adventure

Embracing the Wilderness My Journey into Adventure Filmmaking

By Andy Carruthers|2024-11-18T12:19:53+13:00November 18th, 2024

Are you interested in adventure filmmaking? Grab your camera and start telling your story! Founder of 'Short Films Big Adventures' and outdoor enthusiast, Andy Carruthers, shares his journey from novice filmmaker to creator of a successful adventure film, Tararua S-K, featured on Apple TV and Air New Zealand's in-flight entertainment. From crafting an engaging story to filmmaking and distribution, Andy offers insider tips for aspiring adventure filmmakers.

Trip Reports

Love our Huts Story The Elusive Ivory Lake Hut

By Guest Author|2024-11-18T10:17:57+13:00November 5th, 2024

After nearly five years of striving to reach Ivory Lake Hut from multiple directions, she proves elusive for a tramping party of four. During one final push from the north, she grants entry and they experience a hard-won backcountry trip after three failed attempts and never giving up. Failure has its own rewards and for these keen trampers, their arrival is well worth the wait.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Operation Great Barrier

By Guest Author|2024-10-30T14:30:53+13:00October 30th, 2024

"Our journey to Great Barrier Island wasn't just about completing a hike and getting through the long days of walking – it was about pushing our limits, working as a team, and making memories that will stay with us forever." For their DOE Gold Qualifying Journey, six students from Orewa College navigate the steep descents of the old Kauri Tramline Track and scale hundreds of stairs to reach the summit of Mount Hobson.

Trip Reports

An Alternative Approach Doing the S-K Another Way

By Guest Author|2024-08-26T14:05:20+12:00August 26th, 2024

The S-K is an epic 80 kilometre north-to-south Tararua journey, traditionally completed in 48 hours or less. For Mark Wilcox and his wife, Sarah, the S-K route looks appealing but without the restrictive timeframe. So together, they decide to achieve a tops S-K their way – totaling 41 hours of tramping over seven days without injury and whilst still remaining friends.

Trip Reports

A Dog's Tale Crossing the Bridge

By Guest Author|2024-08-19T16:30:40+12:00August 19th, 2024

What happens when a party of three suddenly becomes a party of four? A tramping weekend takes an unexpected turn for Chris and a group of trampers when a mysterious dog appears on the trail. Upon realising they’ve found someone’s missing dog, Chris bravely faces his childhood fear of dogs and the team figures out how to safely return the canine home.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

March 2024 Learn by Doing

By Robin McNeill|2024-08-19T15:12:36+12:00August 19th, 2024

Does the success society has at making life safer merely encourage us to take bigger risks? Uncle Jacko ponders how this question pertains to the backcountry, as well as explores bothy bags, hammocks and the Ngāi Tahu Cultural Mapping Project. He signs off with a friendly message to the blokes reading this column: people learn by doing, not watching.

Trip Reports

Tararua Ranges Tops Feast

By Peter Laurenson|2024-08-19T16:52:37+12:00August 19th, 2024

Beautifully captured by photographer Peter Laurenson, an extended version of the Tararua Ranges' northern crossing brings a tops feast for Peter and his mate, Simon, and just the right amount of challenge for these two keen trampers.

Trip Reports

Team Poem Everest Base Camp

By Andy Carruthers|2024-08-19T10:54:04+12:00August 12th, 2024

Andy Carruthers and a group of friends embark on a trek to Everest Base Camp, capturing the spirit of their climb through poetry and film.

Trip Reports

Mt Aspiring Tititea Matterhorn of the South

By Andy Carruthers|2024-08-12T10:47:23+12:00August 12th, 2024

With recommendations from Alastair McDowell after his record-breaking climb of Mt Aspiring Tititea, Andy Carruthers and crew plan their own summit of this incredible maunga. Four days in Mt Aspiring National Park not only offer the team breathtaking views and a birthday bubbles celebration at the summit, but also key takeaways into how they could minimise 'the scary moments' and maximise safety and comfort the next time around.

Trip Reports

Traversing the Tararuas Wild Women on the Tops

By Guest Author|2024-07-08T12:15:48+12:00July 2nd, 2024

FMC Expedition Scholarship winners, Isla and Louise, traverse the Tararuas in a celebration of women in the backcountry. Through both film and print, they explore the limiting perceptions of wāhine outdoors, the gender disparity in gear construction and the realities of backcountry menstruation, all whilst embracing the joys of being female and their inner playfulness as wild women on the tops.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

March 2021 A Decent Brew at Altitude

By Robin McNeill|2024-06-07T11:55:15+12:00June 7th, 2024

How do you get a decent brew at altitude? Uncle Jacko experiments with the science behind spuds for energy and a summit brew-up, along with discussing the perks of night-time tramping and reminiscing about a tramp with a dear mate who passed away.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

November 2023 The Indestructible Loopies

By Robin McNeill|2024-04-22T13:21:59+12:00April 16th, 2024

Are loopies, by definition, indestructible and how do we create a model to better understand risk in the outdoors? Uncle Jacko poses the argument that while there are exceptions to the rule, ill-equipped trampers often seem to survive and explains the idea behind the Heine–McFarlane–McNeill risksetting model that he helped to design.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

June 2022 Alpha Centuri

By Robin McNeill|2024-03-26T12:39:31+13:00March 26th, 2024

Looking for a more affordable way to purchase gear? Uncle Jacko discusses the versatility of retired poly-cotton office shirts, the best sources for weather prediction and PLB features that can save the life of an incapacitated, solo tramper.

