Amateur Hiker. Amateur Photographer. Professional Worrier. Find me on YouTube or visit www.LONGWHITEGYPSY.com. Michelle Green is the founder of Long White Gypsy.
She makes hiking videos on YouTube and has been featured in hiking magazines & podcasts. In 2019 she thru hiked 1,700 kilometres on Te Araroa's North Island, and is currently working her way through NZ's Great Walks. Follow her adventures by subscribing to YouTube, following her on Instagram, or heading to her website and signing up for her regular newsletter!
🥶 Brrrrr… Baby, it’s cold outside! ❄️
Looking forward to a dumping of the white stuff on the nearby hills.
And getting irrationally excited by white-out photos from the Mackenzie Country.
Looking forward to hopefully exploring the Aoraki Mt Cook winter paradise again sometime soon 💙💙💙
What’s your favourite Aorakj Mt Cook National Park Day Hike? Vote in the poll!
From the lows to the highs.
I ticked off a bucket list item tonight (as I know many others did too).
I’ve been wanting to catch the Aurora Australis for almost two decades. Tonight, in true unorganised, dishevelled, make-do Michelle fashion, I finally got to see it. And photograph it too.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d be able to catch a display this spectacular on my first try.
And despite some mild catastrophising about the serious earth shattering science behind the phenomenon, I could do nothing but gasp and sigh and continually repeat “Oh, Wow!” out loud to the tens of other people who had also pulled over on the side of this random rural road to witness this event, whilst the beams shifted and moved and grew and flew by above our heads.
📸 Just south of Tai Tapu, Christchurch between 2030 and 2200. Combination of iPhone 15 Pro camera (in night mode, mostly at 3 seconds) and Canon eOS M50 11-22mm widest aperture at between 10 to 30 seconds, mostly 200 - 400 ISO.
The man. The legend. Bernard Hill.
It’s been a long while since the first time I watched the Lord of the Rings. And although I was mesmerised but the Rivendell set, my second favourite aspect of Peter Jackson’s trilogy was the depiction Edoras.
There was something about the raw beauty of the landscape, this homely Norse or Viking inspired people who built a city on a rock in the middle of wide open country that really appealed to me.
At the time, I was still in England, and when we moved to NZ a few years later, one of the first places I wanted to go to was Mt Sunday, the filming location.
Despite studying in Christchurch for six years, I never made it.
Until last year.
Last year I finally made the pilgrimage.
It was all I could have hoped for, and more.
And as I stood atop that outcrop, a booming voice and the sound of a hundred sets of hooves echoed clear in my mind.
“Arise! Arise, Riders of Théoden!”
Bernard, thank you for bringing this magnificent epic to life. You will be missed.
I’ll be honest, I’m feeling a bit down at the moment.
At a time when I just can’t seem to do right for doing wrong, I’m questioning more and more why I’m trying to flog a dead horse.
So what better way to cheer myself up than by sharing some long overdue snaps from my favourite hike last year - the Ho**er Valley Track.
1) The first bridge.
2) The memorial.
3) The water.
4) The avalanche mountain.
5) The second bridge.
6) The valley.
7) The third bridge.
8) The viewpoint.
9) The ice.
10) The photo.
Thank you to all those who have stuck around and supported me so far. You have no idea how much I appreciate you.
Check the VIDEOS link in my bio to reminisce with me & re-watch the video from this hike.
Kia Ora tramping buddies! Go check out this new video which is now LIVE on my channel!
Check it out here👇👇👇
https://youtu.be/ykKXFixvO74
P.S. Subscribe to my Newsletter to be the first to get notified when new videos are posted: https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter
Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Christchurch, the Kura Tawhiti Access Track in the Castle Hill NZ basin will blow your mind with its majestic limestone roc...
I just hit upload on a new post on my blog: What is Backpacking Base Weight & Why Does It Matter?
Click here to read it now!! 👇👇👇
https://longwhitegypsy.com/backpacking-base-weight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=backpacking-base-weight
P.S. Join my Newsletter to be the first to know when I publish a new post! https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter
Backpacking base weight means all the items in your pack less consumables like food, water, and fuel. But why is backpacking base weight so important?
When I'm not on the TA...
.. I spend all my spare time trying to get back to it 🤣 and connecting with past and current thru hikers!
Can't describe how wonderful it was to take a 1hr impromptu drive after work yesterday to meet up with Sharon and Andrew to meet in person for the first time.
These two are well into their TA thru hike and it was so grounding to talk with them about life, the trail (both good bits and bad), and the future of thru hiking in New Zealand over a cuppa and home baked muffin.
Turns out both mine and Sharon's reasons for starting to share our journeys online are almost identical - INSPIRATION. To show that if we can do it, you DEFINITELY can.
So what's holding you back today?
I challenge you to use this weekend to take the first step in the right direction.
