A blog about New Zealand tramping / hiking
Trigger warning: mental health / postpartum depression – but I’m writing this from a much healthier place. There is light in the darkness, I promise. This is probably the most personal thing I’ve shared on this blog (and I’ve shared my detailed birth story and miscarriage so that’s saying something). I’d recommend reading the whole
This is an absolutely amazing trip. Follow the Earnslaw Burn through lush forest to a tussock-covered valley with jaw-dropping views of the hanging glacier and waterfalls on Mt Earnslaw. Length: 9km to tree-line, then another 5km to the very head of the valley. Time taken: Overnight tramp, 6-8 hours each day with packs. Difficulty: You
Titan Rocks is a challenging but rewarding Southland day hike, with expansive 360° views. Length: 16km return with ~1,100m elevation gain Time taken: 7-9hrs return Difficulty: moderate Facilities: Long drop toilet at Piano Flat campsite at the start of the track. Several streams cross the track where you are able to source water. – Important: The track in
Liverpool Hut is a cute alpine hut in Mt Aspiring National Park, nestled on top of the treeline with amazing views of Tititea / Mt Aspiring and over the Matuktuki Valley. I’ll be completely honest; this wasn’t the smartest trip for my first solo hike. But wow was it an amazing adventure full of lessons.
Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland National Park and the perfect place to base yourself for a little hiking holiday. Here are my go to Te Anau day hikes (and a few that are still on my wishlist)! This post contains sponsored and affiliate links, which is how I fund this website. Thanks so
This tramping rescue series recounts emergencies in the backcountry and how people respond. So far we’ve covered medical events like widow-maker heart attacks, as well as hypothermia and eye injuries. I find these kinds of stories fascinating. Hopefully you enjoying reading them and learning from others’ experiences as well! This article, number five in the
We’re really spoilt for choice in terms of day walks / hikes in Southland. From the Catlins, Longwoods, and Hokonui Hills, to the Eyre & Takitimu Mountains, we have a variety of terrain and tracks to explore. And that’s not even counting Fiordland! Check out my best Fiordland Day Hikes here. Even concentrating on just
Kea Basin is a stunning spot below Mt Earnslaw / Pikirakatahi. Similar to its famous neighbour; Earnslaw Burn, Kea Basin is filled with lush sub-alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glaciers hanging on the peaks high above. Length: 24km return with about 600m elevation gain Time taken: DOC time is 8-10 hours return (if doing it in
