Wilderness

Each issue of Wilderness takes its readers to the most beautiful areas in New Zealand, whether by foot, mountain bike, sea kayak, raft, pony or dream.

GREAT HIKES

Wilderness

LETTER of the MONTH

YOUR TRIPS, YOUR PIX • What did you get up to last weekend?

Tackling the Takitimu • Heartbreak Spur, Tākitimu Mountains Conservation Area

MAKING DOC’S BOOKING SYSTEM WORK FOR YOU

COMMUNITY AIMS TO RAISE $200,000 FOR BANKS PENINSULA RECOVERY

GRAHAM VALLEY ROAD CLOSURE

ZOO HUT INCORRECTLY LABELLED AS CLOSED

WHAT WE’RE READING

SUPER TRAMPERS • Wilderness readers are a fascinating bunch, and this column is where we get to meet you all.

ARTIST SHOWCASES A NEW WAY TO REMEMBER YOUR TRIP

THE MAKING OF A BACK COUNTRY CUISINE MEAL • Have you ever wondered how the Back Country Cuisine meals you eat on your outdoor adventures came into being? Who chose the flavour, where did the recipe come from and how was it made?

WALKING FOR MY HEALTH • A TOUGH YEAR LED TO A LONG PERIOD OF NO EXERCISE, LEAVING SUE LOVETT FEELING UNFIT AND OVERWEIGHT. HERE’S HOW SHE TURNED THINGS AROUND.

GEAR TO HELP YOU WALK MORE THIS MONTH • These excellent kit ideas from Walk1200km partners will help to get you out the door.

#microchallenge 7-9 WINNERS! • Complete the #microchallenges, as these Walk1200km participants have done, and receive an exclusive, can’t-be-bought Walk1200km badge. The best effort in each challenge also receives a special prize from our partners!

June 2026 #microchallenge • In each issue, three new #microchallenges are set to add interest and silliness to your kilometres.

CHANGING LIVES ONE TRAMP AT A TIME • More than 180 former refugees and migrants have been introduced to tramping, thanks to a club youth programme.

THE THREE TRIPS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE • The Press editor Kamala Hayman

BAMBOOZLING BUTTERCUPS • Take a brief tour through Aotearoa’s Ranunculus taonga and the tricky business of botanical classification.

WILDERNESS OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR WINNERS • After whittling down the entries to a shortlist of standouts, the judges have chosen a clear winner.

AN ICY INTRODUCTION • When taking someone winter camping for the first time, it pays to overplan so you can adjust to any surprise conditions.

WINTER CHECKLIST

WINTER GEAR • THE EQUIPMENT THAT WILL HELP YOU BETTER ENJOY YOUR WINTER TRAMPING.

Roaming the red rocks • JO STILWELL JOURNEYS TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ON A QUEST TO REUNITE TWO ROCKS AFTER A 25-MILLION-YEAR SEPARATION.

HEART AND SOUL • RUNNERS CAME FROM AROUND THE WORLD, BUT IT WAS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE WESTPORT COMMUNITY THAT CREATED MAGIC AT THE TENTH RUNNING OF THE OLD GHOST ULTRA.

7 OVERSEAS TRAILS YOU'LL LOVE • WE ALL KNOW NEW ZEALAND HAS INCREDIBLE WALKS, BUT OTHER COUNTRIES DON'T FARE TOO BADLY EITHER. FROM TRADE ROUTES TO PILGRIMAGES, SONGLINES TO LINES OF LEAST RESISTANCE, HERE ARE SEVEN OF OUR FAVOURITES.

IS TRAMPING THE ULTIMATE SLEEP FIX? • HOW JUST A COUPLE OF NIGHTS IN THE WILD CAN RESET YOUR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM TO GIVE YOU A BETTER SLEEP AND HELP YOU FEEL MORE RESTED.

SLEEP GEAR • The right equipment can help you nod off quicker and for longer.

DESIGNED TO WALK THE DISTANCE • From the sole up, the new Pedroc 2 Max is purpose-built for thru-hiking and fast-packing.

GEAR RADAR • New and interesting gear we’ve discovered this month

RAIN JACKETS

WHAT’S IN MY PACK

THE 2026 GUIDE TO WINTER TENTS • A WINTER TENT OPENS A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF TRAMPING POSSIBILITIES. HERE’S WHAT TO LOOK FOR. WHEN CHOOSING ONE.

THE 2026 GUIDE TO OUTDOOR SOCKS • FOR BLISTER-FREE TRAMPING, YOU...