I promise you, you won't regret it. 💚
P.S. Sharon and Andrew were one of my very first Te Araroa Consultation clients. Before they set out on their journey we sat down and talked planning, preparation and what to expect along the way. If you're thinking about a TA thru hike but don't know where to start, send me a DM to see if a consult is right for you.
Here are some things I wish:
I wish I were a better photographer.
I wish I'd never experienced a trauma event (more than one actually) that left me with crippling PTSD.
I wish I had more friends.
I wish I'd had more boyfriends and fallen in love more.
I wish I could make better videos.
I wish I could post more often.
I wish I could finally figure out how to become income independent.
But most of all, I wish I had discovered this tramping thing much sooner.
New video dropping on the channel this week, Friday at 7.30pm NZST. Stay tuned for more info or become a VIP for your early access link (link in bio)
Never have I ever felt so comfortable being uncomfortable.
Another 'failed' trip, but a weekend adventure never to forget 😍
Arthur's Pass, you've stolen my ❤️
Sorry folks, no video from this one 🤷 I was having far too much fun.
I just hit upload on a new post on my blog: The Best Backpacking Weight Calculator for Hiking Gear.
Click here to read it now!! 👇👇👇
https://longwhitegypsy.com/backpacking-weight-calculator/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=backpacking-weight-calculator
P.S. Join my Newsletter to be the first to know when I publish a new post! https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter
This backpacking weight calculator has been thoughtfully coded by an actual hiker to help perfectly plan and prep for your next hiking adventure!
Kia Ora tramping buddies! Go check out this new video which is now LIVE on my channel!
Check it out here👇👇👇
https://youtu.be/ecl2G9fqyqI
P.S. Subscribe to my Newsletter to be the first to get notified when new videos are posted: https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter
⬇ DOC INFO:Punchbowl: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/arthurs-pass-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/devils-punch...
I just hit upload on a new post on my blog: 33 of the Best Thru Hikes in Europe.
Click here to read it now!! 👇👇👇
https://longwhitegypsy.com/best-thru-hikes-in-europe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=best-thru-hikes-in-europe
P.S. Join my Newsletter to be the first to know when I publish a new post! https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter
Uncover the best thru hikes in Europe, from breathtaking peaks to hidden valleys. Prepare for Europe's best long trails by adding these to your must-hike list!
Took my zoom lens with me to Godley Head.
Managed to get some great detail shots with it (well, detail in a 'landscape' perspective anyway).
Side note: My channel is currently sitting at 4,700 subscribers. Let's get it to 5,000!! Go hit subscribe if you haven't already :)
I just hit upload on a new post on my blog: Finding Your Way: 4 Te Araroa Navigation Essentials to Hike With Confidence.
Click here to read it now!! 👇👇👇
https://longwhitegypsy.com/te-araroa-navigation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=te-araroa-navigation
P.S. Join my Newsletter to be the first to know when I publish a new post! https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter
Unlock Te Araroa navigation secrets from a past thru hiker! Find out everything you need to know about how to navigate on the Te Araroa trail in this guide.
Guess who's back... back again!
Did you catch the video last night? If not, go watch it now via the link in bio.
Sooo many lovely 😍 comments from people welcoming me back after such a long hiatus.
My heart is full ❤️❤️❤️
Again, life is such that I can't promise the regularity we all so often expect of creators these days, but I can promise to do my best.
Hopefully that's good enough.
For more regular updates (at least once a week) don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and I'll send you a FREE tramping gear guide as a thank you.
Signup by visiting https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter.
🤫 Something exciting is coming tomorrow.
Want to make sure you don't miss it? Sign up for my newsletter at the link in my bio or at https://longwhitegypsy.com/newsletter.
After a bit of a break (okay, maybe a little longer than a bit), I'm gearing up to dive right back into our shared love for hiking and tramping in NZ.
I'm taking us back to where it all began, to that very first trail that got me started and marked the beginning of our journey together.
Stay tuned.
Sign up to my email newsletter and receive a FREE guide!
Find out more and sign up here:
I created the Ultimate Tramping Gear Guide to ensure you never leave any important piece of gear behind.
**Are You Here to Interact With Me?**
If you are, then I need to let you know that whilst this page exists, I don't interact with it on a regular basis. I've provided it as a convenience to you, in case Facebook is your only platform.
In this modern world when creators are expected to be on ALL the platforms ALL the time, I've made the controversial decision to limit myself to just my YouTube channel, my Email list and my Instagram followers. This is so I can service the needs of those people in a deeper and more personal manner, whilst managing my mental health.
My Instagram posts are automatically posted here, which is why you'll see new posts pop up from time to time. But they only contain a fraction of the content I create.
