Video Paddling the Sinbad Gully: Part II
In Part II of their adventure, three mates continue on their three-day winter whitewater mission in Fiordland.
Outdoor Community
Video Paddling the Harrison River: Part I
Oddly for these three mates, the depths of the southern winter seem to inspire thoughts of overnight whitewater missions. And this year was no different . . .
Whitewater Kayaking Top Choices for Whitewater Huts
After asking paddlers from Whitewater New Zealand about their favourite huts for whitewater kayaking, Shaun Barnett shares their top choices along with a few of his own.
Video Paddling the Albert Burn
Three mates enjoy a wonderful day out, exploring a beckoning gorge amongst the incomparable Otago Alps. No helicopters needed for these guys, as they commit to a walk-in mission on the lower gorge of the Albert Burn, Lake Wānaka, Aotearoa New Zealand. Paddlers: Ewen Rodway, Michael McDonald, Ruari Macfarlane. Film by Ewen Rodway [...]
Volunteering Revegetation of a Club-Owned Pine Forest in Natives
When a friend of the early Otago Tramping Club (now OTMC) gifted them a large block of land in 1930, it came with one requirement: protect and preserve the skyline hills as an asset for future trampers and walkers of Dunedin.
Safety Backcountry First Aid
Don't get caught unprepared in the backcountry. Johnny Mulheron, Backcountry Accident Columnist, offers advice about what to take to the hills in your first aid kit.
Volunteering for Biodiversity How I Became a Trapper
While trapping began as a way for Marcia to bond with her teenager daughter, it evolves into her own personal project. In this honest account of what it takes to be a trapper, Marcia pushes past her comfort zone to overcome challenges and develop backcountry skills.
Volunteering for Biodiversity Is it Just Giving Back?
While volunteering in conservation requires a generous sacrifice of time and effort, Tony Walton of the Auckland Tramping Club shifts the perspective from ‘giving back’ to ‘receiving back’ and shares the many rewards he has gained from his time as a volunteer.
Te Araroa A Heartfelt Thank You
FMC extends a heartfelt thank you to Victoria and Emilie for their generous support and service as ambassadors for FMC’s kaupapa, as well as celebrates their impressive achievement – walking 2,200km over six months along Te Araroa.
The Moa Hunters On Top of the World
A second attempt at conquering the 2885m Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku reunites the Moa Hunters, a group of simple blokes with a simple goal: find a moa.
Merrivale to Bluff On the Home Stretch
Over six months and 3,000 kilometres later, this incredible mother-daughter team crosses the finish line into Bluff and completes Te Araroa. While ending this epic journey and rejoining civilisation may be bittersweet, Emilie reminds us that they have many more adventures ahead . . .
Te Anau/Princhester Hut to Merrivale The Bush Baby
Refreshed and ready for action, Victoria and Emilie return to the Trail to tackle the second-to-last leg of their journey – the Takitimu Mountains in the Southland region.
Arrowtown to Te Anau When the Going Gets Tough
A concussion en route to Queenstown requires Victoria and Emilie to take a brief hiatus from the Trail. With morale and motivation running low, Victoria finds encouragement in the kindness of friends and makes the decision to continue the trek onto Te Anau.
Volunteering What is ‘Volunteering for Biodiversity?’
What does it mean to 'Volunteer for Biodiversity?' As this year's Outdoor Community Campaign and celebrated activity, Dan Clearwater outlines the many practical ways you and your club can get involved.
Backcountry Magazine Sustainable in Print?
In light of climate change, have you ever wondered why FMC continues to print its Backcountry magazine? Backcountry editor, Peter Laurenson, shares FMC's reasons behind the printed version, the steps taken to align with its values of stewardship and environmental protection, and the future of this classic publication.
Lake Tekapo to Stodys Hut Glacial Lakes and Braided Rivers
Gale force winds strong enough to carry a pack, a crossing of the largest unbridged river on the Trail, and the chance to use a nursing degree? It's just another week in the life of these two Te Araroa trampers.
Training Grant First aid refresher
Need a first aid refresher? Christchurch Tramping Club member, John Kerkhofs, provides a quick, helpful guide to remembering the basics after the FMC Training Grant funds his club's first aid course.
Family Bikepacking 300km with a Toddler
Travelling with a toddler always has its uncertainties. But travelling 300km by bike while towing a toddler is a next level adventure. For this brave family of three, the experience is even better than they imagined.
Volunteering Getting More Than You Give
'There always seems to be more to gain no matter how much you give.' Guided by this philosophy, Cath and her partner become active volunteers in the trapping community in Southland. After relocating to Central Otago, the pair are introduced to a new landscape, as well as the wildlife and pest diversity that comes along with it.
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.
Becoming a Ghost Girl My Experience as a Hut Warden on the Old Ghost Road
'How come you don't get bored out there?' When asked by a tramper about how she spends her time, a first time hut warden reflects on her experience living and working along the Old Ghost Road in Kahurangi National Park.
Training Grant Outdoor First Aid Course
Funded by the FMC Training Grant, Sue Weller and the Christchurch Over Forties Tramping Club (OFTC) learn outdoor first aid skills to better equip themselves and save lives in the backcountry.
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!
