About.

My mission is to educate & inspire people from all backgrounds and experience levels about Hiking in New Zealand.

Whether you’ve never hiked before, never hiked in New Zealand before, are an experienced tramper or are preparing for a Te Araroa thru hike, you’ll find some value here.

I started my YouTube channel and this website as a way to document what it’s like to be a beginner hiker in New Zealand, and to show the lessons I was learning along the way.

These days, in addition to this my content is aimed at ensuring that anyone planning to take a hiking trip in NZ has a safe and enjoyable adventure.

What you’ll get from me is the perspective of a (mostly) solo female tramper who lives in New Zealand. You can expect accurate and conscientious advice straight from the mouth of a local taking into account NZ’s unique environmental, cultural and safety considerations.

On this website you’ll find:

• all the info you need to start Hiking in New Zealand as a beginner;
• thorough and extensive hiking guides from (most of my) hiking trips;
• suggested gear lists to get started hiking (or for popular trails);
• planning resources (e.g. gear spreadsheets & route planners) for your next trip;
• gear and equipment reviews;
• tips and tricks to help you get started;
• and much more!

who am i?

Back in 2017, after five long years of suffering with PTSD and mental health issues, stuck in a job I no longer loved, living at home with my parents, drowning in debt and generally feeling like a complete failure, I decided something needed to change.

I sought inspiration from The Universe and in the process came across two books that changed my life.

Both Wild and First, We Make the Beast Beautiful had one thing in common: hiking as a form of therapy.

Inspired by these strong women whose stories were so similar to mine, I decided that perhaps there was something in this nature therapy people kept going on about.

And I wanted to give it a go.

So over a lunch date in early 2018 I persuaded Mum to come with me on our very first overnight hiking trip. To my surprise, she agreed!

The trip turned out to be a complete failure, but despite returning home bitterly cold and utterly exhausted I was exhilarated… and already dreaming of the next adventure!

One thought dominated my mind. The Pacific Crest Trail.

I simply couldn’t get enough of it. I binge watched movies, YouTube videos, and devoured books. I became obsessed. And before long, I’d subconsciously decided to hike all 4,260 kms / 2,650 miles of it.

I knew that my dream to thru hike the PCT required a lot of planning and preparation. So I began looking for training hikes near my home in New Zealand.

A late-night absent-minded Google search for “long trails near me” pulled me up short.

Not only was there a long distance trail in Australasia, it was right on my bloody doorstep!!!

Despite an initial sick feeling, just over a year later I took my first steps on New Zealand’s Long Pathway: Te Araroa.

3,000 kilometres of NZ’s wildest and most rugged terrain lay ahead of me. And 80 days later I completed the North Island section of the trail at Island Bay in Wellington.

I still consider myself very much a beginner hiker. I started my YouTube channel and this website as a way of documenting my journey from beginner to thru hiker… and that’s what I intend to continue doing!

Become a VIP to help support my journey and get some cool perks along the way!

trails I’ve hiked.

Thru Hikes

Te Araroa (North Island) – New Zealand’s 3,000km Long Pathway

By Region

Coromandel — Kauaeranga Valley Circuit (Pinnacles Hut), Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway

Bay of Plenty — Rainbow Mountain Summit Track, Tikitapu Blue Lake Track, Tarawera Trail, Whirinaki Track (to Central Whirinaki Hut)

Central North Island — Kinloch to Kawakawa Bay (“K2K”) Track, Aratiatia Rapids Track, Tongariro River Trail, Mount Tauhara Summit Track, Mt Urchin Track, Tree Trunk Gorge Track, Huka Falls to Spa Park Track

Manawatu/Whanganui — Mt Titiraupenga Track

Nelson/Tasman — St James Walkway (one night only)

Canterbury — Godley Head / Awaroa Walkway, Mt John Tekapo Loop Walk, Kura Tawhiti Access Track, Bridle Path Track, Rapaki Track, Mount Somers Track – Miners Track to Woolshed Creek Hut

By National Park

Tongariro National Park — Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro Northern Circuit, Tama Lakes Track, Silica Rapids Track, Blyth Hut Track, Taranaki Falls Track, Lake Rotopounamu Track, Waihohonu Track

Te Papakura o Taranaki (prev. Egmont National Park) — Mangorei Track (to Pouakai Hut)

Nelson Lakes National Park — Lakehead Track (to Lakehead Hut), Lake Rotoiti Circuit Track

Arthur’s Pass National Park — Devil’s Punchbowl Walking Track, Arthur’s Pass Walking Track, Crow Hut Route

Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park — Kea Point Track, Hooker Valley Track, Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Track, Tasman Lake Track

hiking bucket list.

The more I hike the more I realise there’s so much more that I want to do! Here’s a list of bucket list hikes I’m currently working towards.

New Zealand

1. NZ Great Walks — Tongariro Northern Circuit ✅, Lake Waikaremoana, Whanganui Journey, Abel Tasman Coast Track ✅, Heaphy Track, Paparoa Track, Milford Track, Kepler Track, Routeburn Track, Rakiura Track ✅
2. St James Walkway
3. Travers-Sabine Circuit
4. Greenstone-Caples Track
5. Te Paki Coastal Track
6. Hollyford Track
7. Mueller Hut Track

Australia

1. Heysen Trail
2. Larapinta Trail

Asia

1. Everest Base Camp Trek
2. Annapurna Circuit

Africa

1. Mt Kilimanjaro Summit Trek

Europe

1. Via Francigena
2. E4 European Long Distance Path
3. Hadrian’s Wall
4. Camino Frances

North America

1. Pacific Crest Trail
2. Arizona Trail

where i’ve been featured.

Mountain Safety Council — A Woman’s Guide to Solo Tramping in NZ. (Guest Writer)

Stuff.co.nz — Walking a Fine Line: Is it Called Tramping or is it Hiking? (Interview)

Wilderness Magazine — Leading with a Lens (Interview).

Wilderness Magazine — What’s In My Pack – Te Araroa Gear List. (Guest Writer)

Wilderness Magazine — Through Fear & Towards Freedom on Te Araroa. (Guest Writer)

Hike Podcast — New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail and Great Walks with Michelle Green. (Interview)

Insight Catalyst Podcast — Walking the Length of New Zealand (Parts 1 & 2). (Interview)

hiking resources.

After five+ years of hiking in New Zealand including an 80+ day thru hike of the North Island on Te Araroa, it’s fair to say I’ve learned a few things about hiking in New Zealand!
Check out my top resources to get you started here.

>> The BEST Hiking in New Zealand Resources <<

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