If you want to make sure you never miss a thing, I highly recommend you visit my website https://longwhitegypsy.com and sign up for my email newsletter. I'll even give you a FREE guide as a bonus for deciding to open up your inbox to me 😁
(p.s. I try to only send one email a week (unless you WANT more) and you can unsubscribe anytime).
Thank you so much for choosing to support me, and I look forward to having you along on the journey 😘
Happy Tramping 🥾
Michelle xx
The internet's best hiking in NZ blog for beginners, owned & operated by a longtime kiwi! Learn all you need to know about hiking in NZ here!
Long exposure without a tripod on the Devil's Punchbowl Walking Track, Arthur's Pass National Park.
Always use your tripod, kids 🤦
For those of you who guessed correctly from my previous post, well done!! 👏
My first return to the trails in a VERY long time and my first proper walk on the South Island.
Because oh, by the way... I live here now 😆😆😆.
(Told you there's been some changes 😉😂)
A precursor to much more to come here on Te Waipounamu. Can't. Freaking. Wait.
Stay tuned.
Oh, hi there 👋
It's been a while since I last graced your adventure feed.
But guess what?? I'm BACK and I'm getting ready to start sharing again!
There've been a LOT of changes here over the past 6-12 months, and I'm excited to start filling you in!
But first, how have you been doing? What adventures have YOU been up to?
For me, things will be a little different this time around. I won't be posting on the gram as much as I used to.
I'll be keeping it to just my absolute fav photos, and the really special memories which I think will most inspire you.
Instead, i'm working hard on building closer and deeper relationships with you, my peeps.
So if you want to be part of it, we'd love to have you along! Join my newsletter and subscribe to my channel if you aren't already (links in bio).
It's so good to be back.
###
P.s. Who knows where this photo was taken? It might give you some clues about what I've been up to lately 😲
Can you tell I might have been just a little bit excited to meet my very first TA hiker of the 2022/23 season?!?! 🤦.
Bumped into Oska from Germany today at Bivouac Centre Place in Hamilton.
Oska has been on the trail just over 4 weeks and is loving it so far... even despite all the rain!!!
Wishing you light feet and safe trails Oska, thanks so much for coming over to say Hi 👋
There's a new video now LIVE on the channel! Check it out here👇👇👇
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In this video I spot my first deer in the wild on the Mt Titiraupenga Track in the Pureora Forest Park! Being out on this track at the end of the Roar (hunti...
Believe it or not I can indeed make short videos without any unnecessary chatter.
Don't believe me?
Check out today's video from the Tree Trunk Gorge Track which has just dropped on the channel (link in bio).
P.S. Be the first to be notified of new videos, blog posts and updates on some pretty special projects this year. Sign up to my newsletter by filling out the form at www.LONGWHITEGYPSY.com
There's a new video now LIVE on the channel! Check it out here👇👇👇
P.S. Sign up to my Email Newsletter to be the first to get notified when new videos are posted: https://bit.ly/3qNj5rp
Located in the Kaimanawa Forest Park, the Tree Trunk Gorge track is a shared use walking and mountain biking track which explores the lower foothills of the ...
How are you?
I've been easing back into things over the last week or so with some gentle walks on familiar tracks.
This one at Rotorua's Tikitapu / Blue Lake after an interesting experience trying to find another trail along the Green Lake (swipe for a hilarious action shot!).
And also easing back into being in front of the camera with a short Q&A video answering some of the questions and comments you've left on the channel over the last few months!
Take a look at it now via the link in bio, and I'll see you again soon 😉
There's a new video now LIVE on the channel! Check it out here👇👇👇
P.S. Sign up to my Email Newsletter to be the first to get notified when new videos are posted: https://bit.ly/3qNj5rp
Answering some of the most popular questions and comments from the last few months here in this video. Use the timestamps below to skip ahead.⬇ SKIP AHEAD:00...
Regardless of whether it's a day hike or overnight trip, the psychology of the return journey on an out-and-back track has always intrigued me.
You've already hiked the route, but seeing it from a different angle comes with all kinds of unexpected pleasures.
On overnight adventures there's the added bonus of experiencing the track at a different time of day.
I started out for Bluth Hut quite late in the afternoon (3pm) in the middle of summer, and returned at 9am the next morning.
Watching the transition from the soft golden light of early evening the previous day to the much harsher post-dawn light of full morning the next gave me (the world's best amateur photographer) all sorts of kicks.
In contrast to the outgoing journey, I also find that on the return trip I focus more on the small things. No longer governed by reaching a hut before dark or the brain fog that comes with venturing out to a new place, I have a freedom which comes with the lack of unknowns.
I literally stop and smell the roses (well, the manuka and mountain daisies anyway).
On this trip, I spent the better part of 20 minutes at the stream playing around with long exposure. I stopped for 10 minutes as I was entertained by a pair of Riflemen flitting through the branches of the ancient beech forest.
It really brought it home to me again.
