Wilderness Magazine

23/10/2025

This boot is appealing for its durability coupled with a very low weight and, for its class, nimble and responsive traction. A thicker rockplate would improve comfort on rough ground, but overall, the Flyrock Mid provides great value in the ultralight realm.

22/10/2025

When the original Hubba Hubba was introduced in 2004, its livable design became the gold standard for its class of three-season tent.

Many users, however, have wished for more durability and a less breezy canopy for comfort in cold weather. That call has now been answered. The new Hubba Hubba HD offers increased weatherproofing and longer-life fabrics while keeping its weight well under control.

Gear editor Mark Watson took the new Hubba Hubba out for a test drive in this month's Unpacked.

When the original Hubba Hubba was introduced in 2004, its livable design became the gold standard for its class of three-season tent.

Many users, however, have wished for more durability and a less breezy canopy for comfort in cold weather. That call has now been answered. The new Hubba Hubba HD o...

22/10/2025

Learn to make these three energy bars are packed full of oats, nuts and seeds to keep you fuelled in the wilderness.

These three energy bars are packed full of oats, nuts and seeds to keep you fuelled in the wilderness.

21/10/2025

Planning a tramp once meant long evenings with a dog-eared map, scrolling through trip reports and calling that mate who knows every hut in the backcountry. These days, many hikers are trying something far less traditional: ChatGPT.

It can offer track suggestions, gear lists and even help pick a weather window, all in a matter of seconds. But is it a smart way to plan your next adventure, or a shortcut that could leave you high and very literally dry in the hills?

Curious to examine its route notes and preparation advice, we charged ChatGPT with planning two Canterbury tramps for us. See the results!

Planning a tramp once meant long evenings with a dog-eared map, scrolling through trip reports and calling that mate who knows every hut in the backcountry. These days, many hikers are trying something far less traditional: ChatGPT.

It can offer track suggestions, gear lists and even help pick a we...

20/10/2025

With two hugely popular tracks - the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and The Tongariro Northern Circuit, thousands of people can tramping to the north of Mt Ruapehu on any given day. But few hit the mountain’s southern slopes.

With two hugely popular tracks - the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and The Tongariro Northern Circuit, thousands of people can tramping to the north of Mt Ruapehu on any given day.

Few hit the mountain’s southern slopes.

20/10/2025

Climbers are being encouraged to pack out their poo this alpine season, and to consider the implications of not doing so.

Because human waste does not break down above the snowline, it can pollute the environment and cause sanitation problems downstream. It is also culturally inappropriate to leave it behind.

So researchers at the University of Canterbury and other partners are working with mountaineers to better understand their needs and behaviours and to trial a pack-out waste disposal product donated by US company Pact Outdoors.

Climbers are being encouraged to pack out their poo this alpine season, and to consider the implications of not doing so.

Because human waste does not break down above the snowline, it can pollute the environment and cause sanitation problems downstream. It is also culturally inappropriate to leave...

19/10/2025

Sample Dunedin’s easily accessible Silverpeaks by walking the new River Track to four-bunk Philip J Cox Memorial Hut.

The River Track, a nicely benched track that follows the Waikouaiti River South Branch, is marked on some DOC maps as the Silverpeaks Circuit Track. It was completed in early 2024 to form a complete circuit within the Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve and makes for much more pleasant travel in bush than the alternative route that is shown on most maps.

The hut sits in a grassy clearing and was built in 2012 in memory of keen tramper and Dunedin oral surgeon Philip Cox who died in a car accident in 2009. He had introduced his children and many others to the joys of tramping in the Silverpeaks.

Sample Dunedin’s easily accessible Silverpeaks by walking the new River Track to four-bunk Philip J Cox Memorial Hut.

The River Track, a nicely benched track that follows the Waikouaiti River South Branch, is marked on some DOC maps as the Silverpeaks Circuit Track. It was completed in early 2024...

18/10/2025

From the archive: New Zealand’s rivers are beautiful, plentiful and dangerous, and demand your respect. Use these techniques to stay safe next time a river is in your path.

New Zealand’s rivers are beautiful, plentiful and dangerous, and demand your respect. Use these techniques to stay safe next time a river is in your path.

17/10/2025

From the archive: While some walk the Round the Mountain Track, Peter Laurenson headed to Tongariro National Park with a different objective in mind: an ‘over the mountain circuit.’

While some walk the Round the Mountain Track, Peter Laurenson headed to Tongariro National Park with a different objective in mind: an ‘over the mountain circuit.’

17/10/2025

Brewster Hut, a serviced alpine 12-bunk hut in Mt Aspiring National Park.

Perched on a tussock spur on the Main Divide, it offers exceptional views up to Mt Brewster and to the Haast Valley far below.

Brewster was originally built as an A-frame bivvy in 1976 as a shelter in the search for Kokako. After the A-frame, it was upgraded to a four-bunk hut and then in 2007, was updated to the current structure, which was inspired by French Ridge Hut.

While busy in the summer when bookings are required, Wilderness contributor Neco Wieringa found that the hut book only showed sporadic winter stays during a visit in 2022. The hut does lack a source of heating, which may scare winter users away.

The quickest way to Brewster Hut is from the Fantail Falls trailhead on SH 6 (Haast Highway), approximately a 3-4 hr hike.

Brewster Hut, a serviced alpine 12-bunk hut in Mt Aspiring National Park.

Perched on a tussock spur on the Main Divide, it offers exceptional views up to Mt Brewster and to the Haast Valley far below.

Brewster was originally built as an A-frame bivvy in 1976 as a shelter in the search for Kokako. ...

16/10/2025

DOC is launching a new cadet programme for rangers to get on the job experience. The first 10 cadets will be situated at DOC's Renwick base in Marlborough for the 30-month programme, which starts in January.

DOC said it wanted to invest in its future workforce and protect New Zealand's unique ecosystem at the same time. The starting salary for the programme is $60,000.

Plus: Was Shackleton’s Endurance doomed before it set sail, school offers hikes instead of detention, microplastics being brought into wilderness on hiking shoes and gear and more in this week’s The World Outdoors.

DOC is launching a new cadet programme for rangers to get on the job experience. The first 10 cadets will be situated at DOC's Renwick base in Marlborough for the 30-month programme, which starts in January.

DOC said it wanted to invest in its future workforce and protect New Zealand's unique ecosy...

16/10/2025

See four new and interesting gear drops we’ve discovered in this month's gear radar!