Milford Sounds Great - Piopiotahi / Milford Sound
I recently had a friend come visit me all the way from France (Celine) and she wanted to do something cool while in the Te Anau / Fiordland area. I…
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Magnificent Mavora. South Mavora Lake Loop Track
I recently had a friend visit from overseas and we needed a hike to do in a place she had never been before. Along with...
8 May 2026
Back to Bush-Bashing (Part Two) - Mt Campbell South Ridge
Hats off to the early explorers who came to the mountainous regions of Aotearoa and tackled the terrain without tracks o...
7 Apr 2026
Back to Bush-Bashing (Part One) - Mt Campbell South Ridge
Most look to avoid the bush when traveling through the mountains. Tracks do their best to skirt around anything that mig...
5 Apr 2026
An introduction to Awesomeness (Part Two) - Mararoa River
There is something so simple and yet so very special about a night out camping. Surrounded by the soothing effects of na...
4 Feb 2026
An Introduction to Awesomeness (Part One) - Mararoa River
It is no secret that Georgie and I absolutely love going to the Mavora Lakes. Whether it be a day trip or overnight adve...
3 Feb 2026
Unexpected Rain (Part Two) - Mavora Lakes Park
There are not too many places where rain isn’t expected to fall at some stage. This means we have to be prepared for whe...
1 Feb 2026
Unexpected Rain (Part One) - Mavora Lakes Park
Rain is an inevitable unstoppable event that will happen whether you want it to or not. Even the driest places in the wo...
30 Jan 2026
The Call of the Wild - Boyd Creek Tops Track
Sometimes the call of the wild is so strong that only a visit will solve the situation. The draw of simply being surroun...
2 Jan 2026
Back to the Big Trees - Big Totara Reserve (Dean Forest)
Aotearoa New Zealand is a little country with many very big things. We have big mountains, lakes and rivers, and in some...
3 Dec 2025
Determination (Part Two) - North Mavora Lake
Determination is what carries you the last couple of kilometres of a hike. Without it you would have no drive, and proba...
22 Nov 2025
Determination (Part One) - North Mavora Lake
Determination is a powerful tool we have in our arsenal, and in the hiking world it can be something that can be the dif...
21 Nov 2025
No Place Like Nepal. Thamel Eco Resort. Kathmandu, Nepal
There really is no other place on earth like Nepal (at least as far as I know!). From the moment you arrive, and once yo...
21 Oct 2025
The Rewards of an Unknown Track (Part Two) - North Mavora Lake
It is amazing that you can visit the same place many times over and still find new experiences each time. The Mavora Lak...
10 Oct 2025
The Rewards of an Unknown Track (Part One) - North Mavora Lake
Not knowing where you are going or what’s around the next corner makes a hike much more fascinating. If you don’t know y...
9 Oct 2025
Between Two Lakes (Part Two) - Mararoa River
Camping is a simple pastime that brings much pleasure in its simplicity. All you are doing is setting up some fabric to...
24 Aug 2025
Between Two Lakes (Part One) - Mararoa River
Coldness is a foe that can be defeated by wearing the right clothing. Some forfeit the battle and stay inside beside a h...
23 Aug 2025
Wet Feet in Fiordland (Part Four) - West Cleddau Valley to Chasm
If you don’t like wet feet, then a suggestion is that you say away from untracked Fiordland. With over 65 major rivers a...
11 Aug 2025
Wet Feet in Fiordland (Part Three) - West Cleddau Valley
It would be nice to have every river, creek or stream bridged throughout Fiordland National Park. I’m sure originally th...
10 Aug 2025
Wet Feet in Fiordland (Part Two) - Chasm to West Cleddau Valley
Having wet feet is a situation some people seem to think is about as bad a death. I have watched as some take big risks...
10 Aug 2025
Wet Feet in Fiordland (Part One) - Te Anau to Fiordland (West Cleddau Valley)
With an average of around 200 days of rain per year Fiordland is considered one of the worlds wettest places. Its locati...
9 Aug 2025
Ten Years of Nepal - Aotearoa New Zealand to Nepal and Back Again
It is crazy to think that ten years ago I went to Nepal for the first time. Initially I went with the Active Hearts Foun...
4 Aug 2025
When the Stars Align (Part Three) - South Mavora Lake Track
When I was off work thanks to my hip and back injury, I had the freedom to pick and choose my days to go on a mish. Now...
19 Jul 2025
When the Stars Align (Part Two) - Mavora Lakes
Fate can be funny sometimes. Imagine you are driving along a quiet road and the only car you see is one that you must wa...
19 Jul 2025
When the Stars Align (Part One) - Mavora Lakes
There are many things we have no control over when out in the hills, and we must adapt to what happens to either survive...
18 Jul 2025
Much Easier Than Last Time - Saddle Hill (841m)
A while back my father and I visited my uncle's farm in Wainui to hike the top fence-line and check for any holes where...
19 Jun 2025
A Salute to Canterbury - Christchurch to Cook & Everything In Between
Canterbury is almost greedy with how much it has to offer. From the deep blues of Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean to t...
6 Jun 2025
The Day Sagarmatha Shook (Part Three) - Lukla / Kathmandu
After years of wanting to visit Nepal I finally got there due to an earthquake. It took a disaster to drag me away from...
25 Apr 2025
The Day Sagarmatha Shook (Part Two) - Kathmandu / Solukumbu
The drive to Thamel Eco Resort in Kathmandu was a sobering one. What hadn’t toppled over in the quake was being propped...
24 Apr 2025
The Day Sagarmatha Shook (Part One) - Barpak village of the Gorkha district (location of epicentre)
Ten years ago, on this day in 2015, Nepal was rocked by a 7.8 earthquake. Once the shaking had settled, along with the d...
24 Apr 2025
Hanging Out (Part Three) - Forest Clearing, Mavora Lakes Conservation Area
Sometimes all we need is the peace found in nature and our best bud by our side while we soak it all in. The time I coul...
23 Mar 2025
Hanging Out (Part Two) - Forest Clearing (Near Mavora Lakes)
Clearing my mind by hanging out in a clearing amongst the trees in the Mavora Lakes Area was my simple and yet very plea...
23 Mar 2025
Hanging Out (Part One) - Forest Clearing (Near Mavora Lakes)
It is incredible how beneficial hanging out in nature can be. The change from the normal pressures of society to the cal...
22 Mar 2025
Bob Fortune’s Cove (Part Two) - Bobs Cove, Queenstown
William Rees must have been buzzing when he first saw Lake Wakatipu and the location that would very quickly become ‘A T...
9 Feb 2025
Bob Fortune’s Cove (Part One) - Bobs Cove, Queenstown
Bob Fortune used to ferry people around Lake Wakatipu in the 1800s. He would use a small bay as a safe place to shelter...
7 Feb 2025
A Night Out Under the Stars (Part Two) - Boyd Creek Camp
A night in the wild can be the best medicine around. The peace and relaxation found when camping is truly unique and can...
21 Jan 2025
A Night Out Under the Stars (Part One) - Boyd Creek Camp.
When I was young, I worked out that I enjoy sleeping anywhere other than my bed. From forts to hot-water cylinder cupboa...
20 Jan 2025
Dog Friendly (Part Two) - Boyd Creek Tops Track
It is so awesome how having a dog with you can motivate you to go further than you would if you walked somewhere by your...
19 Jan 2025
Dog Friendly (Part One) - Boyd Creek Tops Track
The township of Te Anau provides so much beauty if you want you can stay within its confines and still get views of Fior...
18 Jan 2025
Finishing as I Started, Plus One (Part Two) - Rakaia River (Double Hill)
So many of my missions have been by myself, which hasn’t dulled the adventure one bit. However, one thing that has enhan...
31 Dec 2024
Finishing as I Started, Plus One (Part One) - Rakaia River (Double Hill)
The start to 2024 was bittersweet. I had dragged myself and my tent to an epic place like I had done many times during 2...
30 Dec 2024
The Year That Was 2024 - New Zealand & Nepal
The year 2024 didn’t quite go as I thought it would, but over the last couple of years that is something I have gotten u...
29 Dec 2024
The Gift of Giving - Nuwakot District, Bagmati, Nepal
There is a certain feeling you get when giving to those who don’t have much. It instantly makes all of the training and...
3 Dec 2024
Kindness is the Key to Success - Nuwakot, Bagmati District. Nepal.
‘Kindness - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate’. The Nepali people I have met have been everything...
29 Nov 2024
My Nepali Family (Part Two) - 2024 Ganesh Himal Charity Trek
My writing began as a way to fill in the time of the Covid-19 lockdowns. Then as time rolled on and my hip kept me out o...
14 Nov 2024
My Nepali Family (Part One) - 2024 Ganesh Himal Charity Trek
In 2015 my friend Dan put out a call for help. Nepal had just been hit by a huge earthquake, and many parts of the count...
14 Nov 2024
The Battle That Never Happened - Awaroa Godley Heads, Banks Peninsula
Bank Peninsula is full of adventure. From the rolling mounds of the Port Hills to the high tops of Te Ahu Patiki Mt Herb...
13 Nov 2024
Happy to be the Follower (Guest Post) - Helicopter Hill (Craigieburn Range)
As Mark’s mother it has not been easy watching him negotiate these last five years since his injury. Progress has been t...
27 Oct 2024
Should Have Used a Helicopter (Part Three) - Helicopter Hill, Craigieburn Forest Park
As my trip to Nepal drew closer, I knew I needed to step up my training if I was going to survive the long trek of many...
26 Oct 2024
Should Have Used a Helicopter (Part Two) - Helicopter Hill, Craigieburn Forest Park
Some of my most enjoyable adventures have involved hours of plugging steps in deep snow. My love for a winter environmen...
26 Oct 2024
Should Have Used a helicopter (Part One) - Helicopter Hill, Craigieburn Forest Park
Who doesn’t love a white winter wonderland covered in snow? Possibly the people who are crazy enough to go hiking in it!...
26 Oct 2024
Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend - Ladbrooks / Tai Tapu
My whanau have always named their dogs in alphabetical order starting with Ally, then came Boston, Casper was next and t...
11 Oct 2024
Training Days - Kepler Track / Waiau River / Lake Te Anau
In less than two months I will embark on another journey to the mountainous land of magic known as Nepal. This time last...
16 Sep 2024
Lakeside Retreat (Part Three) - North Mavora Lake
Most Kiwis (residents of Aotearoa New Zealand, not the bird!) are fortunate enough to have access to wild places, especi...
21 Aug 2024
Lakeside Retreat (Part Two) - North Mavora Lake
Over my time in the outdoors I have worked with, lived with, and constantly been around the watchful eye of keen conserv...
21 Aug 2024
Lakeside Retreat (Part One) - North Mavora Lake
Te Anau is a place of many dogs with surroundings they are not allowed to visit. Both Fiordland and the Takitimu Range a...
19 Aug 2024
It’s Easier Because It’s Dark (Part Two) - Peak 1170m (Lake Lyndon Area)
Lot of the time when you are climbing a mountain you have your head down and are focused on your feet and each step they...
6 Jul 2024
It’s Easier Because It’s Dark (Part One) - Peak 1170m (Lake Lyndon Area)
The norm for climbing a big peak is to get up around midnight and do a lot up the uphill stuff in the darkness of the ni...
5 Jul 2024
The Little Ledge Above the Lake (Part Three) - Lake Lyndon Area / Craigieburn Forest Park
Camping is a strange pastime. There is something so appealing about what some would find incredibly uncomfortable. Takin...
5 Jul 2024
The Little Ledge Above the Lake (Part Two) - Lake Lyndon Area / Craigieburn Forest Park
I love the way outdoor adventures have so many benefits. Of course, there is the fact that you will see some stunning sc...
4 Jul 2024
The Little Ledge Above the Lake (Part One) - Lake Lyndon Area / Craigieburn Forest Park
Mountaineering is a series of smaller tasks that make up one big achievement. If you solely focused on the summit your b...
3 Jul 2024
The Playground in the Trees (Part Two) - Napoleon Hill / Ahaura
In no way did I think that when I drove north from Te Anau to Christchurch that I would end up driving 1360km in three d...
28 Jun 2024
The Playground in the Trees (Part One) - Napoleon Hill / Ahaura
A lot of New Zealand’s history has been lost to the bush. What were big settlements have moved on and the forest has rec...
28 Jun 2024
A Road to Nowhere (Part Three). Ahuriri Conservation Area to Christchurch
My old Marmot tent which I purchased in 2018 now lives in Nepal for my adventures there with the Active Hearts Foundatio...
28 Jun 2024
A Road to Nowhere (Part Two) - Ahuriri Conservation Area
When on a mish the location is often subject to change. Ask any climber and they will tell you that a big route up a mou...
27 Jun 2024
A Road to Nowhere (Part One) - Lindis Pass Conservation Area / Ahuriri Conservation Area
Curiosity is a driving factor in going into the outdoors. A want, need, must know attitude will take you to some incredi...
26 Jun 2024
Spermaceti (Part Two) - Taramea Bay / Aparima Riverton
The largest nose on earth belongs to the Sperm Whale and within this huge, cavernous snout is a liquid known as Spermace...
18 May 2024
Spermaceti (Part One) - Taramea Bay / Aparima Riverton
Millions of years ago giants roamed the earth. Long before humans most of these massive creatures disappeared never to b...
17 May 2024
Very Big Trees (Part Two) - Dean Forest Camp (with Georgie)
For a tiny country, Aotearoa New Zealand had an incredible amount of wealth in the form of natural resources. Unfortunat...
20 Apr 2024
Very Big Trees (Part One) - Dean Forest Camp (with Georgie)
Captain Cook must have been very excited to report back about his adventures in Aotearoa. Along with the bountiful postu...
18 Apr 2024
Two Dogs, a Lake, And Te Whanau (Part Two) - South Mavora Lake Track
I had my whanau by my side when I went on my injury journey, and I needed their company when the road to recovery got ch...
17 Apr 2024
Two Dogs, a Lake, And Te Whanau (Part One) - Te Anau to South Mavora Lake Track
When times are tough, having your whanau on your side can be lifesaving. I have no idea how I would have dealt with my h...
16 Apr 2024
New, NOT a Replacement - Te Anau. Southland
2023 was a year of ups with the odd down. I made a lot of progress in my hip and back recovery, and to my surprise I man...
15 Mar 2024
The Hidden Serpent (Part Two) - Serpents Back Track
At 1.3 million hectares, Fiordland National Park has many hidden corners to get lost in. I would never recommend going i...
14 Mar 2024
The Hidden Serpent (Part One) - Serpent Back Track
At times I have often wished that the fridge door on the Fiordland Navigator had just broken my arm of leg. At least tha...
13 Mar 2024
An Audience with Aoraki (Part Four) - Red Tarns Track
Hiking is a sport / pastime where you are in a race with yourself. No matter how fast you go you can’t beat yourself to...
11 Mar 2024
An Audience with Aoraki (Part Three) - Red Tarns Track
I’m sure that those who have had major injuries can relate to the frustration of knowing what you used to be able to do....
11 Mar 2024
An Audience with Aoraki (Part Two) - Twizel to Aoraki Mt Cook Village
Jaws will drop when approaching Aoraki Mt Cook Village on a sunny day (or any day when the mountains are visible). The b...
10 Mar 2024
An Audience with Aoraki (Part One) - Te Anau to Twizel
In a place full of incredible locations Aotearoa has a few that are just a touch more epic than others. I have been very...
10 Mar 2024
Listening to the Silence of Snow (Part Three) - Mount Burns Tarns
I recently hiked a track that I used to use as a running trail for training. Before I could get too depressed about how...
5 Mar 2024
Listening to the Silence of Snow (Part Two) - Upper Borland Valley / Mount Burns Tarns
Many will be turned away from the hills if snow is mentioned in the forecast. Cold is unpleasant to most and snow usuall...
5 Mar 2024
Listening to the Silence of Snow (Part One) - Borland Burn
I have found that the thing I have missed while sitting on the sidelines with my hip and back injury is getting a sense...
4 Mar 2024
Making the Most of a Disaster (Part Three) - Hollyford Valley
The mental benefits of a night out in the wild can be huge, just like the mountains that surround you. If you go into a...
27 Feb 2024
Making the Most of a Disaster (Part Two) - Hollyford Valley
Not much matches the scale of wildness witnessed during a Fiordland storm. Rain as heavy as rain can get, and then it ge...
26 Feb 2024
Making the Most of a Disaster (Part One) - Hollyford Valley
Fiordland is not only a place of great rain, but also one of constant change. There aren’t too many places where huge ch...
25 Feb 2024
Forest Bathing (Part Two) - Lake Te Anau / Kepler Track
The call of the wild is louder for some over others. Those who must go bathe in a forest’s relaxing vibes return refresh...
22 Feb 2024
Forest Bathing (Part One) - Lake Te Anau / Kepler Track
Moving back to Te Anau has given me a chance to take in how amazing this little town is and to appreciate the place I ca...
21 Feb 2024
Three-Wire Bridge (Part Two) - Hollyford Valley
Forest bathing is something humans should do as often as possible. A simple walk on a trail through trees could be all y...
18 Feb 2024
Three-Wire Bridge (Part One) - Hollyford Valley
Fiordland is like a present at Christmas that you really want and when you get it, it doesn’t disappoint. I never realiz...
17 Feb 2024
Mid Mish Bliss (Part Two) - Rangitata Valley
The wilderness provides so much more to humans than just fitness. To sit surrounded by sweet serenity soothes the soul i...
16 Jan 2024
Mid Mish Bliss (Part One) - Rangitata Valley
I had grown used to going on a mission with a partner. Having another soul enjoying the adventure was something I didn’t...
15 Jan 2024
An Appropriate Place (Part Three) - Dogs Hill(1067m)
I have always wanted to spend my post life in the hills. To have my ashes spread where I was happiest would be the ultim...
1 Jan 2024
An Appropriate Place (Part Two) - Dogs Hill(1067m)
I’m sure that many legends have had their ashes spread in the epic places they loved to visit. I know one day I want my...
31 Dec 2023
An Appropriate Place (Part One) - Dogs Hill(1067m)
Having a dog of my own was one of the best feelings of my life. Since I don’t have kids, my dog was my child and I direc...
30 Dec 2023
Merry Christmas to All!!!
Merry Christmas to all of the legends out there. It has been a year of ups and downs, with many highs and a couple of ve...
24 Dec 2023
Kia Ora Namaste Whanau - UPDATE:
Kia Ora Namaste Whanau! "I went to Nepal to see the biggest mountains on the planet and left with the knowledge that the...
11 Dec 2023
Eglinton for Ernie (Part Three) - Eglinton Flat
It is tradition to build a chorten (rock cairn memorial) for climbers who have passed away in the mountains of Nepal. It...
5 Dec 2023
Eglinton for Ernie (Part Two) - Te Anau to Eglinton Flat
As humans we have no choice when it comes to dealing with death. It will happen to all of us unfortunately and as much a...
3 Dec 2023
Eglinton for Ernie (Part One) - Christchurch to Te Anau
It is amazing how much motivation an animal can give you. The fact that a dog needs walking everyday is one thing, the o...
3 Dec 2023
Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part Six). Dhaling Besi.
Final morning this morning and I think we all have very mixed emotions. While it will be lovely to sleep in a proper bed...
6 Nov 2023
Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part Five)
Today was the longest day of the walk so we were worried how Mark would go. We were given a packed lunch after breakfast...
4 Nov 2023
Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part Four). Megang Danda (Nuwakot)
Don’t think any of us had a great sleep last night, Mark least of all. Part of me felt like just packing up and going ho...
3 Nov 2023
2023 Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part Three). Salme School (Nuwakot).
Pretty much everyone in the camp was kept awake by a barking dog. I have never heard one dog bark so loudly and for so l...
1 Nov 2023
Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. 2023 Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part Two). Khule School, Nuwakot (Nepal)
Walked up and down hill for a while before reaching Khule school. This is where our library is, so it was amazing to see...
30 Oct 2023
(GUEST POST) Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. The 2023 Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part One)
“On a Mish” #421(GUEST POST) Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. The 2023 Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part One). Aotearoa...
27 Oct 2023
This Time Last Year (Part Three) - Ganesh Himal Charity Trek 2023
Giving someone something is one of the best feelings you can have. Giving someone who has very little something is even...
26 Oct 2023
This Time Last Year (Part Two). Ganesh Himal Charity Trek 2023.
The drive of helping others can get you through some epic ordeals. With a crazy idea in mind and a charity to support, s...
25 Oct 2023
This Time Last Year (Part One) - Ganesh Himal Charity Trek 2023
This time last year (2023) I was struggling my way through the foothills of the Himalaya on another quest with the Activ...
24 Oct 2023
It’s About Time - Aotearoa to Nepal 2023
to 14.11.2023. In 2015 I travelled to Nepal for the first time to help out my bro with the charity he had just started....
8 Oct 2023
The Next Active Hearts Foundation Adventure
In 2010-2011 Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury area was continuously rocked by earthquakes. The deviation was...
