Wilderness

Each issue of Wilderness takes its readers to the most beautiful areas in New Zealand, whether by foot, mountain bike, sea kayak, raft, pony or dream.

The Great stuff

Wilderness

PIGEON POST

Your Trips, YOUR PIX • What did you get up to last weekend?

WALK SHORTS

ALIGNING THE STARS • Sarnim Dean heads to Granity Pass Hut to nab a photo of the heavens

PUTTING CLASSIC TRACKS ON THE MAP • Illustrator Rachel Gamble-Flint records her adventures in the wilderness with hand-drawn maps.

Heartland views from the Tararua Tops • Tarn Ridge Hut, Tararua Forest Park

See more… Imaginative Names • Unusual names can provide colour and descriptive power to a feature.

The Great Walks

1 Tongariro Northern Circuit: A RING OF FIRE • For Alistair Hall, the allure of the Tongariro Northern Circuit lies in its unique landscapes, wild weather and various cultural connections

2 A living ENTITY • Jacqui Gibson walks the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk and finds, now that it is under Tūhoe management, the experience is unlike any other Great Walk

WILD FILE

In the NEIGHBOURHOOD

3 An untouched WILDERNESS • The Whanganui River Journey is unique in many ways, not least in that people who have never before set foot in a canoe can paddle its 145km length.

In the NEIGHBOURHOOD

WILD FILE

4 Abel Tasman Coast Track: Walk, swim, repeat • There’s no walk quite like the Abel Tasman Coast Track and despite its popularity, there are plenty of quiet spots to discover, writes Kathy Ombler

WILD FILE

In the NEIGHBOURHOOD

5 A change of SCENERY • Believe the hype: the Heaphy Track is the most diverse Great Walk, with something new around every bend.

In the NEIGHBOURHOOD

WILD FILE

6 PAPAROA TRACK: A Great Walk on a roll • Paul Hersey rides the Paparoa Track Great Walk and finds the kind of views and perspective of the Southern Alps usually seen on alpine climbs

WILD FILE

In the NEIGHBOURHOOD

Best huts on the GREAT WALKS • Though they come with an inflated price tag, Great Walk huts tend to be a cut above the rest. Here are our favourite huts from each of the classic tracks.

7 ROUTEBURN TRACK: A world of possibility • For first-time tramper Rebekah White, the Routeburn Track proved to be the spark that ignited a love of the outdoors

Walking the Routeburn Track • The Routeburn has something for everyone, and all in just 32km.

Meet the warden: Becky Cameron • Becky Cameron worked at Routeburn Flats Hut in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.

8 MILFORD TRACK: More than expected • The Milford Track has been billed as the finest walk in the world. And as Crystal Brindle discovers, it does indeed pass through a stunning landscape that never disappoints, no matter the season

Meet the warden: Ross Harraway • Ross Haraway has been a hut ranger at Clinton Hut for 11 years.

Walking the Milford Track • There’s no finer walk than this one-way trail.

9 KEPLER TRACK: Earning its place • Since the Kepler Track opened in 1988, it has gone from raw rookie to seasoned veteran as it has found its place among Fiordland’s canon of Great Walks.

Walking the Kepler Track • One of just two Great Walk loop tracks, the Kepler can also be walked from Te Anau township.

Meet the warden: Janine Martig • Janine Martig was a hut warden at Iris Burn Hut for the 2018/19 season, then at Luxmore Hut for the 2019/20 season. She will be back at Luxmore in 2020/21.

10 RAKIURA TRACK: Anchored through te ao Maori • In Māori mythology, Rakiura/ Stewart Island is the anchor to Māui’s canoe which is why the track offers a unique...