Ahipara Lockdown
From the freedom of Ninety Mile Beach to Level 3 lockdown, Te Araroa was already promising to be one crazy adventure.
Family Tramping
Cape Reinga to Ahipara Te Araroa Beachlands
All great journeys begin with the first step. Victoria and Emilie fly over a locked-down Auckland to the top of Aotearoa and begin their adventures on Te Araroa.
The mental game PTSD and the Healing Power of Nature
Living with post-traumatic stress disorder is a bit like living with a brain that's constantly on the lookout for invisible Sabre tooth tigers.
Our first tramp Anxious and overloaded
I started my first overnight tramp anxious and overloaded, just me with my little Miss Four in tow.
About us Healing From Trauma on Te Araroa
The backstory on why we're going for a rather long walk, and why we're asking for your help!
Preparation Stuck at the last creek – a trip up the Taipo
If you always bring a tent, even a flooded river won't take away the fun of a weekend in the mountains.
Family Tramping Backpacking Mums in New Zealand
As an outdoor enthusiast, Italian-born tramper Barbara Zennaro comes to New Zealand ready to embrace a new style of tramping, one that is different from the more 'catered' hikes with which she grew up. With her partner and little one in tow, she experiences true Kiwi hospitality and how tramping brings families closer together.
Back to the Wild Part II: Old Ghost Road With an 11-Week-Old & a 4-Year-Old
Torrential downpours, breastfeeding breaks, and promises of pizza ... all part of the adventure for this family of four trekking the Old Ghost Road. In Part II of their five-day mission, they meet fellow trampers and improvise in the midst of temper tantrums and changing weather conditions -- creating a family memory that has their daughter already asking to go back!
Back to the Wild Part I: Old Ghost Road With an 11-Week-Old & a 4-Year-Old
85km – 5 days – 4 nights – a 4 year old – and an 11 week old?! Sonia Barrish and partner take on family tramping like pros. They embark on a multi-day tramp with their new baby and toddler in tow, sharing many practical tips they learned along the way.
Mini-ventures Family Bikepacking
Bikepacking doesn't have to be epic to be fun, and when it involves little people, it lets the whole family move at the same pace...
Family tramping Flying High on Dragonfly
Adventurers Emily and Chris Forne take up the challenge that is tramping with a 20 month old again. This time exploring the East Matukituki and over Dragonfly Peak. There are some hurdles along the way but the effort turns out to be most rewarding...
Back to the Wild Family Dinner at Pinchgut Hut
Is your family dinner night getting a bit stale? Sonia Barrish gets creative by hosting family dinner at a backcountry hut. Travelling with five adults and a baby, this crew has an overnight adventure at Pinchgut Hut.
Family Ladder in the Wilderness
Accompanied by his two sons, Ed and Will, Peter Laurenson capitalises on the school holidays to expend some of their teenage energy by climbing the Tararua Peaks.
Back to the Wild Tramping to Kahurangi Keepers Hut
A cast iron bath in a DOC hut?! On a weekend tramp, Sonia and her family discover the perks of staying in a hut once occupied by a lighthouse keeper and his family.
Back to the Wild Winter Hiking with Babies and Toddlers
With winter in full swing, Sonia Barrish offers practical and insightful tips for winter hiking with a little one.
Blue Lake with a Baby
When Family Tramping feels a little like an Adventure race...
One slip... A Bruised Bum on the St James Walkway
In the hills we're all equal, and no one minds too much what state we're in; even sheepishly nursing a bruised bum and wet undies from a forgettable stumble.
A for Adventure A Family Adventure Challenge
Leah Parker sets an adventure challenge for her family: to get her boys outdoors at least once a week for a year. In her article, she recounts the highlights of their 52 outdoor adventures and why she encourages other families to create their own challenge to get outdoors.
Back to the Wild St James Walkway – with a Baby!
When Sonia Barrish and partner take their 1-year old daughter on her first multi-day hike, they came prepared with everything she might need. What they didn't prepare for, however, was Sonia becoming injured. In this edition of 'Back to the Wild,' their family learns the importance of carrying a Personal Locator Beacon in the backcountry.
Back to the Wild A More Natural Toilet Training Approach
Sonia Barrish asks the question: "What do people in countries without nappies do?" By following her baby's cues, Sonia learns about a more natural approach to toilet training that's perfect for family trampers.
Outdoor dads When the kids are very little
I’m sure that fear of losing the freedom to get into the mountains is common among many keen outdoor parents. But rather than just waiting to see if that perceived ‘fate’ became reality, I proactively decided to adapt to this new life-chapter and embrace the opportunities that it held.
Tramp and camp With the Little Champ
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a great option for a multi-day tramping trip with a baby.
Mountain Families: In the Hakatere
What an absolute perfect winter's day in August, just after a fresh snowfall, spending time exploring the Hakatere Conservation Park.
Start 'em young Babes in Backpacks
Before becoming a mum, a big part of how I identified myself was as a long-distance trail runner and tramper. Not surprisingly, one of my biggest concerns about welcoming a little human into my life was not being able to get out and enjoy the backcountry as much or in the same capacity.