30 Sep 2023
It’s Not Everest - Kennedys Bush Track
To most, hiking uphill is a grind we force ourselves through. Not many enjoy the experience, but most love the views and...
30 Sep 2023
It’s Better to Tell the Tale (Part Three) - Double Hill / Rakaia River
During the last couple of years I have been told by many different people that I might not get back to my days climbing...
12 Sep 2023
It’s Better to Tell the Tale (Part Two) - Double Hill / Rakaia River
Some of my fondest memories as a child were going to stay with Nanny and Fossil (my Grandmother and Grandfather). Every...
11 Sep 2023
It’s Better to Tell the Tale (Part One) - Double Hill / Rakaia River
During my time as a guide I have learnt that age is just a number. Memories of guiding the more senior members of the po...
10 Sep 2023
Summit Fever (Part Three) - Beebys Knob(1442m)
The top of a mountain is a special place. Seen by many from below, but only the brave few see the reverse view. The simp...
12 Aug 2023
Summit Fever (Part Two) - Beebys Knob(1442m)
The most recent movie about Mt Everest was an excellent representation of what summit fever can do to perfectly sane peo...
12 Aug 2023
Summit Fever (Part One) - Beebys Knob(1442m)
The draw of a mountain’s summit is strong, especially when you used to aim for the top on most missions. Before I hurt m...
11 Aug 2023
St Awesome (Part Two) - St Arnaud / Lake Rotoiti
This country may be small on a world’s stage but, when you really get amongst it like so many lucky tourists do, you sta...
11 Aug 2023
St Awesome (Part One) - Boyle Creek to St Arnaud
After so many missions a question I get asked often is what or where is your favourite place / track. A response I often...
11 Aug 2023
Chilling Out (Part Three) - Boyle River Campsite
Chilling out is an excellent thing to do. The expression can make you feel relaxed as you can visualise yourself with yo...
10 Aug 2023
Chilling Out (Part Two) - Boyle River Campsite
I might be biased when it comes to my love of a good mish in a Suzuki Jimny. That fact that I have been on many adventur...
10 Aug 2023
Chilling Out (Part One) - The Road to Boyle River
For some, cold weather is cruel and crippling. Frigid frost forcing you to find your warmest fabric to fight off the fre...
9 Aug 2023
There’s a Hole in My Tent (Part Five) - Avoca River / Valley
Hiking with my best mate is something I am really enjoying. I am also really enjoying the fact that I can combine campin...
7 Aug 2023
There’s a Hole in My Tent (Part Four) - Avoca River / Valley
Pretty much every time I get into my cousin's Suzuki Jimny we return with a tale to tell. We don’t go out looking for tr...
6 Aug 2023
There’s a Hole in My Tent (Part Three) - Avoca River / Valley
A series of circumstances led to me acquiring a dog, and now I can’t think of life without him. I was hoping that Lil’ E...
4 Aug 2023
There’s a Hole in My Tent (Part Two) - Avoca River / Valley
Since 2019 I have spent countless nights in my Marmot tent and the shelter provided has made for many magic missions. Al...
4 Aug 2023
There’s a Hole in My Tent (Part One) - Avoca River / Valley
A constant companion in most of my outdoor adventures recently is my Marmot Tungsten tent. My transportable home away fr...
3 Aug 2023
A Taste of Alpine Life (Part Four) - Potts Range / Erewhon Park (Almost)
Over the last decade plus I have reinforced three loves in my life: Mountains, Skateboarding and telling people how epic...
1 Aug 2023
A Taste of Alpine Life (Part Three) - Potts Range / Erewhon Park (Almost)
When it is all said and done I have had a love / hate relationship with my time in Christchurch. On one hand it is a pla...
31 Jul 2023
A Taste of Alpine Life (Part Two) - Potts Range / Erewhon Park (Almost).
The taste of alpine life will satisfy and leave you craving more. It was probably after my first hike to the top of Coni...
31 Jul 2023
A Taste of Alpine Life (Part One) - Potts Range / Erewhon Park (Almost)
The want to get up high in the mountains will become a need after spending enough time up high. Simply looking up at the...
30 Jul 2023
Significant Weather Event, Again! - Ladbrooks (Christchurch)
One thing I really enjoyed about guiding in Fiordland was telling people some of the weather facts. Huge amounts of rain...
22 Jul 2023
Up, Up and Away - Rangiora Aerodrome
During my time in the outdoors I have been very lucky to have been able to take to the skies in helicopters. The remote...
20 Jul 2023
The Tragedy Track (Part Two) - Rapaki Track / Valley Track
There have been times when I have been hiking in places of historic hardship. Knowing someone, oror multiple people have...
23 Jun 2023
The Tragedy Track (Part One) - Rapaki Track.
While attending a chronic pain management course we were asked to set goals. I joined in with another attendee’s goal, w...
22 Jun 2023
The Opposite of Flat (Part Two) - Rakaia River
Apart from Te Pataka o Rakaihautū / Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills Christchurch and its surroundings are mostly flat...
20 Jun 2023
The Opposite of Flat (Part One) - Rakaia River
Whatever the plan was I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the one I was following. Not only have my long days in the mountains bee...
19 Jun 2023
Jimnyfest - Waipara River with The Jimny Club
If you are after a new Suzuki Jimny you better get in line. Who would have thought that a little truck could have such a...
17 Jun 2023
Little Lyndon Hill (Part Three). Korowai / Torlesse Tussocklands Park.
If you ever feel like life is getting away from you, then head to the hills. In Japan people go forest bathing in order...
14 Jun 2023
Little Lyndon Hill (Part Two). Korowai / Torlesse Tussocklands Park.
Hurting my hip might have changed my life in a negative way, however the ying that was my injury was counted with the ya...
12 Jun 2023
Little Lyndon Hill (Part One). Korowai / Torlesse Tussocklands Park.
Once upon a time I climbed mountains, it sometimes feels like a fairy tale dream these days. When reliving my adventures...
12 Jun 2023
No Truck Gets Left Behind. Mid Canterbury 4x4 Park.
Looking back at all of the adventures I have been on with my cousin, it is amazing we have never been stuck in a very re...
9 Jun 2023
A Fowler Wind Blows (Part Three). Fowler Pass Track.
Part of the appeal of hiking to me is the satisfaction of completing your self appointed challenge. Pre-injury my target...
3 Jun 2023
<strong><em>A Fowler Wind Blows (Part Two). Fowler Pass Track.</em></strong>
Pre 2007 I wouldn’t consider spending time in the mountains as a ‘fun’ pastime. I was more into vehicles and high veloci...
2 Jun 2023
A Fowler Wind Blows (Part One) - Fowler Pass Track
The road to recovery has been a lot longer than expected. I didn’t know how long it would take to start with, but I didn...
2 Jun 2023
Welcome to Clearwater (Part Two) - Lake Clearwater / Erewhon
As a guide the goal is to first show how much you love a place, and second to attempt to get others just as fascinated....
8 May 2023
Welcome to Clearwater (Part One) - Lake Clearwater Area
Once a guide, always a guide. It is hard to shake off your guiding ways after you leave the industry, especially if you...
7 May 2023
Conflicting Reports (Part Three). Hakatere Conservation Park
I was once camping in the magnificent Rees Valley in Otago when a helicopter first flew over my little campsite and then...
29 Apr 2023
Conflicting Reports (Part Two). Hakatere Conservation Park
A couple of times when exploring with my cousin in his truck we have asked for permission when we don’t really need to....
28 Apr 2023
Conflicting Reports (Part One). Hakatere Conservation Park
My rocky road to recovery has been made a lot easier with the addition of an excellent sidekick (or am I the sidekick?)....
27 Apr 2023
Time to be a Tourist - The Milford Road
The biggest change in my life was going from a job assembling cabinets on a factory floor to a life in and out of the mo...
19 Apr 2023
Movies at Mistake Flat (Part Five) - The Havelock Valley
People who love the outdoors usually have at least a couple of times when they have to pinch themselves to reassure them...
26 Mar 2023
Movies at Mistake Flat (Part Four) - The Havelock Valley
When you are out in the wilderness exploring you sometimes need to push aside feelings of nervousness. You might be at a...
25 Mar 2023
Movies at Mistake Flat (Part Three) - The Havelock Valley
My cousin Adam’s determination is evident in everything he does. He took up running and now runs marathons. He also brou...
24 Mar 2023
Movies at Mistake Flat (Part Two) - The Havelock Valley
A mission is an chance to enjoy the sweet satisfaction of achievement. This feeling can become very addictive and before...
24 Mar 2023
Movies At Mistake Flat (Part One) - The Havelock Valley
For all his faults my cousin Adam is an ok dude… Just kidding, he is a bloody good bloke who somehow keeps on upping our...
23 Mar 2023
Chasing the Sun (Part Three) - Sunrises & Sunset Around Lake Clearwater
A big ball of bright burning bliss blazing in the sky can provide beautiful views to behold. You don’t have to pay to lo...
19 Mar 2023
Chasing the Sun (Part Two) - Sunrises & Sunsets Around Lake Clearwater
Of many thousands of photos the ones I love the most are either early morning shots or pictures taken at dusk. A mountai...
18 Mar 2023
Chasing the Sun (Part One) - Sunrises & Sunsets Around Lake Clearwater
With all the uncertainty in today's world it is good to know that everyday the sun will rise and then fall. For me these...
17 Mar 2023
The Taste of a River (Part Two) - Potts River Camp
If you go out hiking often, eventually you will run into a situation where you might have to cross a river. To some ‘hik...
2 Mar 2023
The Taste of a River (Part One) - Potts River Camp
To be alone in an area the physical size of a major city is an experience I have become very fond of. I am very lucky to...
1 Mar 2023
Ssssssh, It's a Secret (Part Two) - Secret Jimny Club Mission
During my recovery my thirst for adventure didn’t go unquenched, thanks to my cousin Adam. Together we have seen some pr...
18 Feb 2023
Sssssh It's a Secret (Part One) - Jimny Club Mission
Big beautiful blocks of earth standing in silence and so, so spectacular to stare at. It is no secret that Aotearoa has...
18 Feb 2023
A Dog Chooses His Owner (Part Two) - Ernie Goes Camping
This time last year I would have never thought that I would have four little legs follow me on adventures into the mount...
10 Feb 2023
A Dog Chooses His Owner (Part One) - Ernie Goes Camping
I never planned on owning a dog. The idea has always been in my head, however the timing and my life situation has preve...
8 Feb 2023
Ernie and the Eagles Nest - Seven Mile Track
If you have the ability to get into the outdoors DO IT! You never know what the future holds, and for some the outdoors...
31 Jan 2023
No Sign of Mankind (Part Two) - Double Hill Camp
Before I injured my hip I knew that getting out into nature was very important for my headspace and now during my recove...
12 Jan 2023
No Sign of Mankind (Part One) - Double Hill Camp
Having the option of going to a place where there is no sign of mankind isn’t possible for a huge percentage of the worl...
11 Jan 2023
Ernie and the Ocean - A Trip to Charteris Bay
“On a Mish’ #363 Ernie and the Ocean. Te Wharau / Charteris Bay. Horomaka / Banks Peninsula. 20.1.2023. Most don’t remem...
9 Jan 2023
Barely Made it to Bealey (Part Four) - Upper Bealey Valley
Waking up in paradise is something that will always put a smile on my face, and waking up with a smile is how everyone d...
1 Jan 2023
Barely Made it to Bealey (Part Three) - Upper Bealey Valley
If something causes pain you probably shouldn’t do it. However, if doing or not doing will be the difference between bei...
31 Dec 2022
Barely Made it to Bealey (Part Two) - Upper Bealey Valley Camp
I am sure there are some people who, after getting Covid and then getting over Covid, went out on a mish only to find th...
31 Dec 2022
Barely Made it to Bealey (Part One) - Upper Bealey Valley Camp
It is amazing how motivating the wilderness can be. Hiking is a pastime for all ages and abilities, and thanks to both t...
30 Dec 2022
The Omarama Alternative - Omarama Saddle
Before I wrecked my hip I didn’t think much about four wheel driving. I would much rather chuck a pack on my back and ta...
26 Nov 2022
Permission Granted (Part Four) - Northern Otago Hills
Many of New Zealand’s biggest farms are located in some of New Zealand’s most pristine country. Massive areas have been...
26 Nov 2022
Permission Granted (Part Three) - Northern Otago Hills
I will never forget the time (when working for Ultimate Hikes) when the guides opened up one of the lodges in the Greens...
25 Nov 2022
Permission Granted (Part Two) - Northern Otago Hills
Not many people would jump a fence and go play in a stranger's backyard, however many seem to think it is ok to go into...
25 Nov 2022
Permission Granted (Part One) - Northern Otago Hills
Aotearoa became the land of farms once discovered. Because of its fertile land, a lot of the country is covered in paddo...
24 Nov 2022
Forced to Work (Part Two) - The Mingha River
The lure of adventure is so powerful to me that I will endure some pain just to get out and about. The rewards of a clea...
15 Nov 2022
Forced to Work (Part One) - The Mingha River
Heading outdoors is a great way to relax. Having nothing but the birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees c...
14 Nov 2022
Up to the Challenge (Part Three) - Macaulay Valley
The taste of success can sometimes seem too tough to tackle and you just turn to disappointment instead. For many years...
5 Nov 2022
Up to the Challenge (Part Two) - Macaulay Valley
When away from help extra care needs to be taken. There have been many locations I have gone to where I knew if I hurt m...
5 Nov 2022
Up to the Challenge (Part One) - Macaulay Valley
Doing very little can be very unmotivating, and doing nothing will leave you feeling terrible. Every now and then I have...
4 Nov 2022
One Long Night (Part Two) - Upper Ashley River
I’m sure that someone who loves fishing wouldn’t mind fishing in the rain or wind. Just as a surfer will never complain...
29 Oct 2022
One Long Night (Part One) - Upper Ashley River Camp
If you really love doing something, then it is amazing what you will go through to partake in the pleasurable pastime. W...
28 Oct 2022
Depressingly Motivating - Christchurch to Te Anau & Back Again
My approach to my injury recovery lately has been very similar to the way I go about my missions. To attempt to look at...
24 Oct 2022
The Backyard Bash - Getting Everyone 'On a Mish'
With all that is going on, both in Aotearoa / New Zealand and around the world, it has been awesome to have my Whanau by...
13 Oct 2022
Not Going to Plan - The Ongoing Saga...
It is safe to say that after more than two and a half years I am nowhere near where I was before being struck by a freez...
12 Oct 2022
Grandeur on Steroids (Part Five) - The Upper Rakaia
During my spare time I love to read Hiking, trekking, tramping and climbing guidebooks. It is a great way of getting to...
9 Oct 2022
Grandeur on Steroids (Part Four) - The Upper Rakaia
There aren’t too many places left in the world where you can go and know you’re the only one to get there in quite some...
7 Oct 2022
Grandeur on Steroids (Part Three) - The Upper Rakaia
With blind determination you can block out the bad and get yourself to some amazing locations. This was how I would guid...
7 Oct 2022
Grandeur on Steroids (Part Two) - The Upper Rakaia
The definition of Grandeur is - Splendour and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style: "the austere grandeur o...
6 Oct 2022
Grandeur on Steroids (Part One) - The Upper Rakaia
Nature offers the brain a reassuring calm like no other. While medication is appropriate at times, nothing sooths the so...
6 Oct 2022
Stabbed in the Back (Part Two) - The Ongoing Medical Saga
When it comes to getting stabbed by needles I can say I have had my fair share. Having tattoos on my back means I could...
30 Sep 2022
Stabbed in the Back (Part One) - The Ongoing Medical Saga
The title of this story may give the appearance that I have had a friend betray me or I was attacked from behind with a...
29 Sep 2022
The Waiting Game (Part Three) - Taramakau Valley Camp
Sometimes when out ‘on a mish’ you play the waiting game. Whether it be waiting for the weather or for night to become d...
17 Sep 2022
The Waiting Game (Part Two) - Taramakau Valley Camp
For those out there who want an injury update I am unfortunately unable to tell you anything as after four months playin...
17 Sep 2022
The Waiting Game (Part One) - Taramakau Valley Camp
I am not the biggest soccer fan, however I was very impressed with the fact that the famous soccer star David Beckham wa...
16 Sep 2022
Windy-Force Valley (Part Three) - Wilberforce Valley Camp
If I had to choose one aspect of the weather to erase forever it would be the wind. I love watching rain fall almost as...
30 Aug 2022
Windy-Force Valley (Part Two) - Wilberforce Valley
Fabric flapping frantically for an entire night is probably not most people's cup of tea and not what many picture when...
29 Aug 2022
Windy-Force Valley (Part One) - Wilberforce Valley
Sometimes running away from reality can work like hitting the default switch. A complete system reset can be achieved by...
29 Aug 2022
Stress Free in 'The Place To Be' (Part Three) - Poulter Valley Camp
The medicinal benefits of a visit to the wilderness can be incredible, sometimes so good you question whether it is real...
23 Aug 2022
Stress Free in 'The Place To Be' (Part Two) - Poulter Valley Camp
Even the word stress can create stress, and being stressed out is no fun for anyone. People have different ways of deali...
22 Aug 2022
Stress Free in 'The Place To Be' (Part One) - Poulter Valley Camp
Stress can prevent the healing process taking place. And when you are unsure about how injured you actually are (after m...
21 Aug 2022
Must Go Camping (Part Three) - Boundary Hill Camp
As I began to hike my gear up to a high point, I started feeling really good. My hip may have been hurting but my mind w...
10 Aug 2022
Must Go Camping (Part Two) - Boundary Hill Camp
Many fear the cold, therefore the winter is a time to stay warm in the comfort of your own home. However, if you brave t...
9 Aug 2022
Must Go Camping (Part One) - Boundary Hill Camp
The want, need, and must have becomes too strong sometimes and some form of camping is needed to prevent the craziness s...
8 Aug 2022
Into the Snow We Go (Part Three) - Jimny Club Adventure
While out 'On a Mish' you can encounter all sorts of situations, however running into a mass of humanity wasn't what we...
31 Jul 2022
Into the Snow We Go (Part Two) - Jimny Club Adventure
Due to the road being closed at Springfield, there were heaps of skiers around waiting for the opportunity to head up to...
30 Jul 2022
Into the Snow We Go (Part One) - Jimny Club Adventure
The want, must, need to go into the wild is never a bad thing. However you have to get yourself there first. Hiking, tre...
30 Jul 2022
Wettest July Ever (Part Two) - Record Breaking Rainfall for Canterbury
"On a Mish” #342 Wettest July Ever - Part Two. Lake Mosley. Tai Tapu. Otautahi / Christchurch. July 2022. Rain gives us...
16 Jul 2022
Wettest July Ever (Part One) - Record Breaking Rain for Canterbury
"On a Mish” #342 Wettest July Ever - Part One. Lake Mosley. Tai Tapu. Otautahi / Christchurch. July 2022. While working...
14 Jul 2022
You're Not Going Anywhere - Stuck at Lake Clearwater Village
On a few occasions I have been fortunate enough to be happily trapped in a wild location due to the weather. Every time...
13 Jul 2022
Post Storm Magnificence (Part Three) - Snowed in at Lake Clearwater
Pushing through powder snow before sunrise might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The thought alone of getting up early whe...
13 Jul 2022
Post Storm Magnificence (Part Two) - Snowed in at Lake Clearwater
Too many times the cold has been labelled a ‘bad thing’ when really it can be the cause of a remarkable sight. It might...
12 Jul 2022
Post Storm Magnificence (Part One) - Snowed in at Lake Clearwater
Snow is a rare treat for most who live in Aotearoa New Zealand. Much of our low-lying land will remain snow free even du...
12 Jul 2022
Significant Weather Event (Part Two) - Wild Weather at Lake Clearwater
Mother Nature has interesting ways of showing us her beauty. While a clear blue sky can be an absolute dream to witness,...
11 Jul 2022
Significant Weather Event (Part One) - Wild Weather at Lake Clearwater
The weather is something you have no control over, therefore sometimes you just have to sit back and marvel at its magni...
10 Jul 2022
Klondyke Gold (Part Four) - Turkey Flat Camp
In this day and age we have the option of being able to take thousands of photos and it won’t add any weight to your mis...
7 Jul 2022
Klondyke Gold (Part Three) - Turkey Flat Camp
Getting the views and having a tale to tell is a successful mission in my mind. The tale doesn’t have to be too adventur...
6 Jul 2022
Klondyke Gold (Part Two) - Turkey Flat Camp
To me a precious gem can be a quality photo of a mountain scene. To capture something that puts a smile on your (or othe...
6 Jul 2022
Klondyke Gold (Part One) - Turkey Flat Camp
As civilization slowly spreads over the rugged terrain of New Zealand’s South Island, we move further and further away f...
5 Jul 2022
No Tent Required (Part Two) - Kaitorete Spit Camp
In the past some very tough people have wandered the mountains carrying only a swag which could be used as both bag and...
25 Jun 2022
No Tent Required (Part One) - Te Waihora / Kaitorete Spit Camp
With no fix for my hip on the horizon I needed to do something that took my mind off the madness of my situation. Going...
