The brown mud, like a giant cow pat, lapped at my knees. I waded through the cold slush, feeling it seep through my socks. I wanted to scream. I’d tried to keep my boots clean by jumping over brown puddles and skirting the edges of dank pools, but Ra

A waterproof and air-tight, hermetically sealed food bag with laminated nylon reinforcement that keeps smells in and mice out. Fits approximately four days of tramping food. BPA, Phthalate, Latex, and PEVA free. 24g www.kiwiultralight.co.nz Soft, lan

EDITOR Alistair Hall alistair@lifestylepublishing.co.nz DEPUTY EDITOR Leigh Hopkinson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Kathy Ombler GEAR EDITOR Matthew Cattin, Mark Watson ROVING EDITOR Shaun Barnett COPY EDITORS David Hall, Imogen Coxhead WALKSHORTS AND WALK120

Te Araroa Trust has focused on technological developments over the past year, driven by whakahou or “regeneration” as it works toward becoming the world’s first regenerative thru-hike. The aim of Te Araroa Whakahou is to improve the trail’s condition

From shots of scaling remote peaks to bunking down in popular huts, the Wilderness photo competition entries capture just how remarkable tramping in Aotearoa is. This year we received more than 1000 entries, and contemplating them was a visual deligh

» Aotearoa has 13 national parks, created under the 1980 National Parks Act, to inspire New Zealanders and provide enjoyment and recreation in beautiful, unique and ecologically important scenery. The designation of land as a national park can only b

EBONY RAKATAU is smiling radiantly in the photos she shares of her almost daily hīkoi with the Walk1200km Facebook group. So it’s a surprise to learn that four years ago, she was on so many medications she couldn’t walk. “I had to have a stick to get

Three-layer jackets have a waterproof membrane sandwiched between a durable face fabric and a lining. They tend to be more expensive, heavier and bulkier. They are also more durable, waterproof and breathable. Jackets with 2 or 2.5 layers include a f

It can be tricky to stay motivated during a long-term goal like Walk1200km, especially if you feel you are lagging behind and not reaching weekly or monthly distance targets. Richard Beddie, CEO of Exercise NZ, says participants will do better if the

These three fun #microchallenges will help you better appreciate your surroundings and have fun on your walks. Our favourite six #microchallenge completers receive a Walk1200km badge, while the best entry for each challenge receives a prize from our

» Wild dogs have been roaming Northland's Te Paki Track and neighbouring tracks on the West Coast between Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Rēinga over the past couple of years. The feral dogs were assumed to be lost pig-hunting dogs that had formed a pack.

I recently checked my current in-use tramping footwear. For easy non-technical tracks in summer conditions, such as the Old Ghost Road, Abel Tasman and Silver Peaks, I prefer trail running shoes, which I wear with short gaiters to keep out debris. Fo

» How has NZ adventure filmmaking progressed in the past two decades? Incredibly! From a small niche to an industry of filmmakers working and submitting films to festivals around the globe: editors, cameramen/women and sponsored athletes. Why is it i

A FEW YEARS AGO, in a reader survey, we asked if readers would one day like to walk Te Araroa. Amazingly, 58 per cent said they would. Two per cent said they had already done it (I know more than a few readers have since walked the Long Pathway, so i

Makes: 12 bars Time: 15 min Cost: $7 2 cups chickpeas ¼ cup tahini ¼ cup sunflower seeds (plus extra to toast) ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (plus extra to toast) ¼ cup chia seeds Good pinch of salt Garlic clove (add more or less depending on taste) ¼– ½ cup o