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 shelter you in a wild location, and to…
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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
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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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