24 Jun 2022
A Couple of Old Dogs - Clearwater Retreat
Age is something that everybody attempts to avoid but can’t. And age can sometimes be an excuse used to get someone out...
15 Jun 2022
The Shortest Walks Around - Lake Roundabout & The Kettle Hole
Going from swift strides to sitting stationary can be pretty shitty. And having to do it twice within two years has been...
14 Jun 2022
When Very Little is Too Much - Lake Clearwater Village
The ability to move around should always be appreciated. Because you really do miss it when it gets taken away. Going fr...
13 Jun 2022
A Tough Easy Walk - Williams Valley
One of my goals is to still be hiking and skateboarding at 50 and even though “it” has tried, it will take a lot more th...
5 Jun 2022
An Area That Time Forgot (Part Two) - Acheron Homestead
If you have done something before you can do it again, or at least see if you still can! I get sick of people saying the...
5 Jun 2022
An Area That Time Forgot (Part One) - Acheron Homestead
To watch hard work disappear before your own eyes is tough. Years of guiding and consistently going on many different mi...
4 Jun 2022
That's Unfortunate - Some Interesting News
2020 Broken. 2021 Improving. 2022 Deteriorating. After my hip injury I slowly improved to a point where I began to go fu...
19 May 2022
A Valley to Far (Part Three) - Lower Otira Valley Camp
The wild world of mountains can be a tricky place to negotiate sometimes. Everything looks easy on the map from the comf...
12 May 2022
A Valley to Far (Part Two) - Lower Otira Valley Camp
To simply go to a place and go on a mish without knowing the area is a little bit risky. Research needs to be done befor...
12 May 2022
A Valley to Far (Part One) - Lower Otira Valley Camp
If you have hiked in Aotearoa enough you have learned that our 1:50,000 maps are just a rough (very) guide of the terrai...
11 May 2022
Money in the Banks - Old Le Bons Track
Many in Christchurch look west towards the Southern Alps when considering mountain activity. However on the eastern side...
4 May 2022
Time to Head North - Te Anau to Christchurch
Everyday it seems a little more certainty is taken away from our day to day lives. Every couple of weeks a life changing...
29 Apr 2022
Snakes & Ladders - Covid Chaos
If you have been stuck in a hole and got yourself out it then you have the ability to do it again. If you have vanquishe...
19 Apr 2022
Welcome Back Rain - Fiordland Goes Back to Normal
For many visitors to the south this summer the weather has been absolutely outstanding. Day after day of epic sunshine,...
18 Apr 2022
Protecting Paradise - Trapping in the Murchison Mountains
Aotearoa was an incredible land of birds once. The land's remote isolation meant many unusual ground birds could frolic...
28 Mar 2022
Modifying the Mish (Part Four) - Gertrude Valley
If life’s unavoidable scenarios force you to change paths, then it’s you enjoy the new road you are travelling on. Some...
22 Mar 2022
Modifying the Mish (Part Three) - Gertrude Valley
Total emergence in the mountains is what I seek, and to get it I must spend at least or two nights outdoors. When I firs...
21 Mar 2022
Modifying the Mish (Part Two) - Gertrude Valley
Back in the day I used to really push my abilities to the extreme and this got me to some rather epic places. Nowadays I...
20 Mar 2022
Modifying the Mish (Part One) - Gertrude Valley
When the going gets tough it always feels like your brain is telling you giving up will be the best option. Unfortunatel...
20 Mar 2022
Stubborn Love (Part Three) - Falls Creek
The drive found in the wilderness can be a very powerful experience. The longing to see more can get you through some ch...
21 Feb 2022
Stubborn Love (Part Two) - Falls Creek
New Zealand’s national sport of rugby has produced some very tough dudes. It is not uncommon to hear tales when broken b...
21 Feb 2022
Stubborn Love (Part One) - Falls Creek
It is amazing what some sports people will go through in order for their team to win. Broken bones can somehow be put on...
20 Feb 2022
Darran Mountain Gold (Part Three) - McPherson Cirque
Wilderness heals the mind and soul. That is something I have recently found out for myself while navigating my own injur...
6 Feb 2022
Darran Mountain Gold (Part Two) - McPherson Cirque
I have never had any issue with heading out on an adventure by myself, and really enjoy having some one-on-one time with...
6 Feb 2022
Darran Mountain Gold (Part One) - McPherson Cirque
Solace in the mountains is what I seek and usually find in this spectacular country I am lucky enough to call home. For...
5 Feb 2022
Welcome to Borland - Part Two
There is something so cool about showing people the beauty of the wilderness. It is very rewarding when you introduce so...
11 Jan 2022
Welcome to Borland (Part One) - Upper Borland Burn (South Branch)
Anyone who knows me knows I have a slight obsession with Fiordland National Park. The place has so much to offer, and du...
10 Jan 2022
Moving On - A Crazy Couple of Years
To say the last couple of years have been interesting for human beings is a rather large understatement. There isn’t a p...
10 Jan 2022
Quietly Sh*tting Myself - Aurora Caves (Part Two)
It is odd how some people find something terrifying, while others enjoy the same experience. It really shows how individ...
4 Jan 2022
Quietly Sh*tting Myself - The Aurora Cave (Part One)
Facing your fears can have some great effects on your confidence. Stepping up to a challenge with some fear in your bell...
3 Jan 2022
Blue Ducks & Banter - Part Three
I have never gone out of my way to find animals in the wild, but have been lucky enough to have had many awesome encount...
28 Dec 2021
Blue Ducks & Banter - Part Two
I often stress to people how important it is to take your time when travelling to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound. The road r...
28 Dec 2021
Blue Ducks & Banter - Part One
We are very lucky in Aotearoa to have the opportunity to see some of the rarest birds on the planet in their homes in ou...
27 Dec 2021
Resting in Pieces - RIP Gunns Camp
Many years ago, when I worked as a guide on the Routeburn Track, I would tell people that the collection of buildings in...
27 Dec 2021
Waves on the Water - Crossing Te Anau Strait
In Maoridom Pounamu is a gift that gives luck to the recipient. I am lucky enough to have a Hei Matua (the Fish Hook) pi...
19 Dec 2021
Less Effort Just as Epic (Part Four) - Upper Cleddau Valley
For some reason I always feel the most refreshed when I wake up in my tent. In reality I get less sleep while tossing an...
15 Dec 2021
Less Effort Just as Epic (Part Three) - Upper Cleddau Valley
Unfortunately, many people around the world will never find their true ‘Happy Place’. A place that makes you smile and b...
15 Dec 2021
Less Effort Just as Epic (Part Two). Upper Cleddau Valley
With all the entertainment we have at our fingertips these days many forget about the free entertainment on offer in the...
14 Dec 2021
Less Effort Just as Epic (Part One) - Upper Cleddau Camping
From the instant I first saw the mountains of Northern Fiordland I knew it was the beginning of a long and highly enjoya...
14 Dec 2021
Very, Very Sore & Satisfied - High Above Glade Burn (Part Four)
Is being stubborn a terrible thing when it helps you achieve your goals? After my injury I had to put my love of the out...
8 Dec 2021
Very Sore & Satisfied - High Above Glade Burn (Part Three)
It is amazing what you can achieve once you put your mind to something and you find the motivation to get going. Unfortu...
7 Dec 2021
Sore & Satisfied (Part Two) - High Above Glade Burn
Being sore or in constant pain is something that took a little getting used to when I first hurt my hip and back. My lon...
7 Dec 2021
Sore & Satisfied (Part One) - High Above Glade Burn
After a major injury you have two options. Option One is to give in to the ailment and live the rest of your life using...
6 Dec 2021
Precipitation - Patea / Doubtful Sound
I’m sure there are some out there who wouldn’t be upset if they never saw a rainy day again. Precipitation can cause ann...
29 Nov 2021
There is NO such thing as BAD Weather - Patea / Doubtful Sound
The first person to call a rainy day “bad weather” needs a slap! Rain is rather important to human beings, and without i...
26 Nov 2021
Same Old New - Glade Wharf
To look out the window of your workplace at the beauty that many people crave to see makes you feel rather special. Not...
16 Nov 2021
No Water and No Jacket (Part Four) - Clare Peak(1490m)
On a couple of occasions I have had to deal with a weather forecast whoopsie. Luckily I treat every adventure as if this...
3 Nov 2021
No Water and No Jacket (Part Three) - Clare Peak(1490m)
A real example of how sparsely populated New Zealand is the fact that you can hike into a remote location for a couple o...
2 Nov 2021
<strong><em>No Water and No Jacket (Part Two). Clare Peak(1490m)</em></strong>
It is very frustrating watching your fitness disappear when injured. After hurting my hip I went from a big mission into...
2 Nov 2021
No Water & No Jacket (Part One) - Clare Peak(1490m)
I’m sure that the people who predict the weather do their very best, but sometimes when they get it wrong you have to de...
2 Nov 2021
Camping in a Blizzard (Part Four) - Whiskey Trail to The Divide
To witness Mother Nature’s full-on fury first hand is rememberable to say the least. Sideways snow driven by power wind...
12 Oct 2021
Camping in a Blizzard (Part Three) - Whiskey Trail
There has been the odd occasion when I have tramped into wild weather with the intention of enjoying the experience. It...
11 Oct 2021
Camping in a Blizzard (Part Two) - Routeburn / Key Summit Track to Whiskey Trail
A long time ago when I was a young fella I played Ice Hockey. I believe this has led to my fascination with ice and the...
11 Oct 2021
Camping in a Blizzard (Part One) - Te Anau to Routeburn / Key Summit Track
I find a type of bliss when camping, and nothing else seems to match the feeling. Being out on a mish in the wilderness...
11 Oct 2021
Follow the Poop (Part Three) - Waterloo Peak(1077m)
It is said that around 80% of mountaineering accidents happen after the sweet satisfaction of setting foot on the summit...
7 Oct 2021
Follow the Poop (Part Two) - Waterloo Peak(1077m)
On many occasions and in many different places I have marvelled at the foot / hoof skills of the introduced animals that...
6 Oct 2021
Follow the Poop (Part One) - Waterloo Peak(1077m)
Even when I was in my fittest state I still looked at the animals that roamed the mountain tops with jealousy. Not only...
6 Oct 2021
The Price to Pay if you Want to Play - Avalanche Creek Track
It is amazing what you can achieve if you put your head down and go for it. However, sometimes you have to pay if you wa...
22 Sep 2021
Epic Scenery For Breakfast - Lake Sylvan
Once driverless cars reach New Zealand everyone on board will be able to appreciate the incredible natural beauty seen o...
21 Sep 2021
The Cave In - Te Ana-Au Landslide
Never in all my years of working in tourism did I think we would ever struggle for work. For a long time now millions of...
12 Sep 2021
My Own Great Walk - Beyond Key Summit (Part Three)
On many occasions I have had a remote valley somewhere in paradise all to myself. The fact that this is still possible i...
8 Sep 2021
My Own Great Walk - Beyond Key Summit (Part Two)
Working in a job in New Zealand tourism means you get told how amazing ‘your office’ is on a daily basis. Then after tho...
7 Sep 2021
My Own Great Walk (Part One) - Key Summit Ridge
At any stage during the last decade and half if you had told me I would be the only one hiking on the Routeburn Track I...
7 Sep 2021
Following all of the Rules (Part Two) - Post Office Point Camp
There are some very good reasons why the property prices in Te Anau and Manapouri weren’t massively affected by the glob...
2 Sep 2021
Following All of the Rules (Part One) - Post Office Point Camp
As far as I could tell, I was following all of the Level 3 guidelines while on this mish. If I got it wrong or misread a...
1 Sep 2021
Lockdown 2021 - Round Two
One day in the future the sun will set on the ‘Covid Era’, and then we can all enjoy the sunrise of a new world post vir...
23 Aug 2021
Early Birds (Part Two) - An Epic Way to Start the Day
As a kid I would have never pictured myself as an educator. I love guiding and telling stories, but dealing with kids I...
9 Aug 2021
Early Birds (Part One) - An Epic Way to Start the Day
It is strange how this world can give you something unexpected but then take it away before you get the chance to really...
8 Aug 2021
The Coolest Coldness (Part Three) - Upper Eglington Camping
I’d much rather tackle the challenges of a cold winter day over a scorching hot summer day. Chucking another layer of cl...
11 Jul 2021
The Coolest Coldness (Part Two) - Upper Eglington Camping
Some might take the time to think about going camping (especially during the winter) and the chilly thoughts might make...
10 Jul 2021
The Coolest Coldness (Part One) - Upper Eglington Camping
Winter is very cool in both the literal sense and also from a visual perspective. The way ice or snow can dramatically b...
10 Jul 2021
Almost too Beautiful - Lake Marian Camp (Part Four)
Before heading out on my Lake Marian mish, I watched a movie about some fellas climbing Sagarmartha / Mt Everest(8848m),...
8 Jul 2021
Almost too Beautiful (Part Three) - Lake Marian Camp
Forget the latest iPhone or android, I’ll take a look at the clouds swirling amongst the giants of the Darran Mountain R...
7 Jul 2021
Almost too Beautiful (Part Two) - Lake Marian Camp
I think it is important to have things to occupy your mind during the boring parts of life. For some it is the thought o...
6 Jul 2021
Almost too Beautiful (Part One) - Lake Marian Camp
If beauty has limits then Lake Marian and the mountains that surround it are really pushing it! Lake Marian is an absolu...
6 Jul 2021
That's One BIG Fish - A School Camp with a Fishy Twist
We (New Zealanders) are lucky to live in a country of outdoor adventures amongst great beauty. Working in some of the be...
2 Jul 2021
Snow Makes Everything Better - Eglinton Valley Camp (Part Three)
I’ll take a night in a tent in an epic location over a hotel nearly every time. Put that tent in Fiordland and even the...
29 Jun 2021
Snow Makes Everything Better - Eglinton Valley Camp (Part Two)
The inconvenience of the cold is an easy problem to solve if you are prepared. Clothing nowadays allows us to venture in...
29 Jun 2021
Snow Makes Everything Better - Eglinton Valley Camp (Part One)
I’m sure that most people will favour a hot day on the beach over a cold camping mission to a place covered with ice and...
28 Jun 2021
Raging Waters - Flooding at the Te Ana-au Glow Worm Caves
To witness Fiordland rain is a real treat. The amount and power of the water boggles the mind with its relentless rage....
24 Jun 2021
The Borland Road to Recovery (Part Three) - Borland Rock Bivouac
We are very lucky to be able to venture into the wild places of Aotearoa and not worry about bears, wolves etc. This is...
15 Jun 2021
The Borland Road to Recovery (Part Two) - Borland Rock Bivouac
There are parts of Fiordland National Park that are more jungle than forest, which took some getting used to at first be...
14 Jun 2021
The Borland Road to Recovery (Part One) - Borland Rock Bivouac
I’d be lying if I said there hasn’t been times when I have been completely over having a mangled hip. I am very grateful...
14 Jun 2021
Birthday Dinner in the Darrans (Part Four) - Gulliver River / Milford Road
Recent birthdays have taught me how powerful a night in nature can be. As I have kicked back and relaxed I have had the...
9 Jun 2021
Birthday Dinner in the Darrans (Part Three) - Cleddau / Gulliver River
A campfire over a cake. A night in a tent instead of plenty of presents. Nature and being in the wilderness is the gift...
8 Jun 2021
Birthday Dinner in the Darrans (Part Two) - Cleddau / Gulliver River
People chatting, glasses clinking and happy people drinking. This is what many think of when they think about their birt...
7 Jun 2021
Birthday Dinner in the Darrans (Part One) - Te Anau to the Cleddau Valley
Some like to celebrate their birthday with all of their friends with a big party. I’d rather the peace and quiet found o...
7 Jun 2021
Still a Bit Buggered (Part Two) - East Eglinton Valley / Mackay Creek
Moving to Te Anau permanently in 2018 was much more beneficial than first expected. The main reason I bought a house in...
2 Jun 2021
Still a Bit Buggered (Part One) - East Eglinton Track
Not being able to do what you used to do can be very frustrating. For me, my injury has meant going from 12 hour days in...
1 Jun 2021
Twelve Years Later - Back on the Routeburn Track
A considerable amount of time had passed between visits to Key Summit on the Routeburn Track with my parents. Many years...
23 May 2021
Festival Forays - Bluff (Part Two)
There aren't many people who haven’t heard of the famous Bluff Oyster Festival. Each year (apart from stupid 2020) peopl...
21 May 2021
Doubtful Delivers - Lucky Kids
If you’re having a blast and getting paid for it you must have done something right! On many occasions I have had to pin...
13 May 2021
Old Relics on the Old Ghost Road - Part Three
Part three of three of my parents' adventure on the Old Ghost Road… Day five was home time, but only after a final 18km...
3 May 2021
Old Relics on the Old Ghost Road - Part Two
Back to the Old Ghost Road with my Ma & Pa… After a couple of sharpish climbs we came to a series of stairs which, like...
30 Apr 2021
Old Relics on the Old Ghost Trail - Part One
This is a story submitted by NzHikes biggest fan / editor. The same person and her husband are 100% responsible for my s...
29 Apr 2021
Sounds Like Fun (Part Three) - Queen Charlotte Track
Day 4 – Portage Hotel to Anakiwa. From Portage Hotel the ascent to the ridgeline was another real grunt, as my compromis...
27 Apr 2021
The Perfect Day - Part Three
I once went on a mission with my cousin (@nzjimny) and we rocked up to a campsite on the Wilberforce Riverbed. We had th...
26 Apr 2021
The Perfect Day - Part Two
I have been very lucky to have had many jobs that keep me fit by default. Whether it be running around a track, boat or...
25 Apr 2021
The Perfect Day - Part One
Setting small achievable goals each day can do wonders for your self esteem. A mission into the mountains and back can b...
24 Apr 2021
Sounds Like Fun (Part Two) - The Queen Charlotte Track
Day 2 – Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay/Punga Cove. Today’s was a coastal walk, through regenerating native bush to the call...
24 Apr 2021
Sounds Like Fun (Part One) - Queen Charlotte Track
Regular readers of this page know that most of the mishes carried out involved propelling oneself up mountains and into...
23 Apr 2021
Back to Borland - Part Three
There is something very special about being high in the mountains at night time. Something that can only be achieved wit...
19 Apr 2021
Back to Borland - Part Two
Twenty metres of very easy walking had taken me from my car to an outstanding riverside campsite. The nor’west storm was...
19 Apr 2021
Back to Borland - Part One
A lot of time had passed since my last adventure in the Borland area. Being in the mountains is for me my ‘happy place’,...
18 Apr 2021
Back in the Game (Part Three) - Lake Marian Trek
It is amazing where determination / stubbornness can get you. Simply focusing on the task at hand and not worrying about...
13 Apr 2021
Back in the Game (Part Two) - Lake Marian Trek
Taking steps into the Darran Mountains alone is a way to appreciate how big mountains really are. We (human beings) are...
13 Apr 2021
Back in the Game (Part One) - Lake Marian Trek
It had been a long time since I had last tasted the sweet air of wild Fiordland, thanks to the work of a large fridge do...
13 Apr 2021
Cheers Fellas - 600km Later...
Aotearoa, the best place to go for a drive. A mostly solitary life does need to be broken up every now and then with soc...
29 Mar 2021
Getting the Next Generation Hooked - Deep Cove School Camp
To have a job in tourism is a real privilege with what’s going on in the world today, and to have a very enjoyable job i...
16 Mar 2021
Mavora Madness - Part Two
Just to be clear I have no issue with people getting a little bit rowdy, and having a good time. I have been known to si...
13 Mar 2021
Mavora Madness - Part One
The Mavora Lakes Campsite has to be one of the country's best pull up, park and camp areas in the country. The massive c...
12 Mar 2021
A Piece of Wood with Wheels - Thank You Skateboarding
Doing nothing is challenging for me. I always like to be on the move, active, and doing something to keep my mind and bo...
8 Mar 2021
Back to Fiordland - Back to Work
A girl in shiny red shoes said it best “there’s no place like home”. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and being away...
21 Feb 2021
Life Resumes - Back with the Bros
With social media the world is getting smaller, and time apart from family and friends is less of a burden than in days...
19 Feb 2021
Age is no Factor - Over 60s National Cricket Tournament
The older seem to be getting younger. Competitive sport amongst the more senior members of our population is growing, an...
6 Feb 2021
The Mountains of Molesworth - Serpentine Creek Saddle (Part Three)
When "On a Mish" you sometimes have to keep telling yourself that you are doing this for fun. Secondary fun is something...
5 Feb 2021
The Mountains of Molesworth - Serpentine Creek Saddle (Part Two)
It is so easy to give in to an injury and let it dictate your life. The easy way out is to say “I can’t” because of your...
5 Feb 2021
The Mountains of Molesworth - Serpentine Creek Saddle (Part One)
Frustration is a ready mind but broken body. Adjusting to my situation has allowed me to still get out into the mountain...
3 Feb 2021
A Little Help Please (Part 3) - Dogs Range Camp
The simple pastime of being outdoors all night long in a tent was something I used to do as often as possible. Heading t...
