Equal with my love of tramping (and chocolate), is my enjoyment of a good book. I’ve enjoyed stories since before I was old enough to read, and am a certified book nerd. I thought I’d share some of the outdoor adventure stories I’ve read and loved over the past few years.
The books aren’t listed in any preference order, but I have tried to organise them into general categories just to make things easier. Please leave a comment if there’s a glaring error and I’ve left a great book off the list! I’m always searching for more great books to add to my TBR.
Note: this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy one of the books using my link then I might get a small referral bonus (at no extra cost to you). So if you’re wanting to buy some of these books and you enjoyed this post, then please support me and the blog by using the links, thank you!).
New Zealand Tramping Books
Gone Bush, Paul Kilgour
Kilgour recounts an entire life spent exploring the New Zealand backcountry, along with the many characters and misadventures he met along the way. An awesome yarn and so typically Kiwi, I loved it!
Solo, Hazel Phillips
Phillips describes her solo tramping journey throughout New Zealand while technically homeless. I found this to be a thought-provoking read tackling sexism in the outdoors, and what it means to be a female in the tramping & mountaineering worlds.
BeWILDered, Laura Waters
An Australian woman’s solo adventures on the Te Araroa trail, fighting against self-doubt and anxiety. I loved reading such beautiful descriptions of landscapes I knew well, and identified with escaping real life (and its problems) for the mountains. Very reminiscent of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.
Ajax the Kea Dog, Corey Mosen
Follow along on Mosen’s adventures with his dog Ajax as they try and track down kea in attempts to learn more about these beautiful birds, and keep their numbers from further declining. I loved learning more about kea and conservation efforts to support them.
The Boy from Gorge River, Chris Long
Long grew up at the mouth of Gorge River, several days’ walk from civilisation / Haast. This book (following his father and mother’s own books) recounts his very unique childhood and the many amazing adventures he’s gone on since leaving his remote home (including sea voyages to Antartica and dog sledding in the Arctic).
Adventures with Emilie, Victoria Bruce
Victoria Bruce and her young daughter Emilie are amazing adventurers who left their “normal” life behind to complete the Te Araroa Trail (Emilie was only seven at the time). This book was beautifully written and I admired Bruce’s bravery in sharing stories from her difficult childhood and how she continues to tackle that trauma as an adult. (TW: drug use/addiction, suicide, sexual assault).
Uprising: Walking the Southern Alps, Nic Low
“This book is about walking as a form of knowing. Armed with Ngāi Tahu’s traditional oral maps and modern satellite atlas, I crossed the Southern Alps more than a dozen times, trying to understand how our forebears saw the land. What did it mean to define your identity by sacred mountains, or actually see them as ancestors, turned to stone?“
Wild at Heart, Miriam Longwood
Longwood describes the life that her and her husband have carved out for themselves, living nomadically in the Southern Alps for many years. Sleeping on the ground, hunting with bow & arrow, foraging, and surviving on minimal supplies. A very unique lifestyle in this day and age, and a super interesting read.
Going Up is Easy, Lydia Bradley
Technically a mountaineering book, and one that doesn’t take place fully in Aotearoa, but still definitely deserving of being on this list. Lydia Bradley is a Kiwi and the first female to climb Everest without oxygen. I found her account of the climb and the controversy following it extremely interesting. Matches well with Phillip’s Solo in discussing sexism in the mountaineering world.
Wildboy, Brando Yelavich
Back in 2013, “Wildboy” set out to circumnavigate the coastline of Aotearoa – all 8000km of it, mostly by foot. This book details his many (mis)adventures over the course of an almost two-year journey, and the impact it had on his life – saving him from a dark path he had started down.
Tramping Guide Books
Moirs North: The Otago Southern Alps, NZAC
The classic guidebook for backcountry tramping describing tracks and routes between the Hollyford Valley and Lake Ohau. Used since 1925 (and updated since) it’s the New Zealand tramping bible for this part of the country. Available through the NZ Alpine Club.
A Bunk for the Night, Shaun Barnett, Rob Brown, Geoff Spearpoint
A guide to some of the best huts and trips in Aotearoa. This book has awesome photos, maps and general info. It’s a great source of tramping inspiration!
Tramping in Aotearoa: 45 Great Tramping Trips, Shaun Barnett
A more in-depth guide for 45 iconic tramping trips around the country with comprehensive maps and everything needed to help you plan your own trips. Another great source of tramping inspiration and one I highly recommend!
A Woman’s Guide to the Wild, Ruby McConnell
This is the ultimate guidebook for women wanting to adventure outdoors. Everything from how to poop in the woods and deal with your period while outdoors, to how to start a fire and what to pack.
52 Ways To Walk, Annabel Abbs-Streets
If you ever needed more reasons to get out and walk, this book has them! 52 in fact. It’s full of interesting benefits to walking and fresh air (not just physical but mental too), as well as new ideas to help revitalise your lifestyle into a healthier, better version.
Hike, DK Publishing
A beautiful coffee table book featuring inspiring imagery and words about classic hikes around the world. And I actually was one of the contributors! The first time I properly saw my name in print was for some of the New Zealand sections of the book. Still a pinch me moment.
International Books
Tough Women, Jenny Tough
This is an amazing collection of short narratives from crazy female adventurers collated by Tough. Adventures from wing suit jumps, to Arctic expeditions, wild swimming and more. This book is a celebration of what it means to be an adventurous woman, and is such an inspiring read!
Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
One of the more famous books on this list, Into Thin Air is a classic adventure story with a tragic end. Krakauer was boots in the snow during the disastrous 1996 climbing season on Everest. He retells the events of that season with a focus on Adventure Consultants, a New Zealand guiding company.
Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer
Another Krakauer book made famous by the movie of the same name. This is an investigation into the life of the late Chris McCandless and his ill-fated journey into the Alaskan wilderness, after years of spurning of the capitalist society.
Wild, Cheryl Strayed
One of the most well-known adventure books from our generation, Wild (also made into a movie) is Cheryl Strayed’s epic thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in America as she tries to escape her demons. An amazing story of resilience and determination, highly recommend!
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is a fantastic author and his attempt at tackling the Appalachian Trail (AT) is as comedically written as always. Bryson and his overweight, alcoholic friend decide to tackle the 3,500+ trek, you’ll have to read to find out how the trip turns out.
Tramping Adjacent (Special Mention)
The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, Emma Carey
Carey’s skydiving parachute failed and she fell from 15,000 feet (and survived). Reading this book will make you realise how lucky you are to have a body that can carry you up mountains, and inspire you to get out there and adventure while you are able to.
What other books do I need to add to this list? Leave me a comment with your suggestions, or message me over on Instagram.
Where to next?
Tramping While Pregnant
All of my helpful tips and advice about tramping while pregnant.
The 9 Different Types of Trampers
What kind of tramper are you? The One Who’s Always Lost? The Mountain Goat? Take the tramping quiz and find out!