Opinion

Kahurangi Bivvy A Night Out on Mt Arthur

By Peter Laurenson|2024-03-19T13:45:25+13:00March 19th, 2024

Defined by its distinctive karst rock formations and sinkholes that remind trampers to guard each step, Mt Arthur lends itself to a photographer’s paradise. Documenting his trek to the peak with camera in tow, Peter Laurenson captures the maunga in all its glory.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Four Years to Gold

By Guest Author|2024-03-26T12:40:09+13:00February 20th, 2024

From a weka invasion to endless blisters, Phoebe Squire and four classmates earn their DOE Gold on the Queen Charlotte Track in the spectacular Marlborough Sounds.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Exploring Diverse Vegetation and Landscapes

By Guest Author|2024-02-12T10:25:05+13:00February 12th, 2024

Time for Gold! Zander Groenewald from Otamatea High School in Northland completes his Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition around Taranaki Maunga.

Features

Botany Mission Alpine Daisy Hunting With Jane Gosden

By Masha Oliver|2024-02-20T11:40:14+13:00January 30th, 2024

“I grew up in National Parks around New Zealand,” is a statement not many of us can claim. But Jane Gosden can. As a keen ecologist with a special interest in alpine plants and years of working in and above the bush line, she recently published a field guide to alpine daisies in the genus Celmisia. Her curiosity and attraction to Celmisia took her on a nationwide mission, from the mountains to the sea. In her story for Wilderlife, she talks about her life and work in high, wild places and her love for everything that inhabits them – especially plants.

Lifestyle

Learning From Pros High Mis-Adventure

By Ray Salisbury|2023-12-22T18:06:10+13:00December 22nd, 2023

After 50 years of tramping, Ray Salisbury reveals how the mountains taught him lessons on humility and resilience.

Trip Reports

Ruahine Tops Between Two Rivers

By Peter Laurenson|2023-12-18T13:11:30+13:00December 18th, 2023

Climbing whilst capturing Aotearoa's natural beauty is second nature for adventure photographer, Peter Laurenson. In this photo essay, he traverses the Ruahine tops cradled between two rivers – Makaroro and Waipawa.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

August 2023 Perpetual Sun

By Robin McNeill|2023-12-06T14:09:36+13:00December 6th, 2023

What is it like to go alpine tramping in a land of perpetual sun? Uncle Jacko responds to readers' comments and recounts his unique experience of backcountry and hut life in Tromsø, Northern Norway.

Features

Harriet Watson No Ordinary Woman

By Masha Oliver|2023-12-05T14:00:34+13:00November 30th, 2023

Harriet Watson is no ordinary woman. One might think she is a wonder woman! As a young woman suffering from endometriosis, she ran and cycled 650 km of the West Coast wilderness over eight days to raise awareness and funds to help those with the same condition. Her epic mission got captured on film, which was shown at this year's NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival.

Outdoor Community blog

Youth Tramping Accessible to All

By Guest Author|2023-11-27T10:35:38+13:00November 20th, 2023

“For a group of neuro-diverse students, the biggest challenge can be getting the opportunity to take part in outdoor adventures.” After five years in the making, nine neuro-diverse students from Wellington East Girls’ College head off for their biggest adventure yet – a six-day ski and snowshoeing trip to the Cardrona Valley. Unit Leader, Leonie King, shines light on the students’ barriers to entry and the preparation required to complete their Gold DOE's Hillary Award.

Trip Reports

Mt Taranaki The Busy Lizard

By Peter Laurenson|2023-11-20T12:54:36+13:00November 16th, 2023

'Though plenty of inexperienced day walkers happily climb Taranaki, the mountain is still one of the most deadly in New Zealand. For many, the northern summer route is their surest way to safely experience climbing Taranaki.' Seasoned mountaineer, Peter Laurenson, provides foundational advice for minimising trouble and maximising fun on Mt Taranaki this summer.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Starting From Scratch

By Guest Author|2023-11-07T14:34:12+13:00November 7th, 2023

No ride, no problem. FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Tara Isaacs, organises her own DOE Gold Qualifier from the ground up. Starting without a team, a shadower or a ride, she compiles a crew and all the components necessary to cross off one of her 'bucket list tramps' – the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk.

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