31 Jan 2021
A little Help Please (Part 2) - Dogs Range Camp
As time since my hip injury has rolled on, I have been slowly recovering and rebuilding my fitness. My days of 8 to 10 h...
30 Jan 2021
A little Help Please (Part One). Dogs Range Camp
I’ll take a night in a tent over any fancy hotel. There is nothing like having a thin layer of material as your shelter,...
29 Jan 2021
Ka Pai Island - Part 5
The weather in Pohara was living up to the classic Crowded House song. Cold winds and rain became the norm for our week...
20 Jan 2021
Ka Pai Island - Part 4
Abel Janszoon Tasman briefly visited Aotearoa in 1642, and even though his visit was cut short by bloodshed, I’m sure he...
18 Jan 2021
A Brief Encounter Like Able Tasman - Anapai Campsite. Abel Tasman National Park.
Abel Janszoon Tasman briefly visited Aotearoa in 1642, and even though his visit was cut short by bloodshed from a small...
18 Jan 2021
The Edge of the Earth - Wharariki Beach (Cape Farewell)
At the top of Te Waipounamu at the northwest tip of the island there is a location that seems like the edge of the earth...
17 Jan 2021
Ka Pai Island - Part 2
Golden Bay and hot, sunny days go together like above the treeline and beauty. With over 2400 hours of sunlight per year...
16 Jan 2021
Ka Pai Island - Part 1
The top of New Zealand’s South Island receives the most hours of sunshine each year. Places like Totoranui and Nelson ar...
15 Jan 2021
Urban Exploring - Camp Cameron Villas
The route ahead was unclear as it disappeared behind the south east ridge. Pushing on I arrived at a cool, shaded corrid...
13 Jan 2021
Mountain Beech Vibes - Sudden Valley Camping
When I go on adventures I have no problem going alone. Even though I have some quality friends, I am quite happy in my o...
8 Jan 2021
Less Screen Time, More Outdoor Time - Kaitorete Spit
As the world becomes more integrated with technology, people are spending more time looking at a screen of some sort, an...
2 Jan 2021
Fresh Start (Part Three) - Holts / Rolleston Camp
Along with the outstanding scenery, I seek a world without people when I go on a mish. I usually head into the wildernes...
31 Dec 2020
Fresh Start (Part 2) - Holts / Rolleston Camp
I’m sure a lot of us would rather just erase 2020 from our minds. It started with jokes about good vision and now many d...
31 Dec 2020
Fresh Start (Part 1) - Holts / Rolleston Camp
It is amazing how once emerged in the excellence of the outdoors real world problems become an afterthought and your min...
30 Dec 2020
2020 What a Year - Surviving 2020
On the 11th of January I got out of bed and got ready for a day's work on the Fiordland Navigator not knowing that a fri...
30 Dec 2020
Sort of Sunny on the West Coast (Part Three) - Paratu Stream / Otira Valley
A long and slow recovery mixed with a lack of outdoor adventures had begun to take its toll on my mind and my ability to...
29 Dec 2020
Sort of Sunny on the West Coast (Part Two) - Paratu Stream
In Aotearoa we have places of beauty that are more known for the heavy rain that often falls there. The rain creates lus...
28 Dec 2020
Sort of Sunny on the West Coast (Part One) - Paratu Stream Camp
After my first proper Christmas with the whanau in 12 years I needed a good hike to burn off multiple Christmas feasts....
27 Dec 2020
The Other Fella - The Man With the Plan
“A Mish a Day” #228 (Part 2) The Man with a Plan - The Other Fella. Nepal. 2015 to 2019 and beyond. Traveling to Nepal e...
2 Dec 2020
Why Active Hearts? - The Man with the Plan
“A Mish a Day” #228 (Part 1) The Man with a Plan. Nepal. 2015 to 2019 and beyond. I have always had three places that I...
1 Dec 2020
Blue Cod & Good Times - Waipara River / Motunau
The 5 horsepower outboard motor was no use in ankle deep water, and now Adam was walking the boat in the mud to the surf...
28 Nov 2020
Mud and Sand - Waipara River / Motunau
It didn’t matter if Adam attempted to go forward or backward, the truck went nowhere. Somehow we managed to time getting...
27 Nov 2020
We Are Not Invincible - Waipara River / Motunau
Going on adventures with my cousin Adam in his battle-ready Suzuki Jimny has been a recurring event throughout the uncer...
26 Nov 2020
Pain for Pleasure (Part Three) - Island Saddle / Molesworth Station
After seeing a movie about one of Shackleton's epic adventures I could see how humans could see either side of the story...
21 Nov 2020
Pain for Pleasure (Part Two) - Island Saddle / Molesworth Station
I am happy that I was ‘saved’ by adventures into the wild. Before my big life change I was living a happy unpleasantness...
20 Nov 2020
Pain for Pleasure (Part One) - Island Saddle / Molesworth Station
For some after a feeling is achieved the craving to repeat that feeling becomes a must do. That means that if you don’t...
19 Nov 2020
One Handed Camping - Andrews Valley
The last time I had used my tent was during the mish when I broke my wrist, and the inconvenient barrier of only having...
20 Oct 2020
The World's Greatest Show-offs - Meretoto / Ship Cove
As far as hospital waiting rooms go, Kaikoura Health Te Ha o Te Ora must have one of the best views on this planet. Duri...
29 Aug 2020
Kaikoura Peninsula - Time to Stretch the Legs
There aren’t many benefits to being injured, but one of the small benefits is I am usually available for anything not in...
27 Aug 2020
Into the Unknown - Duncans Stream Camp (Part Two)
The ease of access to epic environments is excellent in Aotearoa, especially in the South Island. Ocean, alps, lakes and...
22 Aug 2020
Into the Unknown - Duncans Stream Camp (Part One)
Any day above 1000m in New Zealand is a good one, an expression that was difficult to make reality after my hip accident...
22 Aug 2020
Waimakariri Camp - Easing Back into the Outdoors
I don’t think anyone will argue with me when I say that 2020 hasn’t been the best year. Starting with my hip injury, and...
9 Aug 2020
The Need to Climb a Mountain (Part Two) - Lake Hill(762m)
The sheer satisfaction you get when completing a big mountain mission is unmatched in my eyes. All your efforts are rewa...
8 Aug 2020
The Need to Climb a Mountain (Part One) - Lake Hill(762m)
Having a fridge door fracture your hip, tear muscles, slip discs, leaving you with pinched nerves might make for an inte...
7 Aug 2020
Back to Paradise (Part Two) - Rees Dart Track / Beans Burn Confluence
Paradise; an ideal or idyllic place or state. Many locations around Aotearoa could easily fit this description, however...
3 Jul 2020
Back to Paradise (Part One) - Paradise / Rees Dart Track
I talk about ‘Paradise’ a lot, but only on a few occasions have I visited the famous area tucked away amongst the mounta...
3 Jul 2020
Banter & Black Panthers - An Adventure with the Canterbury 4WD Club
When it comes to travelling through the mountains I’ll take my own two feet over a vehicle almost every time. However, d...
27 Jun 2020
The Transportable Town - Potts River Camp
I will never stop being impressed with the many places my cousin's incredible Suzuki Jimny can go. And the little beast...
27 Jun 2020
Forces of Nature (Part Three) - Birdwood Range / Fanghill Stream
With all of the epicness of being reintroduced into the outdoors came the only downside to these wild adventures. The bo...
6 Jun 2020
Forces of Nature (Part Two) - Birdwood Range / Fanghill Stream
Mother Nature can be a powerful beast sometimes. A wild storm can sneak up on you, and strike when you least suspect. Wh...
6 Jun 2020
Forces of Nature (Part One) - Wilberforce Riverbed / Birdwood Range
Sometimes when you explain a mish to someone it can make that fact that you are doing it for pleasure sound a little bit...
5 Jun 2020
One Step at a Time - Peters Valley
I have mentioned the similarities between Queenstown and Hanmer Springs before, but a major difference between the two p...
30 May 2020
My Hip and the Havelock Valley (Part Four) - Havelock Valley
It is sometimes hard to explain the feeling you get when you are mid mish, and all is going exactly how you planned it....
23 May 2020
My Hip and the Havelock Valley (Part Three) - Havelock Valley
Having something taken away is a good way to find out if you really love that very thing. Initially I lost my mobility w...
19 May 2020
My Hip and the Havelock Valley (Part Two) - Havelock Valley
Many aspects of fitness involve some sort of pain at some stage. Whether it be the last couple of reps or the last hundr...
17 May 2020
My Hip and the Havelock Valley (Part One) - Havelock Valley
Back in 2020 the world was plunged into chaos thanks to Covid, and for weeks we were all confined to the four walls of o...
16 May 2020
While the World Fell Apart (Part Five) - Patea / Doubtful Sound
2020 was a strange year for everyone. No one could imagine how much the world would change and how long it would take fo...
24 Mar 2020
Lockdown 2020
2020 was going well until the 11th of January, this was when a large commercial fridge door on a cruise ship slammed int...
22 Mar 2020
While the World Fell Apart (Part Four) - Patea / Doubtful Sound
A huge benefit to working in remote locations is the lack of phone coverage. This means the real world can wait until yo...
22 Mar 2020
While the World Fell Apart (Part Three) - Patea / Doubtful Sound
Fiordland National Park is one of only a few places left on the planet that has remained untouched by the hands of manki...
20 Mar 2020
While the World Fell Apart (Part Two) - Te Anau / Patea Doubtful Sound
Normally Aotearoa watches the world from afar and usually stays well away from any conflict. Our remote location might b...
19 Mar 2020
While the World Fell Apart (Part One) - Queenstown / Te Anau
I was surprised to learn that Aotearoa had dropped its final Covid restrictions, as I had no idea there were any still i...
2 Mar 2020
Recovery Camp - Rees River
After my fridge accident I was rendered immobile for quite a while. My days of taking 11,000 steps consistently were a d...
21 Feb 2020
Taking Kea of Myself - Grebe Valley Camp
By mid February I was feeling a little bit grumpy. It had been over a month since my accident on the Fiordland Navigator...
14 Feb 2020
Time to Relax - The Catlins
Like so many parts of New Zealand, The Catlins are a place that see more tourist fellas exploring its many beaches and f...
30 Jan 2020
The Last Big Mish (Part Three) - Sunny Creek Basin
Strangely, I would suffer my greatest injury on a boat at sea level instead of a fall while climbing high in the mountai...
5 Jan 2020
The Last Big Mish (Part Two) - Sunny Creek Basin
The classic saying of “you never know what will happen tomorrow” is so true, and at least while I could I got to some pr...
4 Jan 2020
The Last Big Mish (Part One) - Sunny Creek Basin
As 2019 turned into 2020 I’m sure no one knew what life was going to throw at them during the year. Along with the rest...
4 Jan 2020
One Long Day in Winnipeg - Nz to Canada and Back in Six Days!
The norm for me when on adventures is being in the wilderness with as few people around me as possible. The meditative s...
19 Dec 2019
Getting Back to Our Roots - Paddy's Point
I always like to say my favourite track is “One I haven't walked yet”. Not knowing what’s around the next corner makes t...
6 Dec 2019
Slippery When Wet (Part Two) - Gertrude Saddle(1410m)
The signage along the Gertrude Saddle Track has increased as time has gone on and unfortunately more accidents have happ...
2 Dec 2019
Slippery When Wet (Part One) - Gertrude Saddle(1410m)
Warning signs are in places for a reason and should be obeyed. However, I can say from experience that sometimes the sig...
2 Dec 2019
Super Cirque Spectacular - Cirque Creek Headwall
I highly recommend being a passenger when travelling on the Milford Road for the first time. The ever changing incredibl...
30 Nov 2019
Snowslides & Sandflies (Part Three) - Tutoko Valley Camp
The thunderous crash of an avalanche is both exciting and terrifying. Huge areas of semi-frozen ice and snow goes on a v...
27 Oct 2019
Snowslides & Sandflies (Part Two) - Tutoko Valley Camp
Most people around the world do their best to stay as far away from avalanches as possible. The mere thought of millions...
27 Oct 2019
Snow Slides and Sandflies (Part One) - Tutoko Valley
The Tutoko Valley is an excellent representation of the expression “Effort is met with reward” as the further up the val...
26 Oct 2019
Lights in the Darkness (Part Three) - Green Lake Hut (Borland Road Route)
There have been a few times where I have misjudged time to a hut or summit and my lack of good judgement has taken me do...
14 Oct 2019
Lights in the Darkness (Part Two) - Green Lake Hut
After several late finishes throughout my mission career, it would be hypocritical for me to make a big deal about someo...
13 Oct 2019
Lights in the Darkness (Part One) - Green Lake Hut
While out on missions I have bumped into many fellow adventurers, some experienced, some ‘not so’ experienced. Aotearoa...
11 Oct 2019
The Roar of Winter (Part Two) - The Gertrude Valley
Wild, cold and brutal, winter is an angry beast sometimes. Until the construction of the Milford Road it was only the to...
5 Oct 2019
The Roar of Winter (Part One) - The Gertrude Valley
It only took one visit and I was hooked. After my first trip on the Routeburn Track I knew I wanted to look at the might...
4 Oct 2019
<strong><em>Massive Mountains and Clean Eyre</em></strong> (Part Two) - Oreti Peak(1619m)
Nothing beats going on a mission with best mates, whether they walk on two or four legs. You have got someone to watch y...
27 Sep 2019
Massive Mountains and Clean Eyre (Part One) - Oreti Peak(1619m)
The spectacular Eyre Mountains are ogled at from Queenstown on a daily basis and when I’m there I become another set of...
26 Sep 2019
Snowed in Deep - Deep Cove
Patea / Doubtful Sound is a very remote location. To get there is a mission in itself, but well worth the effort and an...
4 Aug 2019
Out Numbered and Surrounded - Kea Camp on Percy Saddle (Part Two)
I have had the lucky pleasure of watching Kea be Kea many times while hiking in the mountains. No matter what, they will...
20 Jul 2019
Outnumbered and Surrounded - Kea Camp On Percy Saddle (Part One)
For humans the alpine area is only a place to visit, and temporary stays are all our bodies can take. It takes a unique...
20 Jul 2019
Hiking on History - Bridle Path Walkway
The large lumps of volcanic debris that make up the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula were a barrier for early settlers in...
27 Jun 2019
The Higher You Go (Part Two)- Mount Bruce(1630m)
Most people probably love to wake up in a big soft bed, nice and warm, covered by a luxurious duvet and many soft pillow...
26 Jun 2019
The Higher You Go (Part One) - Mt Bruce(1630m)
The higher up a mountain you climb the better the view. This is also the same when it comes to camping. Having a mobile...
26 Jun 2019
Nanny Goes Camping - 82 Years Young, and on a Mish
Some of my earliest memories are of heading down to Rakaia to see Nanny and Fossil (my late Granddad). The whole whanau...
16 Jun 2019
Man / Woman Vs Mountains (Part Three) - Barrier Peak
There have definitely been many occasions when I would have easily opted out of the situations I had gotten myself into....
25 May 2019
Man / Woman Vs Mountains (Part Two) - Barrier Knob(1879m)
Putting your training up against a peak can produce some powerful feelings. For many it keeps them in the gym and walkin...
24 May 2019
Man / Woman Vs Mountains (Part One) - Barrier Knob(1879m)
Most of remote climbing is walking, hiking, scrambling, and then maybe some of the stuff you see on tv. Explaining mount...
24 May 2019
Storm Vs Tent (Part Two) - Borland Saddle Ridge Camp
In the wilds of Aotearoa you are at the mercy of the weather. In Fiordland if you get the forecast wrong, you could be i...
4 May 2019
Storm vs Tent (Part One) - Borland Saddle Ridge Camp
As big as Fiordland is, there is a place that draws my attention time and time again. Some think going to the same place...
2 May 2019
Wild Wye Creek (Part Two) - Wye Creek Bivvy
If you had to choose one town to visit in Aotearoa, and you love adventure and action, then Queenstown would be the obvi...
25 Apr 2019
Wild Wye Creek (Part One) - Wye Creek Bivvy
The expression ‘Work hard, go nowhere’ was the normal mantra most lived by when living in Queenstown. The place is a con...
23 Apr 2019
Mavora Mountain Magic (Part Two) - Mt Campbell(1685m)
Bald mountains and barren high country surround the top of North Mavora Lake. Somehow the lack of trees doesn’t affect t...
23 Apr 2019
Mavora Mountain Magic (Part One) - Mt Campbell(1685m)
Forget social media, if I’m stuck with a little bit of time on my hands I’m scrolling through topo maps on my phone. Str...
22 Apr 2019
Crying Wolfe (Part Three) - Turret Range Traverse
Many times I had cruised the deep water of Lake Manapouri looking up at the peaks towering over West Arm. What starts as...
7 Apr 2019
Crying Wolfe (Part Two) - Wolfe Burn Peaks
As a kid, and sometimes now, I would look at my neighbourhood like it was a skatepark. I’d picture myself grinding or sl...
6 Apr 2019
Crying Wolfe (Part One) - Wolfe Burn Peaks
Even though West Arm is busy with tourists going to Patea / Doubtful Sound, or those going to work at the power station,...
5 Apr 2019
Mt Borland(1547m) - Last of the Borland Peaks (Part Two)
I seem to wake often when sleeping in the wild, so I have a series of long naps as opposed to sleeping through the night...
23 Mar 2019
Mt Borland(1547m) - Last of the Borland Peaks (Part One)
Large mounds of material sitting in silence as they oversee the land they stand over. For what is basically a pile of ro...
23 Mar 2019
Gertrude Saddle(1410m) - Slippery When Wet
“A Mish a day” #122 Gertrude Saddle(1410m). Fiordland National Park. 12.3.2019. When a couple of the fellas showed up an...
12 Mar 2019
Festival Forays - Hokitika (Part One)
It is not surprising that the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival sells out each year. To go with the amazing food is the incre...
8 Mar 2019
Munted Ankle Mish (Part Two) - Cirque Creek Camp
“On a Mish” #105 Munted Ankle Mish (Part Two). Cirque Creek. Fiordland National Park. 29.1.2019. A lot of people think t...
28 Jan 2019
Munted Ankle Mish (Part One) - Cirque Creek Camp
Being someone who needs a constant dose of mountains means anything that prevents me getting my outdoor fix is really BA...
27 Jan 2019
A Little Bit Different (Part Three) - Mt Cuba(1449m)
While it is not a guarantee, doing something a little bit different to the norm in the outdoors can lead to an epic time...
15 Jan 2019
A Little Bit Different (Part Two) - Mt Cuba(1449m)
The popularity of a picturesque place is proven by the presence of many people. The Key Summit Track is an excellent exa...
14 Jan 2019
A Little Bit Different (Part One) - Mt Cuba(1449m)
While I do enjoy hiking the many classic hiking trails in Aotearoa, I prefer heading to places outside of the norm - usu...
14 Jan 2019
Remote and Broke - Borland Breakdown
Those who know me know I’m a big fan of the Borland Road ( for evidence see - www.NzHikes.co.nz ). The road is one of on...
27 Dec 2018
Borland Ridge - A Delightful Ridge Scramble
Most who look at Fiordland will do so from the base of the giants whose heads reach high into the sky. The stunning upli...
3 Dec 2018
So Big but Rarely Seen - Fiordland Whales
Making memories is a part of life that some people put more effort into. Reminiscing about sitting on the couch isn’t as...
26 Nov 2018
The Little Village in the Sky - Bhanjyang Village
Mr Dan Bus Keys had taken his band of happy international travellers to another epic spot. With all the hiking finished...
13 Nov 2018
Last Hike Before Heading Home - Back to Nature
After 9 days hiking through the Ruby Valley Region in the Himalayan Foothills on another ‘Active Hearts Foundation Chari...
11 Nov 2018
Charangge Phedi to Dhading Besi - The Final Leg of the Journey
The bond formed with a group you travel with can be very strong, especially when you are doing the adventure with the pu...
10 Nov 2018
Megang Danda to Charangge Phedi - An Unforgettable Day Hiking in Nepal
An early-ish start had the bro Luke and myself following the road in the dark to hopefully watch the sun come up on the...
10 Nov 2018
Salme to Megang Danda - Views and Vollyball
After a couple of days hiking the team had developed a comfortable rhythm and was moving in unison. Step, step, admire t...
6 Nov 2018
Kahule to Salme - From a Finished Library to a Future Library
The earthquake in 2015 hit the area we were visiting very hard. The shaking not only knocked houses down but also sent h...
5 Nov 2018
Gogane to Kahule - The Wedding
So far, our adventure had taken us around the remote parts of the country where the Active Hearts Foundation is actively...
3 Nov 2018
Welcome to Gogane - Our Home Away From Home
Gogane is not only one of the most peaceful places I have ever been to, but also the birth village of one of the Active...
3 Nov 2018
Kathmandu to Gogane - We Are Getting There No Matter What!
In 2018 the Active Hearts Foundation logo was put into the sky, and just like Batman, the call was answered and the troo...