We're often in such a rush that we miss so much. But it's the little things that count.
Love overnight hiking but limited on time? Here's some tips for you!
More often than not these days I'm very limited on time available to go hiking, so here's a few factors that help me decide which trail to tackle next:
🛣 LOCATION. I usually prefer to stay within a 2hr drive because that means I can do an overnight trip even during the week by finishing work early one day and starting late the next.
⌚️ TIME. How long it will take me to hike to the hut. If I'm squeezing something in on a weekday I'll stick to 2-4hrs depending on how long it takes to get there. For a weekend trip, I might choose a track which is 5 or 6 hours.
🏕 FACILITIES. I try to stick with hut stays rather than pitching my tent because they're more time efficient. Huts have water & toilets and you don't need to use up time pitching & packing away a tent.
🌟 REWARD. If I'm going to make the effort to squeeze in a trip, then it has to be worth the effort. So I prioritise tracks that offer a good reward, such as a superb view or a stunning sunset/sunrise.
This last factor was the one which ultimately led to my decision to hike to Blyth Hut.
I'd been itching to get out into the open air, find a big expanse of sky, pitch my tent and enjoy a beautiful sunset. I was also hoping to experiment with a bit of astrophotography.
My first choice wasn't feasible based on the research I'd done, so I settled for Blyth Hut instead.
And boy, am I glad I did.
One of the most spectacular sunsets I've ever seen in my life 🔥🔥🔥
And an added bonus? The photos came out so much better than I'd hoped!
There's a new video now LIVE on the channel! Check it out here👇👇👇
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By now you should have watched my first solo overnight trip to Blyth Hut a few months ago (gosh, months?!).
If not, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk1z0jz1U0g&feature=youtu.be
I'm just now catching up on posting some of the pictures and stories from that trip here.
Here are a few snaps from the first part of the track on the way to Waitonga Falls. It's only about a 15-20 min walk from the carpark on Mountain Rd, Ohakune to the falls however back in 2019 it broke me.
If you've been here since the beginning (and I know there are a few of you out there), you might remember this story.
Way back in 2019, when I was prepping hard for the TA, I decided it was probably a good idea to spend a night at a hut before I got on a bus to Cape Reinga.
I'd already tried a couple of times. My first overnight attempt was actually to Pouakai Hut on Mt Taranaki, which was a disaster before it even began.
After just 10 short minutes of walking on the Bluth Hut track that day in winter 2019, I was already exhausted by the weight of my pack. It was pouring with rain and a little chilly. I made it to the falls, then worked my way down the track to the stream crossing.
I took one look at it and realised I was way out of my depth (excuse the pun) and turned around.
Until that point, I was intent on staying at the hut that night. I'd never done anything like it before. I'd never spent a night alone in the wilderness before. I had no idea how to light a fire. I was a complete noob.
Yet I had this thing pushing me forward and I really wanted to try.
In the end it was probably the nerves that got to me. But looking back on it now, I'm glad I made the decision to turn around that day.
Even three years down the track, with all my experience, I still had a rough night at Blyth Hut on my own. If I'd have pushed myself back then, I might never have attempted the TA.
It might have scared me off.
It just goes to show. We never know or understand why the universe does the things it does.
But we sure do need to understand just to trust it.
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Nothing is better than a mountain climb to get you into the spirit of hiking!!! Mount Tauhara is located on the shores of the beautiful Lake Taupo (the southern hemisphere's largest freshwater lake) in the Central North Island of New Zealand. For those experienced in hiking, this is a short jaunt which gets the quads and glutes working, but for those who don't yet have their trail legs it can be a killer. Although the ascent is only 2.8km, it's 1hr15min of climb ... ALL THE WAY. It definitely gets the heart pumping and the lungs working! The mountain itself is 1,088m above sea level, and on a clear day you get panoramic views of the central north island include Mounts Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaruahoe in the Tongariro National Park to the south. The first section of the track traverses active grazing land, so don't be surprised if you encounter some four-legged bovine friends on the way. Once onto the track proper, the biggest threat are the tree roots and rocks that make the climb more technical. A litre or so of water for the track will see you right, but there is a waterfall and creek about 15mins from the summit if you need to top up (it is always recommended to filter your water). As you approach the summit, there are a number of different routes to take. Don't despair - almost all lead to the summit in some manner. Upon arrival at the trig point, make sure to take the ridge walk to the rocks (not signposted - but head into the bushes in the direction of the lake) - the views from here are even more stunning, and make for some great social media profile pics! If you're in Taupo, make sure to check it out. Head out of Taupo on State Highway 5 (towards Napier) and take the Mountain Road turnoff just shy of 1km after the Mitre 10 roundabout. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Read the Corresponding Blog Post: https://longwhitegypsy.com/2018/07/20/mount-tauhara-track/ #mounttauhara #mttauhara #taupo #
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