad and had such a cool…

COMPETITION TIPS Follow these tips to give yourself the best shot at winning. → Multiple images may be submitted, but you should only include one image per email entry. → Don’t send multiple variations of the same shot - choose your favourite. → The best photos tell a story. Human or animal elements can bring scale, personality, colour and excitement to an image. → Dare to be different. Every year we get dozens of images of kea, the Kepler Track, Mueller Hut and Aoraki Mt Cook. Find unique places and subjects, or frame classic vistas in new ways. → We use (and pay for) dozens of entries to illustrate stories and covers in future issues of Wilderness. This means the best photos reflect the content of the magazine and should…

#microchallenge37: Find an interesting grave Partner prize: Bridgedale Midweight Merino Performance Fit socks! #microchallenge38: Record a timelapse Partner prize: A $100 Further Faster voucher! 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! #microchallenge39: Capture a spider's work of art Partner prize: A $100 Back Country Cuisine voucher!…

THE MERE THOUGHT of walking with a big group likely appals some readers. What could possibly be pleasant about continual chatter, decision-making by committee, crowded huts and guaranteed snoring? However, as a battle-hardened tramping groupie, I can tell you there are some wonderful aspects to tramping with others. I’m not going to try and convince you that tramping with a group is better than going solo or with a tight team, but, to my mind, it is just as good. By ‘big group’ I’m talking six to ten people, a number I’ve walked with often. More than that is a different kettle of fish. One thing that deters many people from organising a big tramping group is the mere thought of having to organise a big tramping group. People can…

In 1892 Charlie Douglas, that tough old explorer, commented: ‘For grand scenery and difficulty getting to see it, [the Waitaha] very nearly holds first place in Westland.’ There are many routes to Ivory Lake Hut – via the Steadman Brow, Prices Flat from the Whitcombe or the spiky Galaena Ridge – but none of these routes has the fearsome reputation of the Waitaha River. Hut log books along the route are littered with tales of despair. A couple of days upriver, between Moonbeam and Top Waitaha huts, any semblance of track disappears. It’s just you and the massive power of the river - huge boulders, narrow chasms and raging torrents. Some parts require steep bush bashes through the lush tangle of West Coast growth. A few heroes manage this section…

OUTDOOR ED PROFESSIONAL AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST NATASHA MEALING Natasha Mealing loves going bush and enjoys long, remote alpine trips. She is known for testing her gear thoroughly and values hard-wearing items that can be easily repaired. TENT My Vango Banshee (2800g) is still waterproof after 10 years, pitches quickly, stands up to wind and has good ventilation. I also use a Zempire Atom 1 person (l800g), which has good internal space. SLEEP SYSTEM Either a One Planet Quest Pro Quilt -3 (680g) or Cocoon -11 (1200g), paired with a silk liner or Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme liner. I sleep best using a quilt and have stayed super warm (when I thought I would be cold). My Therm-a-Rest NeoAir-Xlite (350g regular length) is quiet to sleep on, comfy and…

THIS ISOLATED crossing can be done in either direction. From the Aorangi Crossing car park on the Cape Palliser side, the track starts on the true left of Mangatoetoe Stream. It quickly peters out but reappears on the river bank at times on the way to Mangatoetoe Hut. If in doubt, follow the wide and easy-to-navigate riverbed. Mangatoetoe Hut is the first of four six-bunk huts on the crossing. It’s in good shape and has plenty of camping spots on the surrounding grass flats. From the hut the track follows the stream gradually to a low saddle which is followed by a quick descent to the stream below, where there’s a nice pool for cooling off. There are many slips as you start down the stream, but the track is…

ONE WAY to get to Motutapere Hut is via Thompsons Track, a legal road that crosses the Kaimai Range between Manawarū and Katikati. The story goes that it was upgraded during World War II as an alternative escape route should Tauranga be invaded. Today, the track has been hammered by 4WD vehicles and is seriously rutted and muddy in places. For trampers, the Mt Eliza Mine Track is a far more pleasant route to the hut. It begins at an obvious parking area on Thompsons Track and descends through low-altitude forest on an easy grade for 20min to Waitekohe Stream, which is easily crossed in normal flow. Follow the track above the stream on the true left for about 40min before turning right at the signposted junction to start the…

Get your photo published here to receive a meal from Real Meals worth $17. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz. LEARN MORE ABOUT REAL MEALS AT www.realmeals.co.nz.…

Sarah’s first year in Walk1200km was 2024. She had done 906km at the time of speaking and was on track to finish. Why Walk 1200km? Much-needed motivation and community inspiration. Where? Mostly in Ōtautahi’s Hagley Park and the Port Hills, plus a couple of Great Walks with the whānau for good measure. How? A great start in summer and autumn but a bit haphazard over winter. I’ve set myself a mini-challenge of making 300km of my walks non-urban ‘wild walks’. With? Mostly solo at lunchtime, but some weekend walks with friends and whānau. Benefits? Time in nature and exercise is great for my wellbeing. At the outset I didn’t realise how much Walk1200km would help me in my role as a councillor. I’m very focused on sustainable transport and now…

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. #microchallenge04: Find a face Find a face in a tree, a cloud, a landscape or anything at all and tell us who or what you think it looks like. #microchallenge04 Partner prize: A pair of Bridgedale Midweight Merino Performance Fit socks! #microchallenge05: Eat an ice cream Replace lost calories on a hot summer’s walk with the most lavish and souped-up ice cream you can find. #microchallenge05 Partner prize: A $100 Back Country Cuisine voucher! #microchallenge06: Take a shade photo At this time of year it’s a lot cooler…

FROM THE CAR PARK on the south side of Klondyke Bridge, head along O’Malley Track, a wide, easy path through beech forest with the Waimakariri River surging below. You’ll soon pass a campsite in sphagnum heaven and sidle up a pretty stream. Gentle bush walking follows. Within 45min the grassy plain of Turkey Flat is reached, over which the track beelines for nearly 5km. Turkey Flat is the Jordan Stream’s expansive alluvial fan. After rain there may be several channels to cross, any of which may be boot-wetters. The scenery here is somewhat surprising. With snow-capped Mt Harper and Camp Spur beckoning ahead, the grassy flats, dotted with beech, feel more characteristic of alpine valleys further south. They can be cold and windy, and on an unsettled day a sense…