2 Nov 2018
See Ya Later Sleeping Mat (Part Two) - Mount Burns Tops
Nothing makes you feel more alive than exposure to the elements. Stripped back to human and clothing, and the rest is up...
22 Oct 2018
So Long Sleeping Mat (Part One) - Mount Burns Tops
Unless you are using a helicopter there is no easy way to get onto the mountain tops in Fiordland National Park. The thr...
22 Oct 2018
Two Boys in a Boat (Part Two) - North Lake Te Anau
I heard the expression “New Zealand-ish” the other day. A term that some use around the world when describing untouched...
6 Oct 2018
North Lake Te Anau - Two Boys in a Boat (Part One)
Sometimes it is a bit of a mission just finding someone else to go on a mish with! A flip side to working in tourism is...
5 Oct 2018
The Perfect Getaway (Part Two) - Oreti Plateau Camp
When you break down certain aspects of camping it doesn’t sound like much fun. Wet feet, long walks, and sleeping on roc...
22 Sep 2018
The Perfect Getaway (Part One) - Oreti Plateau Camp
Sometimes you just need a little getaway to reset life and ready you for the next bout of challenges. The simple life an...
21 Sep 2018
Wild Turkey's and the Ashton Burn - Peak 1330m (Part Three)
For a lot of people it is the close companionship found when on a mish that keeps them repeating the process. A couple o...
10 Sep 2018
Wild Turkey's and the Ashton Burn - Peak 1330m (Part Two)
To go a night without even a flutter of tent fabric is an absolute dream and fuel for the fire of adventure that burns b...
9 Sep 2018
Wild Turkey's and The Ashton Burn - Peak 1330m (Part One)
With another exciting and busy season in Patea / Doubtful Sound on the Fiordland Navigator looming, it was time for me a...
7 Sep 2018
An Island Covered in Birds - Secretary Island
While basking in the stunning surroundings of Patea / Doubtful Sound I sometimes forget that I am in the office. The exp...
18 Aug 2018
Remote Remoteness - The Kingdom of Camelot
The power of Fiordland is immense. From its incredible rain soaked weather, to its unmatched, untouched, unbelievable be...
17 Aug 2018
Winter's Grip (Part Two) - Whiskey Trail Camp
Winters grip can scare away people like a shady character in a dark alley. However, just like with the shady character (...
5 Aug 2018
Winter's Grip (Part One) - Whiskey Trail Camp
You would think that walking a track again and again would dull the wilderness senses and the location would lose its ch...
4 Aug 2018
Kaitorete Spit Camp - The Case of the Disappearing Dog
The 25km barren but beautiful stretch of land that runs from Birdlings Flat to the outlet of Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere...
24 Jul 2018
Taylor Knoll Camp - A Small Hill With a Big View
Hiking really is using your valuable time well. The multi beneficial pastime not only is great for you body, but it also...
18 Jul 2018
Searching For Snow (Part Two) - Manuka Hut / Mt Somers Range
Snow is a very strange substance that falls from the sky. Unlike rain, snow is something that has created its very own s...
2 Jul 2018
Searching For Snow (Part One) - Manuka Hut
When you break down snow sports they don’t sound like much fun. Thanks to New Zealand's low altitudes the snow (normally...
2 Jul 2018
Sweet White Powder - Balmacaan Saddle Camp (Part Two)
I often get strange looks from my friends and family when I tell them I am going camping during the chilly months of win...
27 Jun 2018
Sweet White Powder - Balmacaan Saddle Camp (Part One)
Finding snow away from a ski field to play in is getting more and more difficult these days. A lot of effort needs to be...
26 Jun 2018
Right Place, Right Camp - Helena Falls Camp
I was very lucky to have the opportunity to not only work in Fiordland during the chilly winter months of 2018, but also...
28 May 2018
Hut Bound - Aparima Forks Hut (Part Two)
To sit and listen to heavy rain pounding the roof of a mountain hut is a feeling difficult to describe. Excitement , ner...
21 May 2018
Hut Bound (Part One) - Aparima Forks Hut
Mountain weather is an extreme and never forgotten experience when held up in a tiny backcountry hut. A couple of times...
20 May 2018
The Sad Glacier (Part Two) - Falls Creek
Sadly, New Zealand has had some of the largest glacial recession on earth. What were once giant moving masses of ice are...
3 May 2018
The Sad Glacier (Part One) - Falls Creek
We, the lucky few who live in the Te Anau Basin, live in one of the best places to access the wilderness on the planet....
1 May 2018
Red Skies Above (Part Two) - Takitimu Tops Camp
There are times when you don’t need a weather forecaster to tell you what the conditions will be like. Certain clouds or...
17 Mar 2018
Red Skies Above (Part One) - Takitimu Tops Camp
Late start. Less than favourable weather forecast. Camping on an exposed mountain side. Factors that might turn some awa...
17 Mar 2018
The Weather Says When (Part Three) - Mt Barber(1364m)
To arrive at a summit is a feeling like no other. Going from tired to elated the moment you top out is a strange sensati...
11 Feb 2018
The Weather Says When (Part Two) - Mt Barber(1364m)
A real benefit of working in the wilds of Fiordland is being in a safe position to watch the weather roll in. The entert...
10 Feb 2018
The Weather Says When (Part One) - Mt Barber(1364m)
When it is all said and done the weather says when it is time to either go on an adventure or in this case, when it is t...
9 Feb 2018
Round Two (Part Three). Dore Pass(1390m).
If you haven’t been there, looking at Fiordland on a map it seems as though travel would be easy as long as you stick to...
21 Jan 2018
Round Two (Part Two). Dore Pass(1390m)
For many years I sat in the bus heading to the start of the Routeburn Track and we would point out Dore Pass, the other...
21 Jan 2018
Round Two (Part One). Dore Pass(1390m)
It has been said that Fiordland is a place for the waterproof explorer. Many times I have watched my days off approach j...
20 Jan 2018
New Year Kea - Starting the Year with Nestor Notabilis
For me nothing is better than starting the day in the mountains. Waking up to see the first rays of light make their way...
31 Dec 2017
One and Done (Part Four) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
The community of humans who happily hike into the untamed wilds of Fiordland are a unique bunch. There is nothing easy a...
30 Dec 2017
One and Done (Part Three) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
I once worked as a possum trapper and it was during this time that I was taught the valuable lesson of ‘don’t fight the...
30 Dec 2017
One and Done (Part Two) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
My hip and back injury have given me a lot of time to think about climbing mountains. When I started to look at my many...
30 Dec 2017
One and Done (Part One) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
Some mountains are not only pleasant to look at, but also very pleasant to climb. Gentle flats roll into steeper ground...
29 Dec 2017
Overly Ambitious (Part Two). Hanging Valley Camp.
Any sort of walking is training, even if you don’t reach your desired destination. Every now and then the destination mi...
17 Dec 2017
Overly Ambitious (Part One). Hanging Valley Camp
When I worked for Real Journeys I did my best to use every chance I had to get to remote places. From Percy Saddle to Pa...
16 Dec 2017
The Familiar Unknown (Part Three). Turret Peak(1346m)
The benefits of travel are helpful for mind, soul and fitness. And if all are combined then having an unenjoyable time i...
26 Nov 2017
The Familiar Unknown (Part Two) - Peak 1346m (Turret Range)
The 1:50 000 scale of topo maps in New Zealand does leave a lot to the imagination. A few simple orange lines grouped to...
26 Nov 2017
The Familiar Unknown (Part One) - Peak 1346m (Turret Range)
After having my first taste of the mountains west of Manapouri I was left with craving more like a hungry dog. But unlik...
25 Nov 2017
A Unique Opportunity (Part Three) - Peak 1293m to Lake Manapouri
The effort needed to carve the roads needed for the Manapouri Power Station and Tiwai Point aluminium smelter was monume...
11 Nov 2017
A Unique Opportunity (Part Two) - The Percy Saddle(1075m)
Getting to a place where there is no one is usually a big part of my outdoor adventures. These places are sometimes acce...
11 Nov 2017
A Unique Opportunity (Part One) - The Percy Saddle(1075m)
I have sometimes compared my love for the wild locations I have worked in to someone working in a fast-food kitchen (lik...
10 Nov 2017
First Dose of Doubtful - Part Two
As much as I love the impressive sight of Piopiotahi / Milford Sound, it is very different than a Patea / Doubtful Sound...
3 Nov 2017
First Dose of Doubtful - Part One
Having done a little bit of adventuring around the country means I’ve seen many different places of natural beauty. From...
3 Nov 2017
Sweet Sunsets (Part Two) - Pyramid(1598m)
The high country of Hakatere is a special place. In lots of places you can gain altitude with relative ease, and the hig...
4 Oct 2017
Sweet Sunsets (Part One) - Pyramid(1598m)
With all of the advancements in technology we (humans) seem to spend more and more time looking at our devices. People a...
2 Oct 2017
A Wander to Wharfedale - Wharfedale Hut
Just before Ashley Gorge in the foothills of Canterbury is a fairly unassuming road climbing its way up out of the Cante...
25 Sep 2017
Lake Emma Circuit
There are twelve tranquil lakes in Hakatere Conservation Area, and along with the upper Rangitata River, makes up the ve...
19 Sep 2017
A Dog and Bob (Part Two) - Bobs Camp Bivouac
Of all the adventures I have gone on with my fur-covered friend, Bobs Bivvy is definitely one of my favourites. More tha...
31 Jul 2017
A Dog & Bob (Part One) - Bobs Camp Bivouac
As long as you can put up with the cold, the fresh crisp air of winter always makes for good hiking in my mind. No overh...
30 Jul 2017
Me. A Dog. And Mt Herbert(919m) - Te Ahu Patiki / Mt Herbert(919m)
Nothing better than taking full strides up a mountainside with your four legged best mate by your side. Not often you he...
25 Jul 2017
Transported to Middle Earth (Part One)- Mt Sunday(611m)
As you round a small corner on the Hakatere / Mount Potts Road and get your first view of the Rangitata Valley you can u...
18 Jul 2017
Transported to Middle Earth (Part Two) - Mt Sunday(611m)
The specially selected sites for the filming of Lord of the Rings have become drawcards for fans of the films. Aotearoa...
17 Jul 2017
Winters and Somers (Part Two) - Mt Somers Camp
Many look to the west over the Canterbury Plains at the pyramid that is Mt Somers(1688m), but few reverse the view and v...
10 Jul 2017
Winter and Somers (Part One) - Mt Somers Camp
When flying into Christchurch from the west it is always fascinating seeing the abrupt stoppage of mountains at the west...
9 Jul 2017
Spare Time Done the Right Way - Hoophorn Valley
Not much is simple when it comes to New Zealand’s mountains. Places like Piopiotahi / Milford Sound are difficult to get...
1 Jul 2017
Beyond the Hut (Part Two) - Hut Spur Camp / Climb
We are lucky here in Nz because we have hikes for all abilities. The easy walks are usually busy during the summer with...
20 Jun 2017
Beyond the Hut (Part One) - Hut Spur Camp / Climb
As time goes on the winter snow seems to be arriving later than usual in Aotearoa (apart from 2022!), and 2017 was no di...
20 Jun 2017
An Easy Stroll in the Rain - Boundary Creek Hut
Being wet is temporary, memories last forever. So many people look at rain as being “Bad Weather” but for me the weather...
14 Jun 2017
Top Dog (Part Two) - Dogs Range Camp
Getting lost isn’t on most people's list of things to do, however it still happens. Returning to the location and gettin...
29 May 2017
Top Dog (Part One) - Dogs Range Camp
If you stare at a mountain long enough you’ll find yourself wanting to stand on top of it, well that’s my theory. Many t...
27 May 2017
The King & Queen of Erewhon (Part Three) - Mt Potts(2184m)
Mt Potts is a must do for folks who enjoy a good uphill grunt. Although the climb isn’t too difficult, there is a lot of...
21 May 2017
The King & Queen of Erewhon (Part Two) - Mt Potts(2184m)
The unmistakable twin peaks of Mt Potts always seem to find their way into pictures of the Lake Clearwater Area. As if o...
20 May 2017
The King & Queen of Erewhon (Part One) - Mt Potts(2184m)
In some locations around New Zealand there will be certain mountains that stand out much more than others. In the Lake C...
20 May 2017
Stuck in Paradise - A Mission Within a Mission
Golden beaches, warm weather and hospitality with a smile to cheer even the saddest soul. The people are what make Fiji,...
2 May 2017
Working on the Humpridge Track
“Working in Paradise” 2014-2017. Humpridge Track. Fiordland National Park. A good friend suggested a change of environme...
1 May 2017
U-Pass & Beyond (Part 4) - U-Pass Basin to Milford Road
I have always been someone who get to a viewing spot or high point, and wanted to go further if there is more up left on...
28 Apr 2017
U-Pass & Beyond (Part 3) - The U-Pass Glacier
Over time New Zealand has experienced some of the most rapid glacial recessions on the planet, and unfortunately this ha...
27 Apr 2017
U-Pass & Beyond (Part 2) - U-Pass Basin & Beyond
I always seem to sleep better when immersed in an adventure in the wild. One of the reasons is the amount of exercise yo...
27 Apr 2017
U-Pass and Beyond (Part 1) - Hut Creek to U-Pass
The size, mountainous nature, and heavy rain in Fiordland National Park means most of the incredible location is uninhab...
26 Apr 2017
Searching for a Mysterious Shelter - Grebe / Percy Valley
For all its twists and turns the Borland Road has so much to offer. Adventures can range from easy walking to hard hikin...
9 Apr 2017
Borland’s Skyscraper (Part Three) - Mt Burns(1645m)
Some people probably wonder why you would place yourself on a sketchy ridge with massive death drops either side. It can...
25 Mar 2017
Borland's Sky Scraper (Part Two) - Mt Burns(1645m)
Each step upwards is one less to take to get to the summit of a mountain. Sometimes this needs to be repeated in your he...
20 Mar 2017
Borland's Skyscraper (Part One) - Mt Burns(1645m)
Mount Burns(1645m) towers over the Borland Road like a huge skyscraper on a busy street in a booming metropolis. Jagged...
19 Mar 2017
Be Seen, Be Safe (Part Two) - Boyd Creek Tops.
I recently got a new tent which is as bright as can be - be seen, be safe. My older Marmot tent is green and the more th...
18 Mar 2017
Be Seen, Be Safe (Part One) - Boyd Creek Tops
I’ll never forget a situation I faced when doing my job as Track Manager on the Humpridge Track. It was the day I could...
16 Mar 2017
Which Area in Nz Gets the Most Rainfall? (Part Two) - Camping in the Upper Borland
If you love the wilderness then you will love Fiordland National Park. The place oozes excellence and its visual appeal...
29 Jan 2017
Which Area in Nz Gets the Most Rainfall? (Part One) - Camping in the Upper Borland
Being prepared for anything is mandatory when traveling throughout Fiordland on foot. Whether it be the terrain or torre...
28 Jan 2017
It’s Not Going to Snow, It’s Summertime (Part Three) - Upper Wye Creek
On many occasions I have faced a storm head on and returned to tell a tale about it. There is something so satisfying ab...
17 Dec 2016
It's Not Going to Snow, It's December (Part Two) - Upper Wye Creek Camp
The snow was thick on the southern side of the saddle, and the fresh white powder hid all the holes amongst the rocks be...
16 Dec 2016
It's Not Going to Snow, It's Summertime - (Part One) Upper Wye Creek Camp
From a young age I have been fascinated by the weather. Living in New Zealand is a great way to experience all sorts of...
11 Dec 2016
A Fridge Sized Rock (Part Three) - Cold Peak(1613m)
Play it safe and minimize the risk is a good way to approach anything in the back country. Injuries at home are a hinder...
10 Nov 2016
A Fridge Sized Rock (Part Two) - Cold Peak(1613m)
I have been very lucky during my time roaming the hills. A couple of situations have been close to disaster, but due to...
10 Nov 2016
A Fridge Sized Rock (Part One) - Cold Peak(1613m)
Injuries are never a good thing, and if you are out in the mountain’s injuries can lead to much worse situations. Having...
9 Nov 2016
Erewhon Park - Having a Ski Field to yourself takes effort
Working in the most epic ski-shop in Christchurch for six years introduced me to some truly awesome dudes/workmates...Mc...
9 Sep 2016
Crackers & Cheeseman (Part Three) - Mt Cheeseman(2031m)
A mountain is merely a mass of mounded material. Many just look and then carry on with their business. But a few look at...
1 Sep 2016
Crackers & Cheeseman (Part Two) - Mt Cheeseman(2031m)
The small New Zealand ski industry kept my winter months busy for six years. I would make the trip from the south to Chr...
31 Aug 2016
Crackers & Cheeseman (Part One) - Mt Cheeseman(2031m)
For years I have visited the sunny slopes of Mt Cheeseman Ski field. Along with the pleasant terrain and friendly atmosp...
30 Aug 2016
Cameron Valley Bivouac - Part 2
Now out of the storm in our make-shift shelter, we could finally relax and get some rest. Cameron had the more sheltered...
26 Jul 2016
Cameron Valley Bivouac - Part 1
My Canadian friend Cameron Rodimus was visiting Aotearoa and keen for a mission during the winter of 2016. I questioned...
24 Jul 2016
Go Right, Not Left. - Harper Range(Peak 1437m)
I have always been keen on adventures outside the box. Doing something that very few people have done can be very reward...
4 Jul 2016
Woolshed Hill(1429m) - A Classic Kiwi Climb
Arthurs Pass National Park is relatively small compared to other National Parks in Aotearoa, but it has so much to offer...
29 Jun 2016
The Middle of the Field (Part Two) - Central Peak(1912m)
I’m sure many climbers have found themselves returning to the same area time and time again, and each time they have tic...
18 Jun 2016
The Middle of the Field (Part One) - Central Peak(1912m)
I have been very fortunate to have been able to spend so much time in the Hakatere area. Many memories of marching up an...
17 Jun 2016
Freedom Found (Part 3) - Wild Mans Hill(1856m)
In the home of the Kiwi you have the opportunity to have a vast area of land to yourself. And even better is the fact th...
19 May 2016
Freedom Found (Part 2) - Wild Mans Hill(1856m)
It is difficult to explain to someone about how I find enjoyment in isolation and solitude. I have never had any issues...
18 May 2016
Freedom Found (Part One) - Wild Mans Hill(1856m)
Freedom is found in the more than 60,000 hectares of stunning Canterbury hill country west of Christchurch city. Golden...
17 May 2016
Red Rock in the Clouds - Mura Mura/Mt Zero(364m)
Australia isn’t renowned for having large mountains like Aotearoa, but the uplifted land it has is home to some of the b...
8 May 2016
The Creations of the Mountain Gods (Part Four) - Phil’s Bivvy (Bivvy to Hollyford Road)
Not all mountains are created equal, some are big, some are really just hills. While many believe that biggest is best,...
21 Apr 2016
The Creations of the Mountain Gods (Part Three) - Phil’s Bivvy (Lake Adelaide Basin)
There are certain places that deserve a 120-piece orchestral accompaniment. The grandeur is right on the limit of what’s...
20 Apr 2016
The Creations of the Mountain Gods (Part Two) - Phil’s Bivvy (Upper Tent Flat to Lake Adelaide Basin)
After a little reccy up Moraine Creek in Fiordland’s Darran Mountains I knew it would only be a matter of time before I...
19 Apr 2016
The Creations of the Mountain Gods (Part One) - Phil’s Bivvy (Hollyford Road to Upper Tent Flat)
Planet Earth is covered in beautiful places which must be seen with your own eyes. Glorious mounds of rock and ice look...
18 Apr 2016
White Sands in the Sky (Part Three). Mt Titiroa(1715m)
Sometimes the motivation needed to climb a mountain comes from constantly staring at its presence. Every time (when ther...
4 Apr 2016
White Sands of Titiroa (Part Two) - Mt Titiroa(1715m)
Not all mountains are equal. Some have striking ridges and faces, others snow capped with many glaciers. And then there...
3 Apr 2016
White Sands of Titiroa(Part One) - Mt Titiroa(1715m)
Not long after cresting the top of Gorge Hill and entering the farmlands east of Te Anau, a beautiful and always white-c...
3 Apr 2016
Swinging Through the Trees (Part Two) - Monkey Creek
Happiness, mixed with an extreme sense of satisfaction, is having a valley to yourself after putting in the work to get...
26 Feb 2016
Swinging in the Trees (Part One) - Monkey Creek
Hiding in plain sight is the best way to describe Monkey Creek's location. Tucked away in the upper reaches of the Holly...
25 Feb 2016
Going Guided (Part Five) - Whakatipu Ka Tuka / The Hollyford Track
The great Rangatira (Chief) Tutoko lived with whanau at Martins Bay when the Europeans arrived, and his iwi had lived th...
27 Jan 2016
Going Guided (Part Four) - Whakatipu Ka Tuka / The Hollyford Track
Thanks to the fact that I worked on both the Routeburn and Milford Tracks I get asked which one is the better of the two...
