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 being a location with stunning…
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171 reports
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
<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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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