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 probably never start the hike anyway. If you live…
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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
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
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 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
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 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 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
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
<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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
<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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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