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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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