26 Jan 2016
Going Guided (Part Three). Whakatipu Ka Tuka / The Hollyford Track
Every now and then while guiding people around the special parts of Aotearoa I have had to patch up the odd whoopsie. So...
26 Jan 2016
Going Guided (Part Two). Whakatipu Ka Tuka / The Hollyford Track
By 2016 I had spent nearly a decade guiding people around different parts of Aotearoa. Working on the Routeburn, Milford...
25 Jan 2016
Going Guided (Part One). Whakatipu Ka Tuka / The Hollyford Track
There are thousands of kilometres of tramping tracks in New Zealand that are free for anyone to use. Some are easy and s...
24 Jan 2016
The Best Way to Start to a New Year (Part Two) - Borland Saddle / Mt Burns Tarns
Waking up in the wilderness gives you a feeling like no other. The fresh air and bird song is at its best, and you feel...
1 Jan 2016
The Best Way to Start to a New Year (Part One) - Mt Burns New Years Camp
If the weather is fine and the mish goes to plan, then it does not matter what time of the year it is. However, in my ey...
31 Dec 2015
A Wet Night at Homer Hut (Part Three) - Homer Saddle / Homer Hut
The rain falling in Fiordland is an impressive sight. When you think the rain has reached its maximum fall rate, it turn...
21 Dec 2015
A Wet Night at Homer Hut (Part 2) - Upper Hollyford Valley / Gerturde Valley
Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the best backcountry hut networks on the planet. There are around 950 shelters of differ...
19 Dec 2015
A Wet Night at Homer Hut (Part 1) - Upper Hollyford Valley / Gertrude Valley
When the heavens open up and most go in to where it is dry. Recently other parts of Aotearoa have been bombarded with wh...
18 Dec 2015
The Most Dangerous Airport in the World - Adventures in Nepal (Part Ten)
Many people around the world would have heard of Sir Edmund Hillary and his victory over the steep slopes of Sagarmatha...
4 Nov 2015
All Done & Dusted - Adventures in Nepal (Part Nine)
A lot of people think hiking for many days in a row is difficult. I find sitting still a more challenging task. The inau...
3 Nov 2015
Our Time in Gurdel - Adventures in Nepal (Part Eight)
When I tell people about my adventures in Nepal, usually the first question asked has something to do with Mt Everest. O...
3 Nov 2015
The Foreigners Have Arrived - Adventures in Nepal (Part Seven)
Edmund Hillary travelled to Nepal to climb a mountain but he quickly realised that the people were a much better reason...
2 Nov 2015
The Trekkers are Coming - Adventures in Nepal (Part Six)
Before leaving Aotearoa I believed that New Zealand had the biggest and most impressive mountains on the planet. This un...
2 Nov 2015
Into the Mountains Mist - Adventures in Nepal (Part Five)
After Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary successfully climbed Sagarmartha / Mt Everest, the world saw a mountain conq...
31 Oct 2015
The Foothills of the Himalayas - Adventures in Nepal (Part Four)
Before I left Aotearoa I was under the belief that New Zealand had the best, biggest, most beautiful mountains on the pl...
30 Oct 2015
<strong><em>In the Footsteps of Sir Ed - Adventures in Nepal (Part Three)</em></strong>
When I was a kid I was taken to the Christchurch museum and was found in one of the tractors that Sir Edmund Hillary had...
28 Oct 2015
Fiordland to Thamel - Adventures in Nepal (Part Two)
A passport is rather important when travelling overseas and without one you cannot go anywhere. In 2015 I faced a challe...
27 Oct 2015
Awesome Undulation (Part Two). Mt Sebastopol(1468m)
Less than 300 people live in Aoraki Mt Cook Village. Around ten years ago for about five months I was one of those lucky...
27 Oct 2015
Awesome Undulation (Part One) - Mt Sebastopol(1468m)
Undulation can be a cruel beast sometimes when on a mish. You think you’re nearly at the summit only to find there are a...
26 Oct 2015
Passports Please - Adventures in Nepal (Part One)
I have three places on my must see before I die list: Alaska, Antarctica and Nepal. All three have fascinated me since I...
26 Oct 2015
The Pile of Bones (Part Two) - Mt Catherine(2085m)
One of the very few downsides of a camping mish is the need to go, and I don’t mean leave. For some reason as the need t...
15 Oct 2015
The Pile of Bones (Part One) - Mt Catherine(2085m)
The visually stunning area encompassing the Ashburton Lakes is always well worth a visit. From easy day walks, to demand...
14 Oct 2015
Back in the Cameron (Part Two) - Cameron Valley Camp & Climb
For some reason, lying on a small camping mattress, in temperatures cold enough to freeze the water in your bottle, is a...
14 Sep 2015
Back in the Cameron (Part One) - Cameron Valley Camp & Climb
The good parts of Aotearoa get multiple visits, and there are quite a few good parts! It is funny to think that a place...
12 Sep 2015
Following Sir Ed (Part Three) - Mt Taylor(2333m)
Mt Taylor is a mountain that should be on most people’s list of things to climb. Although it is the biggest in the Cante...
11 Sep 2015
Following Sir Ed (Part Two) - Mt Taylor(2333m)
It is reassuring to know that some of the world's best climbers have fine-tuned their skills in Aotearoa. Sir Edmund Hil...
9 Sep 2015
Following Sir Ed (Part One) - Mt Taylor(2333m)
Mt Taylor(2333m) is a Canterbury Mountain that should be on most adventure seekers' lists. Standing over two thousand me...
9 Sep 2015
Around The Lake - Lake Clearwater Circuit
I am very lucky that I had the opportunity to work out what makes me really happy. Finding the thing that you love can m...
31 Aug 2015
The Loop Over Little Mt Peel - Huatekerekere / Little Mt Peel(1311m)
The flatness of the Canterbury Plains ends abruptly with the rising of the Canterbury Foothills. A series of lumps slowl...
24 Aug 2015
Mt Barrosa(1364m) - A Great Day Out
An excellent day out sometimes missed in the massive Hakatere Conservation Park is a climb of Mt Barrosa(1364m). If appr...
18 Aug 2015
Singing in the Rain / Snow (Part Three) - Dogs Range
Mid mish bliss is a feeling that is only matched on the next adventure, therefore the pastime of going on a mish can get...
26 Jul 2015
Singing in the Rain / Snow (Part Two) - Boundary Creek Hut / Dogs Range
Rain brings water and water creates life. So why do we call a rainy-day bad weather when it is so important to us as res...
26 Jul 2015
Singing in the Rain / Snow (Part One) - Boundary Creek Hut
No one seems to complain when they get wet in the shower. And no one seems to complain when their clothes get wet in the...
26 Jul 2015
Monumental! The Monument(711m)
Banks Peninsula is now covered in farms and small settlements. This makes it hard to think that it was once a mighty vol...
19 Jul 2015
The Mountains View - Mt Harper(1829m)
The large lumps that surround Lake Clearwater Village have watched over the tiny mountain town for a very long time. For...
7 Jul 2015
The Erewhon Stage (Part Two) - Mt Potts(2184m)
When everything starts to fall into place on a mish it is impossible to control the smile on your face and the joy in yo...
6 Jun 2015
The Erewhon Stage (Part One) - Mt Potts(2184m)
Sometimes the world's beauty goes unnoticed. Many outstanding sunrises / sunsets aren't appreciated and knowing this inc...
4 Jun 2015
A Close Call (Part Two) - Mt Philistine Bluffs
A life without risk is a very basic existence. Most modern-day activities have some element of risk, however this should...
28 May 2015
A Close Call (Part One) - Mt Philistine Bluffs
A fact that most try to avoid focusing on is that going into the outdoors can be dangerous. With that said, getting into...
27 May 2015
A Dog's Unexpected Night Out - Balmacaan Stream
Dogs are a very cool additional enhancement to life. Always keen and caring, and of course they are always down for a mi...
23 May 2015
Not Far from Thar (Part Two). A-Frame Hut
The owner of the ski shop I worked at thought I was mad going to the places I would go without a gun or bow. Being not f...
19 May 2015
Not Far from Thar (Part One) - A-Frame Hut
During my many years roaming the hills I have only been out hunting a couple of times. On many occasions I have bumped i...
18 May 2015
The Wizards Hat - Gibraltar Rock(503m)
The scattered remains of the once mighty Te Ara Pataka Volcano now make up Christchurch’s Ports Hills. These hills are a...
4 May 2015
On Purpose - Mistake Creek (Part Two)
If prepared for the cold, then waking up in an area that has been hit by a severe frost is an epic way to start your day...
1 May 2015
On Purpose - Mistake Creek (Part One)
Mistake Creek is a stunning hike, and is one of three marked valleys that carve their way through the Earl Mountains, ne...
1 May 2015
James Craig’s Dream (Part Three) - Wairaurahiri River to Lake Hauroko
When I moved south to Tuatapere to start working on the Humpridge Track I started a new life with lots of new opportunit...
23 Apr 2015
James Craig’s Dream (Part Two) - Port Craig Lodge / Village
James Craig was the driving force behind the ongoings at the sawmill that would bear his name. Along with Daniel Reese,...
22 Apr 2015
James Craig’s Dream (Part One) - Port Craig Lodge / Village
It is hard to believe that down on the South Coast far away from the small towns of western Southland was once the site...
22 Apr 2015
Deep in Sandfly Country (Part Three) - Tutoko Valley
Aotearoa sat un occupied by humans for a very long time. This gave the place a chance to become a haven for many rare an...
19 Apr 2015
Deep in Sandfly Country (Part Two) - Tutoko Valley
If you ever think you are too small to make a difference, then tell that to a sandfly stuck in your tent! The Dalai Lama...
17 Apr 2015
Deep in Sandfly Country (Part One) - Tutoko Valley
Aotearoa is a place of great beauty and many birds. We are lucky to have a giant backyard to play in and within it are n...
17 Apr 2015
The Friendly Fiordland Mountain - Peak 1476m (Mt Burns Tarns)
For those familiar with these stories you just might have come across a tale or two about the Borland Saddle. Finding th...
10 Apr 2015
Thirsty and Amazed - The Tongariro Crossing
In 2015 I was invited to travel to Taupo and walk the Tongariro Crossing. The crossing is a 19.4 km walk amongst fabulou...
9 Apr 2015
Port Craig
Very cool to be able to camp at your worksite, and it’s even better when that area produces some of the best sunsets and...
23 Mar 2015
Going Solo (Part Three) - Mt McPherson(1931m)
Fiordland’s famous road to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound does have some contrast when it comes to human activity. From bein...
17 Mar 2015
Going Solo (Part Two). Mt McPherson(1931m)
I’m sure many have got to the top / pinnacle / climax of a challenge, whether it be a track, mountain or even something...
16 Mar 2015
Going Solo (Part One) - Mt McPherson(1931m)
The art of soloing a mountain can be very rewarding, but also very dangerous depending on your desired target. Extra car...
15 Mar 2015
Awe Aspiring (Part Two) - Rock of Ages
I always get excited about going to sleep when I am in the mountains. For some reason even if I don’t sleep that much du...
14 Mar 2015
Awe Aspiring (Part One) - Rock of Ages
Both West and East Matukituki valleys are very impressive places to visit for a hike or climb and will not disappoint. T...
13 Mar 2015
Heli-Hike Guiding
“Working in Paradise” 2014-2015 . Heli-Hike Guiding. Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. After a chance encounter during a gui...
10 Mar 2015
Mouse Mountain - Anti-Crow Hut
I’ve always said “the worst thing to happen to New Zealand… it was discovered”. With the discovery of the last lost worl...
23 Feb 2015
Two Different Worlds - Ben Ohau(1522m)
It’s amazing how different the weather can be from Aoraki/Mt Cook Village to Twizel. For two places that are relatively...
4 Feb 2015
Impressive Neighbors (Part Two) - Mt Edgar Thomson(2379m)
We are spoilt for choice in Aotearoa when it comes to big mountains. Bush covered, rock covered and some massive sculptu...
30 Jan 2015
Impressive Neighbors (Part One) - Mt Edgar Thomson(2379m)
The awe inspiring mountain mass of Aoraki/Mt Cook(3724m) dominates the view when driving into Aoraki/Mt Cook National Pa...
29 Jan 2015
Where the Water Comes From (Part Two) - Water Tank Ridge
After a Heli-Hike trip was cancelled at the last minute my schedule was changed to afternoon work in the Old Mountaineer...
25 Jan 2015
Where the Water Comes From (Part One) - Water Tank Ridge
Towering above the western side of Aoraki/Mt Cook Village is Mt Kitchener(2042m), and even though it is the closest ‘big...
25 Jan 2015
Big Backyard (Part Three) - Mt Hodgkinson(1486m).
Playtime for me as a kid was thousands of hours in my backyard. I would have explored every square inch over and over ag...
22 Jan 2015
Big Backyard (Part Two) - Mt Hodgkinson(1486m)
I bought a house in Te Anau so I could be as close as possible to the mighty Darran Mountain Range. I guess this shows h...
22 Jan 2015
Big Backyard (Part One) - Mt Hodgkinson(1486m)
If your backyard (and frontyard) is Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, then you’ve done something right! I was extremely luck...
21 Jan 2015
Snearly There - Sealy Tarns Track
Along with the picnic tables beside the tarns, there have been nearly 2,000 hiking aids created so just about anyone wit...
26 Dec 2014
The Sea of White - Climbers Corner, Haupapa Tasman Glacier
It is incredible that what you see from Aoraki Mt Cook Village is only a small taste of what’s on offer in the land of N...
21 Dec 2014
Mount Cook's Foot (Part Two) - Mt Wakefield(2058m)
Many times people have looked at a distant summit in poor weather and then instead of retreating to safer ground they ch...
18 Dec 2014
Mount Cook's Foot (Part One)- Mt Wakefield(2058m)
The mountains in the Aoraki / Mt Cook area swell in bulk so much some would question if they are on steroids! The massiv...
17 Dec 2014
The Forgotten Falls - Wakefield Falls(230m)
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is a place of constant change, which sometimes happens right before your own eyes. As th...
3 Dec 2014
Aoraki/Mt Cook(3724m)
"Places in Paradise" Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Aoraki/Mt Cook(3724m) from Mt Edgar Thomson(2379m)
30 Nov 2014
Old Mate on the Ridge - Mt Sebastopol(1468m)
A true gem in the land of the long white cloud’s crown is the mighty cloud piercer Aoraki / Mt Cook(3724m) and his massi...
16 Nov 2014
A Mt Cook Must Do - Hooker Valley
Many Kiwi’s (people from New Zealand) spend their lives heading to other countries before exploring their own. Iconic lo...
9 Nov 2014
An Epic Afternoon - Borland Peak 1299m
Getting out and about is something everyone should do often. A wander amongst the mountains can clear any clouds in your...
3 Nov 2014
The Longest Driveway - Quail Flat (Part Two)
New Zealand’s longest driveway had taken us deep into the Kaikoura Mountains on a sunny day. The drive in had its moment...
25 Oct 2014
The Longest Driveway (Part One) - Quail Flat
Some call the 4WD road into the Clarence River via Blind Saddle New Zealand's longest driveway. At 30km+ it makes the tr...
25 Oct 2014
The Watery Fortress - Ripapa Island(Fort Jervois)
The early Maori would use the many different bodies of water to get around, and in a land with no roads the water can ac...
19 Oct 2014
Mountain Goats & Glissading (Part Three) - Mt Bealey(1836m)
When the air is still and the sky is clear, you tend to forget that this is weather that is only temporary this high up...
1 Oct 2014
Mountain Goats and Glissading (Part Two) - Mt Bealey(1836m)
Many times, I have watched the goats that live high in our mountains negotiate steep terrain with ease and wished I had...
30 Sep 2014
Mountain Goats & Glissading (Part One) - Mt Bealey(1836m)
When you do something often, sometimes you can overlook what some people would find dangerous. I have climbed many mount...
30 Sep 2014
Crampons Crunching (Part Three) - Mt Cassidy(1850m)
Summits give you a strange feeling. Any thoughts of success quickly subside after the realisation that you have only com...
30 Sep 2014
Crampons Crunching (Part Two) - Mt Cassidy(1850m)
Attaching twelve spikes to your feet usually means you’re starting to tackle rather challenging terrain. Slick and steep...
30 Sep 2014
Crampons Crunching (Part One) - Mt Cassidy(1850m)
If you have been given the gift of movement then you should go out and use your body to its maximum potential. For me cl...
29 Sep 2014
Up. Down. Done. (Part Two) - Potts Range Peak(1948m)
To many the thought of clambering up a snowy mountainside seems like a strange pastime. Struggling against gravity in or...
23 Sep 2014
Up. Down. Done. (Part One) - Potts Range Peak(1948m)
It was love at first sight when my eyes got their first taste of the grandeur that is beyond Lake Clearwater. The area w...
22 Sep 2014
A Wild Winter Wander (Part Two) - Mt Guy(1319m)
The blast of a blizzard on your face is an experience to say the least. A wild winter wander in the wonder of wild weath...
16 Sep 2014
A Wild Winter Wander (Part One) - Mt Guy(1319m)
Nothing makes you feel alive like facing a southerly blast head on. A wild wilderness wander can be an epic adventure -...
15 Sep 2014
Joseph’s Peninsula - Tarawera Mt Sinclair(841m)
The adventures of Captain James Cook prove that, once you get adventure in your blood, the mish never ends. Cook and his...
9 Sep 2014
Arthurs Village from Above (Part Two) - Mt Aicken(1863m)
From 1907 to 1923 Arthurs Pass Village was a hive of activity, thanks to the construction of the Otira Rail Tunnel. The...
4 Sep 2014
Arthurs Village from Above (Part One) - Mt Aicken(1863m)
Tucked away amongst some of New Zealand’s finest peaks is Arthurs Pass Village. One of the few towns located in a nation...
3 Sep 2014
Roaming A Ridge (Part Two) - Rome Ridge
Many people are afraid of heights. Being close to a big drop can send them into a panic and unless they are taken away f...
2 Sep 2014
Roaming A Ridge (Part One) - Rome Ridge
No two mountains are the same, and that also applies to the ridges which reach down from the summit back towards sea lev...
1 Sep 2014
Otira Slip and Slide (Part Two) - Mt Rolleston Low Peak (Almost)
Knowing you are hiking into a place that is not only dangerous, but has also claimed lives, keeps your senses alert. A d...
27 Aug 2014
The Otira Slip & Slide (Part One). Mt Rolleston Low Peak (almost)
There have been a few wild stories coming out of a small steep strip of mountainous land in Arthurs Pass National Park....
25 Aug 2014
Your Very Own Mountain (Part Two). Mahaanui/Mt Harper(1829m)
From a very young age both my mother and grandmother have taught me to share. This has led to many adventures with my wh...
13 Aug 2014
Your Very Own Mountain (Part One) - Mahaanui/Mt Harper(1829m)
Not many outside of Aotearoa can say they have had an entire mountain to themselves. With more than 8 billion people on...
12 Aug 2014
What Goes Up (Part Two) - Mt Potts (2184m)
Getting ‘bluffed out’ is when you hike / climb / scramble to a point where you can’t go up or down. You have got yoursel...
3 Aug 2014
What Goes Up (Part One) - Mt Potts (2184m)
The is always two parts to climbing a mountain. While many focus on getting to the summit, it must be remembered that th...
2 Aug 2014
Inquisitive Nature (Part Two) - Erewhon Park Ski Field
Having an inquisitive nature can get you to some rather amazing places. The need to know what’s around the next corner c...
21 Jul 2014
Inquisitive Nature (Part One) - Erewhon Park Ski Field
Inquisitive nature has led to some of the most epic adventures. If no one wondered what lay amongst the hills, then noth...
20 Jul 2014
Appreciating the Past (Part Two) - Tribulation Hut
Hard work and long days were the norm for the musterers who used to roam the hills of Hakatere. Fences made their way ov...
1 Jul 2014
Appreciating The Past (Part One) - Tribulation Hut
The scattering of huts throughout the mountains of Aotearoa make for some of the best hiking in the world and some of th...
30 Jun 2014
Mountain Topping & Wood Chopping - Mt Guy(1319m)
When the glaciers retreated towards the main divide in New Zealand’s mountainous South Island around 10,000 years ago th...
22 Jun 2014
Climbing the Middle Finger - The Fingers(2016m)
Mt Taylor(2333m), and the rest of the Taylor Range are the largest mountains east of Ka Tiritiri o Te Moana/Southern Alp...
1 Jun 2014
Mount Washington / Appalachian Trail (GUEST POST)
Welcome to a guest post by Jeremy Wilson. We join Jeremy and Julie on their adventure in New Hampshire in the United Sta...
27 May 2014
A Tangle of Dogs - Mt Bradley(855m)
A hike to the top of any of the hills that make up Te Ara Pataka/Banks Peninsula will be worth the effort, and the inter...
27 May 2014
Solving the Mystery (Part Two) - Mystery Lake Camp
In hindsight it seems strange that someone would wander off into the wilderness on the wrong trail / track / path to end...
