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.

A milestone worth marking with a long walk

Wilderness

Letter of the month

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

WALK SHORTS

Do something special, Walk1200km • Are you ready for a big, yet achievable challenge? Let’s all Walk1200km over the next 12 months

How far is 1200km? • Walking 1200km sounds like an insurmountable challenge, so let’s break it down.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

A daily walk boosts your mood and your brain • Walking 40 minutes every day can have significant benefits for your mental health and brain power.

How to stay on track

TOP TIPS TO STAY MOTIVATED

Walk with A PURPOSE • Walking for a cause can help you stay motivated and increase the reward of cracking 1200km in 12 months. Here are four ways to walk 1200km with a purpose.

GOING THE DISTANCE FOR WALK1200KM • If you’re going to commit to Walk1200km, you’re going to need a way to record each of those precious kilometres.

Health benefits of regular walking “irrefutable” • While many modes of exercise are beneficial, walking is considered the most accessible and cheapest way to get your daily dose.

The Ministry of Health’s nine tips for regular walking:

Meet our partners • With the support of these generous partners, you’ll have no trouble at all in completing the Walk1200km challenge.

We’re doing it, will you join us? • Wilderness staff and writers share their reasons for doing the Walk1200km challenge.

PACKS WITH RELATIVE DIMENSIONS • A Te Anau man used his sewing machine to make face masks, now he’s creating ultralight packs.

NEW APP TO PLAN LIKE A PRO • Plan My Walk is a brand-new app that will help you plan your next tramping adventure.

THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT • A focus on catering to tourists rather than domestic trampers has made a great flop of the promised new Great Walks.

NOT BAD FOR THE FRONTCOUNTRY • The popular Sunrise Hut and Sunrise Track have received major upgrades. When Kathy Ombler went for a look she recalled past trips that reminded her why front country facilities are so important

See more ... cones • These five cones make great tramping destinations.

A SHINING EXAMPLE • Shine Falls, Boundary Stream Mainland Island Reserve

WĀNAKA’S SPECTACULAR ALPINE CROSSING • Cascade Saddle, Mt Aspiring National Park

PARAPARA PEAK TRACK, KAHURANGI NATIONAL PARK • For outstanding views of Golden Bay this full day tramp cannot be beaten. The tough 1200m climb rewards trampers with amazing birdlife and beautiful flora.

MT PUREORA TRACK, PUREORA FOREST PARK • The trail from Link Road is the easiest way to access the summit of Mt Pureora and to gain exceptional views of the Waikato and Central Plateau.

DROMEDARY HILL, LINDIS CONSERVATION AREA • A relatively straightforward hike that's away from the crowds, with wonderful rewards at the summit.

WILD FILE

KAPAKAPANUI CIRCUIT, TARARUA FOREST PARK • This circuit can be done as a day trip or an overnighter and takes in rolling tops, goblin forest and cool streams.

AOTEA TRACK, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND • The Aotea Track is the way to explore Great Barrier Island, taking in kauri, the island’s tallest peak, hot springs, and one of the country’s best huts.

WILD FILE

KŌHANGA ATAWHAI – MANSON NICHOLLS HUT, LEWIS PASS SCENIC RESERVE • Generations of families and fishers have been lured to Lake Daniell where a modern new hut awaits visitors in a beautiful setting.

WILD...