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.

AN INCREDIBLE TRAIL

Wilderness

LETTER of the MONTH

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

TWO NEW PODCASTS HIT THE AIRWAVES

THE POLL RESULTS ARE IN

THE CRAFT BEHIND CREATING A NEW TRACK

THE END OF YOUTH SEARCH AND RESCUE

OPINION: TRAMPING CAN ENERGISE YOUR WORK LIFE • The surprising reason why you might want to take a pencil and notebook on your next tramp.

5 TIPS FOR LIGHTENING YOUR PACK THIS SUMMER • Step lightly along the tracks instead of plodding like a pack horse.

THE LAST PLATEAU • Deep Stream on the Denniston Plateau offers a spectacular journey into a rare sandstone world slated for destruction.

THE REASONS FOR WALKING? THERE ARE MANY • As we near the end of the fourth year of Walk1200km, we hear from some participants about why they joined and what they get out of it.

FOOD AND GEAR TO HELP YOU WALK MORE IN DECEMBER

#microchallenge 22-24 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!

December 2025 #microchallenges • In each issue, three new #microchallenges are set to add interest and silliness to your kilometres.

HERE BE DRAGONS AND DAMSELS • In Aotearoa, dragonflies and damselflies are limited in species but big on fascinating facts.

CHASING VERTICAL • New Zealander Matheson Brown climbed 50 US peaks in 20 days to best a record set by a professional endurance athlete.

Rakiura's 10 BEST DAY WALKS • Unwind after your Great Walk or epic circuit on one of these picturesque day walks accessed from Oban.

HIGH COUNTRY GOLD • THE HISTORIC HEART OF OTEAKE CONSERVATION PARK DELIVERS A RICHLY REWARDING TRAMP.

'THE HUT MY DAD BUILT' • On the anniversary of her father’s death, Ali Watt visits the hut her deer-culling father built.

A DECADE ON THE OLD GHOST ROAD • As the Old Ghost Road turns 10 it’s time to celebrate its journey, from an old map and a community that dared to dream to the creation of New Zealand’s longest and arguably most iconic single-track trail.

WHAT'S THE BIG ATTRACTION OF THE OLD GHOST ROAD? • It was a trail built for bikes; now trampers make up half the users. Runners, too, share the gently graded, spectacular wilderness trail. What’s the big attraction?

A TRAIL THAT LIVES IN THE MEMORY • As the Old Ghost Road reaches its tenth anniversary, we asked those who have walked and biked it to share their memories of the track.

LESSONS FROM THE OLD GHOST ROAD • Although the logistical challenge of building an 85km track over a mountain range is significant, those involved in the community project say maintaining the belief that it will be worthwhile is critical.

HOW THE OLD GHOST ROAD HAS BOOSTED BUSINESS • The Old Ghost Road has put a little-known part of the country onto the holiday wish-list of adventurous travellers, both from New Zealand and around the world, and boosted the region as a result.

2025 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY • In the outdoors, good judgement is gained through experience, but sometimes that experience is the result of bad judgement.

COOK UP IN A FLASH • Thanks to some long-awaited upgrades, the popular Jetboil Flash 1.0l is now even more efficient and reliable.

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

OVERNIGHT PACKS

MARMOT MINIMALIST PERTEX $449 / 331G (M), 301G (W)

NITECORE NU43 HEADLAMP $119...