14 May 2014
Solving the Mystery (Part One) - Mystery Lake Camp
I wasn’t lost, I just didn’t know where I was?! This is what I thought as I broke a trail in the fresh deep snow alongsi...
13 May 2014
Crawling in the Wind (Part Three) - Erewhon Peak(2068m)
It is amazing what you will put up with to get to a summit and claim your prize. Summit fever is a condition that you so...
5 May 2014
Crawling in the Wind (Part Two) - Erewhon Peak(2068m)
Whether you like it or not, weather will always happen, and it is best to see the positives of what Mother Nature is up...
5 May 2014
Crawling in the Wind (Part One) - Erewhon Peak(2086m)
To look at a storm face to face is a truly humbling experience and one that reminds us that Mother Nature is boss in the...
4 May 2014
Oldest Trail in the Park - Pass Creek Track
Going overseas to places like Japan and Nepal has shown me how young Aotearoa New Zealand really is. Hiking on a trail t...
3 May 2014
Frozen Feet (Part Three) - Cameron Range(1936m)
The first time I really felt what frozen feet could feel like was in the Cameron Valley. A mish hadn’t quite gone to pla...
2 May 2014
Frozen Feet (Part Two) - Cameron Range (Peak 1936m)
A description of a winter camping trip can easily turn someone away from the outdoors forever. Depending on your take on...
1 May 2014
Frozen Feet (Part One) - Cameron Range (Peak 1936m)
Not many would go through hell and then return for more. I guess that is why we wilderness folk don’t see all that many...
30 Apr 2014
The Power of Fiordland Rain - Lake Marian
To say it rains in Fiordland is like saying 2020 hasn’t been the best year… tell us something we don’t know! For those w...
22 Apr 2014
Potential Danger (Part Two) - Gertrude Saddle
“On a Mish’ #409 Potential Danger (Part Two). Gertrude Saddle. Fiordland National Park. 18.4.2014. I once went up Gertru...
18 Apr 2014
Potential Danger (Part One) - Gertrude Saddle
“On a Mish’ #409 Potential Danger (Part One). Gertrude Saddle. Fiordland National Park. 18.4.2014. The Gertrude Saddle w...
17 Apr 2014
Barbwire and Bush Bashing - Saddle Hill(841m)
The undulating remains of the once 1500 meter-plus volcano that stood east of Otautahi / Christchurch now has many small...
4 Apr 2014
Day Off, Still on the Ridge - Hump Ridge Camp
We are very spoiled for choice in Aotearoa when it comes to stunning places to hike. The South Island has every type of...
23 Mar 2014
Tough Trails of the Past (Part Four) - Mt Larkins(2300m)
There have been tough times when I have been out on a mish when I have had to remind myself that I am tackling this moun...
22 Mar 2014
Tough Trails of the Past (Part Three) - Mt Larkins(2300m)
Human beings need challenges to remind them that their bodies are made for moving. Whether it be completing a hike or cl...
22 Mar 2014
Tough Trails of the Past (Part Two) - Mt Larkins(2300m)
Being high up in the mountains is good for you. Both your mental and physical being are at peace and you enter a meditat...
20 Mar 2014
Tough Trails of the Past (Part One)- Mt Larkins (2300m)
It is safe to say that we (the human race) are getting soft these days. We head to places like the Whakaari Conservation...
20 Mar 2014
It’s Bigger Than (Part Four) - Cecil Peak(1978m)
The rounded mound which resides on the opposite side of Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown is sometimes thought to be Cecil Pea...
15 Mar 2014
It’s Bigger Than (Part Three) - Cecil Peak(1978m)
Some mountains play tricks on people by hiding their true identity. What can be seen from the base might not be the same...
13 Mar 2014
It’s Bigger Than (Part Two) - Cecil Peak(1978m)
Some say if it wasn’t for foreshortening, many of the great peaks around the world would never have been climbed. This i...
13 Mar 2014
It's Bigger Than (Part One) - Cecil Peak(1978m)
A hidden summit or false peak can be very demoralising to someone who has spent the day fighting gravity in order to sta...
11 Mar 2014
Skirt Around the Bush (Part Three) - Arthurs Creek(Point 2065m)
If something is hard, why do it? This is a question that many ‘non-hikers’ ask after hearing about my battles with the r...
11 Mar 2014
Skirt Around the Bush Edge (Part Two) - Arthurs Creek
Reading about an adventure can be a big step away from the actual mish. A simple sentence in a guide book can be a great...
11 Mar 2014
Skirt Around the Bush Edge - Arthurs Creek (Part One)
Arthurs Creek is one of the many large river valleys that feed into the Rees Valley, and then on to Lake Wakatipu near G...
9 Mar 2014
In the Footsteps of William Grave (Part Three) - De Lambert Falls(59m)
I’m guessing that if you love rugby you picture yourself as your favourite professional player when you take to the fiel...
5 Mar 2014
In the Footsteps of William Grave (Part Two) - De Lambert Falls(59m)
One of my most favourite books is ‘Beyond the Southern Lakes - The Explorations of W.G. Grave’ written by Anita Crozier....
4 Mar 2014
The Footsteps of William Grave (Part One) - De Lambert Falls(59m)
With no knowledge of the history of Piopiotahi / Milford Sound it is easy to kick back and relax in a car or bus when dr...
3 Mar 2014
Peace and Quiet - Gertrude Valley Camp (Part Three)
Unfortunately if you spend enough time in the mountains of Aotearoa you will see your fair share of potential wilderness...
3 Feb 2014
Peace and Quiet - Gertrude Valley Camp (Part Two)
An adventure into the outdoors is a package deal. I enjoy the whole process from working out where to go, to loading the...
1 Feb 2014
Peace and Quiet - Gertrude Valley Camp (Part One)
The vertical spectacle that is the mighty Darran Mountains in north west of Fiordland is something I really recommend to...
1 Feb 2014
Can’t Cross That (Part Three) - Long Charlie Spur(2024m)
Mountains plus rain equals rivers, and in Aotearoa / New Zealand’s wild backyard the rivers are in charge. Sadly, drowni...
21 Jan 2014
Can't Cross That (Part Two) - Long Charlie Spur(2024m)
There have been times when I have pointed out where water has got to during great rain events on tracks I have worked on...
20 Jan 2014
Can't Cross That (Part One) - Long Charlie Spur(2024m)
Something we definitely have no control over when wandering in the wilderness is the weather. Sometimes it rains, and so...
19 Jan 2014
Four-legged Friends - Mt Richardson(1047m)
To have your four-legged friend join you on an adventure will definitely enhance it! Add another dog in the mix and you...
4 Dec 2013
The Castles in the Sky (Part Two) - Okaka Lodge / Summit Loop-Track
On a cloudless day you can see all the way over the massive sweep of Te Waiwai Bay to Motupohue Bluff Hill, as well as g...
26 Nov 2013
The Castles in the Sky (Part One) - Okaka Lodge / Tors & Tarns Loop-Track
Perched on what seems like the end of the earth is a group of buildings known as Okaka Lodge. The castle in the sky is t...
26 Nov 2013
Into the Mist (Part Three) - Eldrig Peak(1595m)
When playing a game of ‘climb the mountain’ you have a lot of aspects to look at to make sure you survive the game. Expe...
22 Nov 2013
Into the Mist (Part Two) - Eldrig Peak(1595m)
For a long time I have passionately believed that any day in Aotearoa (South Island) above 1000m is a good one. The envi...
22 Nov 2013
Into the Mist (Part One) - Eldrig Peak(1595m)
Mountain weather can go from friendly to fierce very quickly . A small puff of cloud on the horizon can become a storm m...
21 Nov 2013
A Sample of Southland's History - TurnBull's Track
New Zealand’s network of tracks and huts really does cover the South Island top to bottom. From the ranges above Nelson...
19 Nov 2013
Savaged by Sandflies (Part Two) - Borland Rock Bivouac
There are many places throughout the South Island of Aotearoa where you would love to kick back, look up at the mountain...
14 Nov 2013
Savaged By Sandflies (Part One) - Borland Rock Bivouac
I always have to remind myself that Te Namu(Sandflies) are only encountered in the most clean and pristine areas of New...
14 Nov 2013
The Wairaurahiri River - Part 2
The ruggedness of the South Fiordland coastline was living up to its rough reputation. The Southern Ocean was choppy, he...
27 Oct 2013
The Wairaurahiri River - Part 1
I strongly believe that anybody selling a tourism product has to have experienced the product! Nothing worse than hearin...
26 Oct 2013
Leave Our Forest Alone - Kiwi Burn Hut
I remember visiting this excellent little hut, located in the pristine bush of the Snowdon Forest, during the times of t...
22 Oct 2013
Two Thumbs Up (Part Three) - Peak 2163m(Two Thumb Range)
To take strides into a new area can both be fascinating and provide fitness for the fortunate folks who are lucky enough...
22 Oct 2013
Two Thumbs Up (Part Two) - Peak 2163m(Two Thumb Range)
My classic and sometimes very frustrating answer to the question ‘what is your favourite track, trail or trek’ is ‘one I...
21 Oct 2013
Two Thumbs Up (Part One) - Peak 2163m(Two Thumb Range)
Aotearoa New Zealand is a small country and yet it seems so big when tackling the place on foot. In Te Waipounamu South...
21 Oct 2013
Definitely Worth the Stop - Lake Alexandrina
Having a summer job down south guiding, and a winter job managing McEwings ski shop in Christchurch, has meant driving t...
20 Oct 2013
Bare, Barren and Beautiful - Swin River Camp
It is interesting how a bare and barren mountain landscape can be as visually appealing as a mountain covered in classic...
14 Oct 2013
Towering Above Coleridge - Peak Hill(1240m)
I can really understand why the famous 'Terrace Downs Resort' is built where it is. After climbing over the foothills, n...
11 Sep 2013
A Freezing Fool (Part Four) - Cameron Hut
The sanctuary of a remote hut can seem so much better when you have had a real fight to get to it. The small hut at the...
5 Sep 2013
A Freezing Fool (Part Three) - Cameron Hut
Hiking, climbing, and exploring puts me into a mediative like state where time is much different that when in the ‘real...
4 Sep 2013
A Freezing Fool (Part Two) - Cameron Hut
Most pastimes are less committing than going on a good mish. For instance, if you like playing chess it doesn’t mean you...
4 Sep 2013
A Freezing Fool (Part One) - Cameron Hut
Many times on my missions I have leant outdoor lessons in a very lifelike situation. Most of the time it has been little...
3 Sep 2013
Not Part of the Day's Plan - Steep Face Hill(1876m)
We really are spoiled for choice when it comes to mountain landscapes in New Zealand, especially in the South Island. In...
3 Sep 2013
Fourteen Months to get to a Hut (Part Two) - Boundary Creek / Dogs Hill
Hiking to a hut is a passtime enjoyed by many people around the world. Sometimes I almost feel guilty about how many hut...
21 Aug 2013
Fourteen Months to Get to a Hut (Part One) - Boundary Creek Hut
During the winter of 2012 I went for a hike with the intention of staying in Boundary Creek Hut. Unfortunately, on that...
21 Aug 2013
Going Where There is Nobody - Foggy Peak(1741m)
A big reason I enjoy going into the mountains is to be in a place without people, no offence whanau! There is something...
12 Aug 2013
Isolation (Part Three) - Sudden Valley Bivouac
There are a few shows on TV these days which make a big deal out of being alone in the wild. I like to go out of my way...
1 Aug 2013
Isolation (Part Two) - Sudden Valley Bivouac
While some seek the pleasure of company, others search for solace while traveling solo in the serenity of sweet scenery....
31 Jul 2013
Isolation (Part One) - Sudden Valley Bivouac
I find something very inviting about going outdoors into the wilderness alone. To place yourself in total isolation can...
30 Jul 2013
Back for More Mish (Part Three) - Double Hut / Taylor Range
Nothing like waking up wrapped up in your sleeping bag and seeing your breath in the cold air. It is like a battle betwe...
16 Jul 2013
Welcome to My World (Part Two) - Double Hut / Taylor Range
For all the negative press that it gets, cold weather is pretty cool! Those who haven’t seen what snow and ice can do to...
16 Jul 2013
Welcome to My World (Part One) - Double Hut / Taylor Range
A lot of my missions are by myself, attacking a track, hill or just camping area solo. I have no problem with heading ou...
15 Jul 2013
Woolshed Creek Hut (Winter) - Part Two
I always feel the added difficulty of snow when hiking is rewarded with the views. Thrashing your way through deep drift...
10 Jul 2013
Woolshed Creek Hut (Winter) - Part One
To step into a world covered in snow is one of many steps during a real winter adventure. Walking in a winter wonderland...
9 Jul 2013
Snow Business (Part Three) - Mt Somers Track (Pinnacles Hut Track to Staveley Carpark)
While the added difficulty of snow might deter most, I find it worth the effort to get the shot. The sights and sounds o...
25 Jun 2013
Snow Business (Part Two) - Mt Somers Track (Track to Pinnacles Hut)
Sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan when going on adventures in the mountains, and that’s ok if everybody stays in...
25 Jun 2013
Snow Business (Part One) - Lake Heron Basin
Snow is a burden or a pleasure depending on who you ask. Something that can stop a working city, can also start business...
25 Jun 2013
The Benefits of a Local Guide (Part Two) - Yatsugatake Mountains
I have been extremely lucky on my overseas adventures to have knowledgeable guides leading the way. In Nepal I have had...
8 Jun 2013
The Benefits of a Local Guide (Part One) - Yatsugatake Mountains
There are two groups of islands, one in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the south, that are not only similar in...
8 Jun 2013
A Kiwi Takes Flight (Part Two) - Mt Hotakadake(3190m)
To travel somewhere to go on an adventure is always an incredible experience, and if the weather is on your side then yo...
5 Jun 2013
A Kiwi Takes Flight(Part 1) - Mt Hotakadake(3190m)
This mission started with a 9346km journey from New Zealand to Tokyo,Japan. After arriving in the biggest city I had eve...
4 Jun 2013
The Broken Road to Nowhere - Ball Hut
Reading about the history of the Aoraki / Mt Cook area and seeing pictures from the past has shown me how much it has ch...
26 May 2013
The Tin Tent for Two - Lagoon Saddle Hut
The Alpine Highway through the mountains from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass Village is littered with heaps of excellent h...
5 May 2013
Come See the Fiordland Rain (Part Four). The Milford Track 2013
Early-ish the next day we were off into the chill of a fresh new day, and along with yet another day of clear skies and...
25 Feb 2013
Come See the Fiordland Rain (Part Three) - The Milford Track 2013
Fiordland bathed in sunshine is what most see when dreaming, or viewing pictures advertising the unique area in the sout...
25 Feb 2013
Come See the Fiordland Rain (Part Two) - The Milford Track 2013
The physical benefits of hiking are an added bonus to what is already an awesome activity, but sometimes the weather can...
24 Feb 2013
Come See the Fiordland Rain (Part One) - The Milford Track 2013
I have always had difficulty doing any justice to describing Fiordland rain. It really is something you have to experien...
23 Feb 2013
Lost in Her Majesty's Mist (Part Two) - The Queens Drive
From a young age I became fascinated by the fruition of a forecast. The weather is something you can't avoid so you migh...
15 Feb 2013
Lost in Her Majesty's Mist - The Queens Drive (Part One)
The view of the Remarkables from Queenstown is one of the most famous mountainscapes in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Dark gre...
14 Feb 2013
No Hut Creek (Part Three) - Hut Creek Camp
There are places in New Zealand that have had huts built there and the people of the world have come in their masses. We...
23 Jan 2013
No Hut Creek (Part Two) - Hut Creek Camp
I like the fact that some of our places in the wild have reverted back to their te reo maori names. We have so many plac...
22 Jan 2013
No Hut Creek (Part One) - Hut Creek Camp
There are no easy ways to get into the steep sided valleys of the Earl Mountains in Fiordland, but of the few tracks tha...
21 Jan 2013
Sandflies & Whiskey - Lennox Falls Camp
Along with the outstanding working environment, another reason I really enjoy guiding is the interaction with the people...
14 Dec 2012
Working on the Milford track
“Working in Paradise” The Milford Track. Fiordland National Park. 2012-2013. After a few false starts I finally got a ch...
24 Oct 2012
Working at Lake MacKenzie Lodge
“Working in Paradise” Winter 2012. Lake MacKenzie Lodge. Fiordland National Park. After the 2011/2012 Guiding Season on...
19 Oct 2012
Loose Rocks to the Top - Peak 1916m (Wye Creek)
It is hard to fault the incredible scenery around Queenstown. From the turquoise waters of the very deep Lake Wakatipu,...
13 Oct 2012
The Forbidden Kingdom (Part Four) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
Chhogori / K2 was recently climbed in winter for the first time by a team of exceptional superhuman Sherpa. The prize of...
13 Oct 2012
The Forbidden Kingdom (Part Three) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
Unfortunately, there have been outdoors folk who have got themselves into situations outside of their capabilities. In t...
13 Oct 2012
The Forbidden Kingdom (Part Two) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
It is a shame when you hear of fatalities in locations where you know there are many warnings advising you to not ventur...
11 Oct 2012
The Forbidden Kingdom (Part One) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
Aotearoa has many tramping tracks that are two different worlds. One is the summer playground that many happy folks see...
10 Oct 2012
Back to Double Hut - Double Hut
Hiking across the open plains of the Lake Heron Basin is a way I have spent many days, and each time has been excellent....
30 Aug 2012
Mt Isobel(1319m) - Hanmer Spring's Mountain
Surrounded by mountains, with an abundance of hiking, biking and sightseeing, Hanmer Springs is Queenstown’s more mature...
23 Aug 2012
The Sound of Snow Falling (Part Two) - Double Hut
I’m sure that most trampers, trekkers, hikers, people who walk to epic places, have a hut that is very special to them....
6 Aug 2012
The Sound of Snow Falling (Part One) - Double Hut
Snow creates an atmosphere like no other. When it is trickling down from above without wind there is a silence created o...
5 Aug 2012
The Wonders of Winter (Part Three) - Mueller Hut / Aoraki / Mt Cook Village
The silence of snow is music to my ears. To be in a totally frozen environment will take your breath away, or make it mo...
27 Jul 2012
The Wonders of Winter (Part Two) - Mueller Hut / Mt Ollivier(1933m)
I do get surprised how quickly people shut down the idea of a mish during the months of winter. Yes it might be a bit ch...
26 Jul 2012
The Wonders of Winter (Part One) - Mueller Hut / Mt Ollivier(1933m)
By the winter of 2012 I was fully into the swing of going out into the snow on a mish. The wonders of a frozen environme...
26 Jul 2012
The Lock In (Part Two) - Black Hill Hut
My love of winter has led me to some awesome spots. A snowy sanctuary can make some magic memories that will stay with y...
10 Jul 2012
The Lock in (Part One) - Black Hill Hut
I have heard many people say how amazing New Zealand’s backcountry hut network is. There are about 950 shacks, sheds, pl...
9 Jul 2012
Walking Off the Map (Part Three) - Lost in Hakatere
One of my favourite ways to fill in time is to look at a topography map of some wild part of Aotearoa. Looking at the st...
27 Jun 2012
Walking off the Map (Part 2) - Lost in Hakatere
After a few years of adventures, I was feeling reasonably confident in my abilities. I felt like I could reach any targe...
26 Jun 2012
Hiking off the Map (Part 1) - Lost in Hakatere
Over time I have clocked up many hours under the stars during the times I have foregone a tent and opted for a night out...
26 Jun 2012
Last Light of the Day (Part Two) - Peak 1494m(Ailsa Range)
We humans are lucky to witness beauty like no other. A sunset painting the sky red or orange (sometimes both) is a maste...
6 Jun 2012
Last Light of the Day (Part One) - Peak 1494m
Human beings climb mountains for all sorts of different reasons, and usually for me it’s purely to take in the view from...
5 Jun 2012
Another Day in a Snowy Paradise (Part Two) - Ocean Peak(1848m) from Lake MacKenzie
The level that people go to to see the place that I called my workplace took me by surprise at first. I had gone from ca...
12 May 2012
Another Day in a Snowy Paradise (Part One) - Ocean Peak from Lake MacKenzie
There is something very special about working in a remote place, definitely when that place becomes a different world du...
12 May 2012
Circling the Serenity - Around Lake MacKenzie
I always remember as a kid we did a test to see what type of learners we were. The test also revealed who has trouble si...
1 May 2012
Working on the Routeburn Track
“Working in Paradise” 2008-2012. The Routeburn Track. Fiordland/Mt Aspiring National Park. When I get asked “what is you...
24 Apr 2012
Working on the Greenstone Track
“Working in Paradise” 2008-2012. The Greenstone Track. Lake Wakatipu/Greenstone Conservation Area. The Greenstone Valley...
24 Apr 2012
Lake Wilson - Great Lake, Great Name (Part Two)
To visit your workplace on your day off is saying something about where you work! I was extremely lucky to wake up and r...
21 Apr 2012
Lake Wilson - Great Lake, Great Name (Part One)
When walking the Routeburn Track from Lake Mackenzie no matter what the weather is doing the hike from Harris Shelter to...
