On a dream
Alpine tops, grade 2 rapids, southern ocean and two perfectly calm crossings of Hauroko, the "Lake of the sounding wind". Jamie McAuly had a dream trip by all accounts...
The excitement of the unknown Exploring the Paringa
A remote West Coast river, packrafting, rain, a lack of information about paddling descents; for Chris Abel, it was hard to think of more exciting ingredients for an adventure.
Barnsey's guide to World Heritage Areas
Do you know your parks from your reserves? Which ones might be swapped tomorrow, which will be there for your grandchildren? Understand the legalese behind the land parcels that collectively constitute our public conservation land.
Ol' club mates: real friends
So what is it about tramping and climbing that builds friendships as solid as Darrans diorite?
Photo Comps Just Amateurs
Sally Stockdale explains why her club, the Wakatipu Tramping Club, began running a photo competition and how much they learned along the way.
Manapouri to Foveaux Strait The quintessential Fiordland journey
On Christmas Eve we set off from the West Arm of Lake Manapouri with around a weeks’ worth of food, packrafting and tramping gear, a bunch of TOPO maps and loose plans to make it to Foveaux Strait. We had a small box of food delivered to Lake Roe Hut on the Dusky Track to pick on the way. For two weeks we linked together rivers, Fiords, lakes, some trails and a few different mountain ranges to make it to the Southern Ocean.
Manawatu Gorge A brush with death or a brush with bureaucracy?
The closure of the Manawatu Gorge road is a pain for drivers...but Anthony Behrens reckons it’s a great walk through one of the region’s most dramatic places...it’s a shame about all the barriers
Tararua tops Chasing the fifteenth
In pursuit of the Tararuas' fifteen points above 1,500 metres
Good ol' Kiwi understatement When the whitewater is the easy part
Two hard days to get over Emily Pass, and then a long day down the Okuru River to the ocean
Club systems Membership management
Find out what works (and doesn't work) for clubs big and small.
Time to step up Cruising down the Clutha
Aimee Smith steps up from passenger to trip leader on a glorious paddle down the Clutha.
Canyoning Exploring the Wilberforce
Sometimes inspiration comes at you from a strange angle.
Olivine adventures Chasing Gold in the Arawhata, part 2
The grand-children of John Findlay continue their pilgrimage to the Olivine Range, and the glacier named after him.
Hike and Fly Para-waiting: It’s not a sport…
How often is the forecast wrong? Sometimes it could be worth taking a bit of a punt on the prediction...
Olivine adventures Chasing Gold in the Arawhata, part 1
The seed was planted for this trip a couple of years ago, when my sister and I were was told that there was a glacier in the Olivine Ranges named after our late grandfather, John Findlay.
Living and working in alpine Fiordland
Experiencing the Fiordland story of survival from the intimate details to the grand landscapes
Back in the day The origins of a packrafter
Hugh Canard reflects on a few past (mis)adventures which make him grateful for the modern packrafts we have these days.
Fiordland Autumn Roam
Roaming over passes and camping beneath the stars from Falls Creek to Hut Creek
The Moeraki: an unexpected adventure
Some adventures are planned, others present themselves unexpectedly. Otherwise known as (mini) epics, or type 2 (or three) fun, these adventures are often the memorable ones.
First descents: The General
Joe Bugden and Greg Tilden commit to the exploration of a world class technical canyon in the Dart valley.
Hindsight: learning from bad experiences
Hueristic traps can negatively influence outdoor decision making. Maria Hamelink recalls a few learning experiences which cemented her vow to "never cross a river just because someone says its ok."
Rockfall Fatality in the Ramsay
Rockfall is an increasing hazard in the Central Southern Alps due to glacial recession. Learn from the sad events of November 9, 2002, when a young climber died on the shores of the Ramsay Glacier terminal lake.
Upper Otaki Gorgeous gorges
Traditionally, the Otaki gorge below Waitewaewae Hut was the domain of trampers with tyre tubes in low summer flows, and the occasional heli-kayaker when it been raining. Now, like many of the Tararua gorges, this is set to become a classic packrafting trip.
OUTC Getting up to Antics
What is the value in recording and publishing your club stories? We interviewed Tanja De Wilde, 2016 co-editor of the OUTC annual journal to find out.
