Ball Pass Fire and Ice
The 'Big 50' inspires Andy to expand beyond fastpacking and tackle a new type of adventure -- ski touring. After taking an alpine skills course, he and his mates head to Ball Pass in Mount Aoraki.
adventure
Palmerston North to Makahika Exploring South Manawatu
An extra rest day replenishes this mummy daughter tramping team. After saying goodbye to new friends, they set off on the next stage of their Manawatu adventure while Victoria contemplates the shortcomings of 'thru-hiking.'
National Park to Whanganui Our River Journey
The wettest part of Te Araroa is the paddle down the Whanganui: Victoria and Emilie enjoy the chance to rest their feet and stretch their paddling muscles
Ruapehu ‘Round the Mountain
Victoria and Emilie brave wild weather and snoring hut mates in their voyage 'round Mt Ruapehu.
Taumaranui to National Park A Fresh Start
Mother and daughter team, Emilie and Victoria, make the jump from the freedom of Ninety Mile Beach to the rolling agriculture of Kings Country, continuing all the way to National Park.
Ahipara Lockdown
From the freedom of Ninety Mile Beach to Level 3 lockdown, Te Araroa was already promising to be one crazy adventure.
Mountain Adventure How to Go Fastpacking
'Every piece of gear that you bring needs to be examined and optimised. A ruthless and analytical attitude needs to be taken.' Breaking down each component to allow for the lightest and safest travel, Alastair delves into the nitty gritty of fastpacking.
Fastpacking Travers Sabine Circuit plus Blue Lake Nelson Lakes
After being on his bucket list for 3 years, Andy and his crew finally make it back to Lake Rotomairewhenua (Blue Lake) in the Nelson Lakes National Park, where they fastpack the Travers Sabine Circuit with a side trip to Blue Lake -- all with the goal of keeping their tramping time within 22 hours.
Youth Award Grant Queen Charlotte Track
For her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition, student Veronica Amey and mates tramp, bike, and kayak the Queen Charlotte Track, where they discover the magic and beauty of exploring their own country.
Mountain Adventure Macpherson – Talbot Traverse, Darran Mountains, Fiordland
What he deems as 'one of the best alpine day trips in New Zealand,' Alastair McDowell makes his annual pilgrimage to the Darran Mountains in Fiordland and creates video footage of his climbs.
Fastpacking Nelson Lakes: 5 Passes D’Urville to St Arnaud
How long does it take to trek 120km? Andy Carruthers and his mates complete their next fastpacking mission: Nelson Lakes, 5 passes D’Urville to St Arnaud in 31 hours over 3 days. With a bit of scree surfing, fresh bread and regular dips in the lake, it's nothing the trio can't handle.
Cartoons Tramping Saga Explains Everything
Does your recollection of a tramp become more glamorous with the passing of time? Two members of the Kaumātua Tramping Club share their humorous take on the difference between the reality of a tramp vs. the memory once back in the comforts of home.
Mountain Adventure Mount Cook Grand Traverse in a Day
After speed climbing in Europe, Alastair McDowell is inspired to try it again in New Zealand -- this time traversing the three peaks from the Hooker and returning via the Tasman for a total distance of 53km and 4000m of vertical gain, all in 24 hours.
When the Mountains Say 'No' Te Puoho Glacier
Craving a backcountry adventure during lockdown, Penzy reminisces through photography and storytelling about a time when 'the mountains said no' -- in what became a trip that demanded creativity and perseverance in wild Fiordland.
Youth Award Grant Old Ghost Road
FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Jessica Hydes, embarks on her Duke of Edinburgh Gold qualifying expedition joined by family and friends. She reflects on her five-day mission and how motivation and goal setting plays a key role during her tramp.
Fastpacking Kaimanawa Kaweka Traverse
28 hours of hiking in two days? Andy embarks on his first two-night fastpacking trip -- the Kaimanawa Kaweka traverse -- and documents his journey through video and GPX navigation.
Bikepacking in Scotland Cycling the Outer Hebrides
After over three decades in New Zealand, two expats return home to their native Scotland to cycle the Outer Hebrides. Their journey offers a chance to travel back in time -- taking them through both preserved and picturesque villages, as well as harsh, unforgiving lands that residents once cleverly used to yield crops. Met with hospitality by locals along the way, it's a lovely homecoming for these two Scots.
Bikepacking An E-bike Lap of the South Island
With trusty Wellington commuter e-bike turned tough, off-road vehicle, Gunilla Jensen embarks on her first bikepacking adventure. Rather than starting small, she undertakes quite the feat -- cycling once round New Zealand's South Island.
NZ Alpine Club Novara Peak
A lost booking, new washout, and a summer sleeping bag in alpine conditions...? Despite a very cold night and some unexpected terrain, Penzy Dinsdale completes her first and much anticipated mountaineering trip with the NZ Alpine Club.
Youth Award Grant Tarawera Falls
With the threat of being cancelled just hours before departure, a trip to Tarawera Falls started out rocky for these FMC Youth Award Grant recipients. But after three days in the backcountry, they learned that “a trip is worth a little bit of chaos.”
August 2013 Interesting Outdoor Mathematics
How do you measure the height of a bridge when alone in the backcountry? Uncle Jacko explains how nature provides what we need for mathematics and how according to one calculation, 1.4 kg of chocolate might just be an acceptable amount during a long tramp.
Part II Dennis’ Last Coast to Coast
In Part II of a 10-day traverse, two friends hike and kayak their way to the finish line. Offering Dennis a second shot to finish the Coast to Coast Race and Stefan the chance to complete a trip of a lifetime, the loss of a few toenails proved more than worth it.
Youth Award Grant Ascending Towards the Clouds
Students from Otamatea High School work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award by ascending towards the clouds and climbing Mt Taranaki. Next up for these trampers is Gold level status.
Part I Dennis’ Last Coast to Coast
After becoming good friends 10 years ago while training for the Kathmandu Coast to Coast Race, Stefan and Dennis embark on their own wilderness traverse -- a 10-day, 250 km west-east crossing of the South Island. In Part I of their epic, they trek through difficult conditions and reassess the future of their trip.
