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.

I’m fitter and faster already

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PIGEON POST

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

WALK SHORTS

Further Faster; where the outdoors is a way of life • When you visit Further Faster, you’ll be looked after by a team of gear experts who love the same outdoor activities as you.

Why I’m doing Walk1200km • Four Walk1200km participants tell George Driver why they’re doing the challenge

JOIN WALK1200KM AND WIN! • Thanks to our generous partners, Walk1200km participants have the opportunity to win these prizes throughout December win, register at wildernessmag.c

Titipounamu FLY THE COOP • It takes a village to raise a child and a city community to raise titipounamu chicks.

IT ALL ADDS UP • Though gram-counting can seem pedantic, getting into the mindset of an ultralight tramper can shave kilograms off your pack weight.

SEIZING THE DAY • Justin Amor recounts the adventure from his YouTube series Just Wild NZ that shows him climbing the highest peaks in the Tararua Range in search of an aircraft wreck on Shingle Slip Knob

GREEK LEGEND • Archers, warriors, victory and defeat, heaven and hell abound in New Zealand’s backcountry

SURPRISINGLY RUGGED • APIAS CREEK, Ruahine Forest Park

Wild File

COOLING OFF ON THE AHURIRI TOPS • FREEHOLD CREEK TARNS, Ahuriri Conservation Park

Memorable maunga • Want a summit with grand views for your next overnight tramp? Here are 12 suggestions to whet your peak-bagging appetite, all of which are accessible from a nearby hut.

AROHAKI LAGOON TRACK Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park • A wall of kahikatea trees reflected in an ephemeral lagoon makes Arohaki an enchanting forest walk

CIRCUIT MAUNGATAPU , Mt Richmond Forest Park • This walk is an exploration of Nelson’s mineral belt and even includes a Māori argillite quarry dating to the 16th century.

BRODRICK HUT, Ruataniwha Conservation Park • A classic NZFS design, Brodrick Hut is a cosy six bunk hut that sits beneath the towering peaks of the Southern Alps. A trip there is well worth the effort, either as an out-and-back or for a longer trip into the Landsborough River.

Wild File

SILICA RAPIDS WALK, Tongariro National Park • An alpine walk with a little bit of everything.

STONY PEAK, Ahuriri Conservation Park • An easy off-trail hike through the tussock country of Ahuriri Conservation Park.

Wild File

POUTO LIGHTHOUSE, Kaipara Head • New Zealand has 30 lighthouses on the mainland, but few people have found this one amongst the sand dunes – a proverbial needle in a haystack. If you are holidaying near Dargaville, you can bag this beacon from a bygone era.

BISECTING The Greenstone-Caples • Rustic huts tucked into valleys off the highway-esque Greenstone-Caples circuit allow for a relaxed summer tramping holiday.

Wild File

CAMP THERAPY • An organisation is using adventure therapy to help young people overcome challenges and find their inner strength.

A Wilderness CHRISTMAS • From stocking fillers to essential outdoor kit, the Wilderness guide to Christmas has something for every budget.

GREAT RIDES BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER • The cycle trails were conceived to bring economic benefits for the regions. It turns out they are generating much more.

Cycle trail experts share their advice • It can feel like a mission to unravel all the opportunities found on each Great Ride and to plan the logistics of your travel. Eight trail providers...