20 Apr 2012
The Other Way Home (Part Three) - Emily Pass(1607m).
A long time ago a young woman decided to tempt fate and go the ‘Other Way Home’ while hiking the Routeburn Track. With h...
17 Apr 2012
Let's Go This Way (Part Two) - Emily Pass(1607m)
Some places on the map don’t look like much of a mish until you are clambering your way towards them. Also some location...
17 Apr 2012
Let's Go This Way (Part One) - Emily Pass(1607m)
The brave dare to do something different, and for some this carves their names into the history books or even onto the m...
16 Apr 2012
Blown Away (Part Four) - Just below Wright Col to Muddy Creek
The wind is a funny old foe. It is something you can’t see, but you can hear it, sense it and also feel its effects when...
29 Jan 2012
Blown Away (Part Three) - Kea Basin to Wright Col (almost)
It is quite common to hear the expression ‘Blown Away’ when people are talking about New Zealand’s scenery. It is also c...
28 Jan 2012
Blown Away (Part Two) - Muddy Creek to Kea Basin
When I first started to go on frequent outings, I had the odd time where I let enthusiasm lead me into the wild before t...
28 Jan 2012
Blown Away (Part One) - Queenstown to Muddy Creek
The few who fight the weather face a fearsome foe. When entering Mother Nature’s playground, it is best to know what you...
27 Jan 2012
Summer Snow (Part Three) - Ocean Peak(1848m)
Te Waipounamu sits in the line of some rather nasty weather and anything near the west coast gets it first and at its mo...
16 Jan 2012
Summer Snow (Part Two) - Ocean Peak(1848m)
There were a few times when guiding on the Routeburn Track that we watched the weather gods align the clouds and it look...
16 Jan 2012
Summer Snow (Part One)- Ocean Peak(1848m)
You can pack clothing for any weather, but can you weather any situation that weather can throw at you? Aotearoa is a pl...
15 Jan 2012
Kea Never Sleep - Rob Roy Glacier Track
The first time I visited the Rob Roy Glacier Track was back in 2011, with my friend visiting from France and my parents,...
3 Jan 2012
Second Time Above Paradise (Part Two) - Ari / Mt Alfred(1375m)
It is incredible how important the Lord of the Rings movies were for tourism in Aotearoa. When I traveled to Canada to p...
14 Dec 2011
Second Time Above Paradise (Part One) - Mt Alfred(1375m)
The setting at the top of Lake Wakatipu is priceless. The view from the road to Glenorchy is an iconic image that has be...
13 Dec 2011
So Close, And Yet So Far (Part Two) - Ben Lomond(1748m)
I have climbed above the Milford Road and I can say that it is weird to be on an exposed piece of rock with death drops...
25 Nov 2011
So Close, And Yet So Far (Part One) - Ben Lomond(1748m)
Some of our best hiking mountains sit so very close to towns. Having the option to climb a mountain directly from where...
24 Nov 2011
Explorers / Miners - Invincible Mine
In New Zealand most of the country's rugged interior was explored by hardened surveyors, looking to make a buck or two,...
18 Nov 2011
Head in the Clouds (Part Two) - Bowen Peak(1631m)
There is no feeling quite like standing on top of a mountain. With the clouds swirling around you, you get a sense of al...
4 Nov 2011
Head in the Clouds (Part One) - Bowen Peak(1631m)
For the most of it, New Zealand’s rugged scenery sits far from the populated areas. The harsh environment meant places c...
3 Nov 2011
Leaving Wanting More (Part Two) - Grassy Flat Hut
While wandering the wilderness on the West Coast I knew my short visit would leave me wanting more. The peace and quiet...
5 Oct 2011
Leaving Wanting More (Part One) - Grassy Flat Hut
The West Coast of the South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) is a place I have always flown through, and never spent more than a...
4 Oct 2011
Top of Banks Peninsula - Te Ahu Patiki/Mt Herbert(919m)
Standing at nearly 1km above the Pacific Ocean on the South Island's east coast, Te Ahu Patiki/Mt Herbert stands tallest...
11 Sep 2011
Tranz Alpine Express - The Famous Train Trip
Enjoy it while you still can" is a sad expression used for the massively under utilized Tranz Alpine Express, the very s...
25 Aug 2011
Extreme Outdoor Education (Part Two) - Blimit(1921m) Training Climb
There are many times when you learn something in conditions completely different than what you are training for. Trainin...
19 Aug 2011
Extreme Outdoor Education (Part One) - Winter Mountaineering Training
Learning new things or skills is something that you should never stop doing. I rushed myself into mountain travel withou...
17 Aug 2011
Clothing Test - Mt Grey(933m)
To feel a storm blast on your face is a real wild ride for the senses. Witnessing Mother Nature’s wild side can be an ex...
23 Jul 2011
Learning the Ropes (Part Four) - Aoraki / Mt Cook Winter Travel Training
There is something so special about travelling on foot though the mountains. Just you, your thoughts and nature, a combo...
18 Jul 2011
Learning the Ropes (Part Three) - Aoraki / Mt Cook Winter Travel Training
After years of climbing I really understand the draw of the biggest peak on each part of our planet. To some, the experi...
16 Jul 2011
Learning the Ropes (Part Two) - Aoraki / Mt Cook Winter Travel Training
A long time ago Aoraki and his brothers clambered onto their overturned Waka (canoe) and were then turned to the rock, s...
16 Jul 2011
Learning the Ropes (Part One) - Aoraki / Mt Cook Winter Travel Training
The year 2011 was dominated by the disastrous Christchurch earthquake. The event in my hometown made me realise that lif...
16 Jul 2011
Escape the Quakes (Part Two) - Mt Somers(1688m)
Watching the world go by at a comfortable hiking speed has always been my cup of tea, not shaking about with the next af...
16 Jun 2011
Escape the Quakes (Part One)- Mt Somers(1688m)
Christchurch was still on the move every couple of hours during the earthquakes of 2010 / 2011. Each day was started wit...
16 Jun 2011
Dairy Farms in the Moon Light (Part Two) - Middle Mt Peel(1583m)
We are so lucky to have long days during summer in Aotearoa. They mean you can fit a lot of mish into a single day. Howe...
30 May 2011
The Middle Peak (Part One) - Middle Mt Peel(1583m)
My most vivid childhood memories of being in the mountains come from family outings to Peel Forest. The tiny mountain vi...
30 May 2011
The Trampers Mountain (Part Two) - Avalanche Peak(1833m)
Some mountains are ‘off-limits’ to those who don’t have the required skills to climb them. However, sometimes that doesn...
10 May 2011
The Tramper's Mountain (Part One) - Avalanche Peak(1833m)
Avalanche Peak is a classic trampers mountain with easy access directly from Arthurs Pass Village, and it can be climbed...
9 May 2011
Everyday is Different (Part Five) - The Humpridge Track
Without the Humpridge Track the history at Port Craig may have just faded into the forest of the south west corner of Fi...
28 Apr 2011
Everyday is Different (Part Four) - The Humpridge Track
As Track Manager on the Humpridge Track I would often walk the track with some gear to repair any sections that had suff...
28 Apr 2011
Everyday is Different (Part Three) - The Humpridge Track
It is awesome that the Humpridge Track finally got ‘Great Walk’ status, adding it to a list of legendary walks to do in...
26 Apr 2011
Everyday is Different (Part Two) - The Humpridge Track
Even though I only worked on the Humpridge Track for a couple of years, I still saw the numbers increase as the word spr...
26 Apr 2011
Everyday is Different (Part One) - The Humpridge Track
Hidden away on New Zealand’s rugged south coast is a hiking trail like no other in the country. Within the three days of...
25 Apr 2011
Dinner Plate Scree - Mount Alaska(1965m)
Going into the mountains on an adventure is one of the rare activities where failing to achieve what you set out to do i...
1 Apr 2011
Steep Forest & Waterfalls - Lake Roberts
One of the challenges I really enjoy about going on a mish is that fact that once you are out into the wild you have to...
20 Mar 2011
The Mailman’s Way (Part Two). Homer Saddle(1375m)
When sending an email just remember that communication used to be a little bit more difficult than it is these days. Now...
2 Feb 2011
The Mailman's Way (Part One) - Homer Saddle(1375m)
Seeing the sheer steepness of the mountains located in northwest Fiordland puzzles the mind. After my first experience i...
1 Feb 2011
Stunned by Spectacularness (Part Two). Caples / Greenstone Camp.
Calling any of New Zealand’s wilderness your ‘Office’ is a real treat, and a really good reason to get into the tourism...
23 Jan 2011
Stunned by Spectacularness (Part One). Caples / Greenstone Camp
It is no surprise that the Greenstone/Caples Loop is getting more popular with both Kiwis and visitors alike. Once the p...
23 Jan 2011
The Big Thumbs Up (Part Three) - Mt Xenicus(1912m).
Light breezes and sunshine, check. High up a mountain ridge, check. Outstanding views in every direction, double - no tr...
13 Jan 2011
The Big Thumbs Up (Part Two) - Mt Xenicus(1916m)
The Iconic view of Lake Harris on the Routeburn Track is dominated by a huge mountain which to me looks like a huge thum...
12 Jan 2011
The Big Thumbs Up (Part One) - Mt Xenicus(1912m)
If you are into climbing mountains and you look at one over and over again, then eventually you have to have a go at cli...
12 Jan 2011
The Rest Day (Part Two) - Livingstone / Cascade Creek Saddle
Some say the many rooms of McKellar Lodge are haunted by ghosts and there are many tales that back up this claim. Along...
5 Jan 2011
The Rest Day (Part One) - Livingstone / Cascade Creek Saddle
To get the views you must work for it, or hire a helicopter. Climbing mountains is a win win because you not only gain f...
4 Jan 2011
The Darrans
"Places in Paradise" The Darran Mountains. Fiordland. Lake Marian The Darran Mountains from Sunny Creek Basin
8 Dec 2010
Well Worth the Wait (Part Five) - My First Milford Track Adventure
To know a view before you see it in real life can elevate the experience. After a few years working for Ultimate Hikes I...
5 Dec 2010
Well Worth the Wait (Part 4) - My First Milford Track Adventure
The Milford Track seems to almost over do it when it comes to epic mountainous scenery. Along with the incredible mounta...
4 Dec 2010
Well Worth the Wait (Part Three) - My First Milford Track Adventure
To wake up in paradise is to wake up happy. And to wake up in paradise that happens to be your workplace is an excellent...
3 Dec 2010
Well Worth the Wait (Part Two) - My First Adventure on the Milford Track
Not many people will admit to enjoying waiting for something. Especially if you are aware of what you are missing out on...
1 Dec 2010
Well Worth the Wait (Part One) - My First Milford Track Adventure
Not many can say that they were paid to visit a tourism icon for the first time. This happened to me when a massive life...
1 Dec 2010
A Battle with the Elements (Part Three) - Pinnacles Hut
The weather is something that is constantly happening and as humans we must adapt or escape. Some people dread a day of...
18 Sep 2010
A Battle with the Elements (Part Two) - Pinnacles Hut
To many the thought of hiking while rain pounds down is not pleasant. You’re wet, it’s cold, and you have many steps to...
18 Sep 2010
A Battle with the Elements (Part One) - Pinnacles Hut
Good clothing will often be the difference between a happy hike in the rain, and an experience you’ll want to forget. Lu...
17 Sep 2010
The Dogs Day Out - Mt Oxford(1364m)
A hike can definitely be enhanced by the company you bring, and on this adventure up Mt Oxford(1364m) I didn’t hear a si...
27 Aug 2010
Pretty Sweet Scenery (Part Three) - Sugarloaf Pass(1154m)
Before our roads were modified into what we have today there used to be (and still are) crashes in places where the moun...
12 Aug 2010
Sweet As (Part Two) - Sugarloaf Pass(1154m)
I like to think that going on a mish is similar to having a meal. Just like with food the lack of hiking makes you hungr...
10 Aug 2010
Sweet As (Part One) - Sugarloaf Pass(1154m)
When I took a chance and took up the opportunity to work on the Routeburn Track my life changed in a very positive way....
9 Aug 2010
Cool Conditions (Part Two) - Rees Valley / Earnslaw Hut
The magical shapes created by water freezing can take you back to your childhood. Mesmerised by the wondrous creations,...
24 Jul 2010
Cool Conditions (Part One) - Earnslaw Hut
Many fear the cold and it is because of this that usually the hiking trails of Aotearoa are very quiet during the winter...
23 Jul 2010
A Wander in Wine Country - Mt Rosa(1322m)
I am always fascinated by the perfect grape growing micro-climate when driving through the small vineyard covered Gibbst...
13 Jul 2010
The Throne Room of the Gods (Part Two) - Earnslaw Burn
There are some places in Aotearoa that sit in clear view for most from a distance but are rarely seen up close. Aoraki M...
11 Jul 2010
The Throne Room of the Gods (Part One) - Earnslaw Burn
It is amazing how the Earnslaw Burn is only now becoming a popular overnight camping trip. It is definitely one of the m...
9 Jul 2010
Butter Fingers (Part Two) - Peak 1488m(Remarkable Range)
Mountain mishaps are just part of going on a mish. Of course you always hope that your outing will go without incident,...
7 Jul 2010
Butter Fingers (Part One) - Peak 1488m(Remarkable Range)
Wye Creek is located just south of Queenstown and has a large amount of rock climbing areas. On the occasions I have cli...
6 Jul 2010
Kea
"Animals in Paradise" Kea. The Worlds only Alpine Parrot.
29 Jun 2010
Ice Crystals on Crichton - Mt Crichton Loop Track
When visiting Tahuna / Queenstown it is important to pack your hiking boots. Many travel south from all over the world t...
27 Jun 2010
Driving Roads of Snow and Ice - Christchurch to Queenstown
Many, many times over the years I have driven from Christchurch south. Usually in the old days I was aiming for Queensto...
24 Jun 2010
Lake Clearwater
"Places in Paradise" Lake Clearwater and Lake Camp. Hakatere Conservation Area.
16 Jun 2010
The Training Ground - Omawete Coopers Knob
Working on the Routeburn Track gave me an excellent way to earn some pay during the warmer months, and this also put in...
14 Jun 2010
Returning the Favour - Mt Oxford(1364m)
Getting young people into the outdoors is very important. It is also important to teach youngsters how lucky we are to h...
12 Jun 2010
Where's My Head Torch? (Part Three) - Black Peak(1989m)
Sometimes we learn the hard way and in the wild that can be a tough lesson to get through. Whether it be forgetting the...
10 May 2010
Where's My Head Torch? (Part Two) - Black Peak(1989m)
Multi-day mountain climbing adventures usually involve two separate missions. The hike to the hut / campsite is one part...
9 May 2010
Where's My Head Torch (Part One) - Black Peak(1989m)
It seems that sometimes no matter how careful we are, we leave some part of our outdoor kit at home. For a long time I h...
8 May 2010
Raging Wind (Part Two) - Heather Jock Hut
The weather is a free show on offer and sometimes the episodes can be very exciting. I have always been fascinated by th...
7 May 2010
Raging Wind (Part One) - Heather Jock Hut
There are reasons why only the hardiest plants grow above the treeline in Aotearoa, and to witness one of the main reaso...
6 May 2010
Another Great Walk (Part Five) - The Kepler Track
I once worked on the Humpridge Track which is located on the Fiordland South Coast at the bottom of the South Island. Th...
6 May 2010
Another Great Walk (Part Four) - The Kepler Track
There are pictures of little Bobcat diggers cutting the Kepler Track into the Jackson Peaks and Kepler Mountain Range. T...
5 May 2010
Another Great Walk (Part Three) - The Kepler Track
There are a few things people do in Fiordland which really puzzle me. While being beautiful it is still a place which ca...
5 May 2010
Another Great Walk (Part Two) - The Kepler Track
The Kepler Track was opened in 1988, making it much younger than its Great Walk friends like the Routeburn and Milford T...
3 May 2010
Another Great Walk (Part One) - The Kepler Track
In Aotearoa there are many walks to choose from, and of those walks a select few have been classified as ‘Great Walks’....
2 May 2010
A Brilliant Plan B - McIntyre's Hut
If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. This mission was a classic case of one thing leading to another. Motiv...
27 Apr 2010
Imagination and Fitness (Part Two) - Muddy Spur Camp
Whilst injured one of the most frustrating situations to be in is watching my fitness disappear. Pre-injury I could go o...
28 Mar 2010
Imagination and Fitness (Part One) - Muddy Spur Camp
When it comes to hiking around Aotearoa there is nothing wrong with sticking to the normal. Our popular places in paradi...
27 Mar 2010
Top of the Hill (Part Two) - Conical Hill(1515m)
Topping out on a mountain can be a life changing experience. For many hiking the Routeburn Track Conical Hill(1515m) wil...
27 Feb 2010
The Top of the Hill (Part One) - Conical Hill(1515m)
Although life as a guide isn’t going to make you rich, it will reward you each day with the fact you're doing something...
26 Feb 2010
Paradise from Above (Part Two) - Ari / Mt Alfred(1375m)
Back in the day there used to be a public hiking track up the western side of Ari / Mt Alfred. For a couple of years, I...
12 Dec 2009
Paradise From Above - Ari / Mt Alfred(1375m)
From the first time I saw Mt Alfred(1375m) from the viewing area at Bennetts Bluff, I knew I wanted to stand on top of t...
11 Dec 2009
Gear Testing - Glacier Burn Camp
I am very thankful that I got the opportunity to work on the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks. Not only was it good train...
11 Dec 2009
Going to a Remote Place (Part Three) - Moraine Creek
There are some very misleading names in the wild, and research is key because they can catch the odd person out. For ins...
1 Dec 2009
Going to a Remote Place (Part Two) - Tent Flat (Part Two)
There is definitely a strange sort of confidence needed when going out into a wild environment. In theory you will simpl...
1 Dec 2009
Going to a Remote Place (Part One) - Moraine Creek
As a kid I always enjoyed getting away from everything in the real world and spending some time exploring wherever I cou...
1 Dec 2009
Above and Beyond (Part Two) - Benmore Hut (and Beyond)
Lots of people like to hike to a hut and then kick back and soak in the experience they just had while out on a mish. Ot...
3 Oct 2009
Above & Beyond (Part One) - Benmore Hut (& Beyond)
Getting to a place - particular one few others visit - can bring a great sense of achievement, and is a big reason why m...
2 Oct 2009
Follow a Man Named John Smith (Part Four) - Curraghmore Station
During my time working at the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves, I would occasionally meet the trappers who were going to do pest...
11 Aug 2009
Follow a Man Named John Smith (Part Three) - Curraghmore Station
My time as a possum trapper on the West Coast had ended with a result of ‘inconclusive’. Considering what a man named Jo...
8 Aug 2009
Follow a Man Named John Smith (Part One) - Te Taho Station (Dry Creek)
While the rest of the world grew, Aotearoa sat alone near the end of the earth. It took brave and bold voyages by advent...
23 Jul 2009
Follow a Man Named John Smith (Part Two) - Dry Creek (Little Man Creek)
After visiting certain locations many times over for well over a decade I can say it has been both reassuring and disapp...
21 Jul 2009
Hut Etiquette (Part Two) - Packhorse Hut
During my time exploring the mountains of Aotearoa I have spent numerous nights in the many huts that are dotted through...
10 Jul 2009
Poor Etiquette at the Packhorse (Part One) - Packhorse Hut
I think that many of us would love to have a back country hut to themselves. A private little getaway in the mountains f...
9 Jul 2009
During a Fine Spell Of Weather (Part Two) - Woolshed Creek Hut Loop
During fine spells of weather, the adventurous types trek themselves into some rather remote spots. An aspect of hiking...
14 Jun 2009
During a Fine Spell of Weather (Part One) - Woolshed Creek Loop
Once the fire of adventure is lit it needs regular fuel. Ever since landing a job at Ultimate Hikes guiding on the Route...
12 Jun 2009
Ko Whenua O Ranginui
"The Beauty Above Paradise"
31 May 2009
Wild Workplace (Part Four) - The Routeburn Track
Going from filing cabinets to flying in choppers was a welcome change, and it needed a spine fracture and bulging disk i...
22 Mar 2009
Wild Workplace (Part Three) - The Routeburn Track
You are not supposed to enjoy work. Well that’s what I used to think before getting a good as a guide on the Routeburn /...
20 Mar 2009
Wild Workplace (Part Two) - The Routeburn Track
Once you get over the fact that being wet isn’t going to hurt you (as long as you keep moving), and when you have a nice...
20 Mar 2009
Wild Workplace (Part One) - The Routeburn Track
To say getting a job as a guide on the Routeburn Track was a game changer is a huge understatement. I went from dreading...
18 Mar 2009
Mountains, Mud & an Old Honda. Lake Sumner / Hurunui River
Like a child with blue cheese, it took me some time to get to like the taste of going on missions into the mountains. As...
29 Jul 2006
Where it all Began - Hurunui High Country Track
We are taking a step back in time. Way back in 2005 I was well into my career as a Christchurch Bogan, and adventures in...
19 Mar 2005