NZ Hiking Adventures - my Vulva Tried to Kill me but I Walked it off

After a long day on the trail, there’s nothing quite like sitting down, boots off, watching the light fade over the hills — and tucking into something warm, comforting, and ridiculously easy to make.

Journey with me through the rugged beauty of Kahurangi National Park on a six-day adventure covering 68 km, four alpine saddles, and a visit to one of the most remote huts in the country.

If you spend enough time in the New Zealand backcountry, you know there’s no such thing as too much comfort — especially when it comes to toilet breaks on the trail. Enter Trail Cloth.

The Lake Sumner area has long been a favourite of trampers who enjoy rustic huts, wild valleys, and classic Canterbury scenery. On this trip I set out to complete the Jolliebrook Circuit, with the intention for an extra detour to bag Cold Stream Hut—a tucked-away little gem up a side valley.

When you’re deep in the New Zealand backcountry, you learn to appreciate the simple things — a dry pair of socks, a sturdy hut, and small bits of gear that just work. Trail Cloth is one of those small but mighty essentials that changes the way you move through the wild.

Tucked deep in the Kokatahi Valley on the West Coast, Boo Boo Hut offers a fantastic backcountry adventure filled with history, rugged gorge scenery, and the opportunity to ascend higher into the peaks for some serious hut and peak bagging.

Some trips leave you tired. Others leave you restored. And then there are those that leave you grinning for days afterward. 2024's Wild Waitangi Weekend was the latter — four days, 75 kilometres, four huts, and a hut-bagging milestone of 250 huts.

The West Coast has a way of making you feel small — in the best possible way. Towering peaks, glacial rivers, and thick native bush all combine into a kind of raw, untamed beauty that keeps calling me back. This time, the call came in the form of a big weekend adventure into the Whitcombe Valley, a place that’s as wild as it sounds.

Molesworth Leatham Circuit, a remote and rugged loop that crosses impressive saddles, follows wild rivers, and offers cozy backcountry huts at night.

Embarking on the Paparoa Track Great Walk not once, but twice, has etched unforgettable memories in my soul.

Embark on this classic multi-day hiking adventure on New Zealand's West Coast, traversing two historic pack tracks.

This section of Te Araroa trail is quite challenging, as it involves four steep ascents and descents, along with narrow sidles.

I had been meaning to tackle this part of the Te Araroa trail for some time, so I jumped at the chance to do it in early September.

If you're looking for a day hike that will take your breath away, look no further than the side trip to Cascade Saddle on the Rees-Dart Track in Otago, New Zealand. This stunning trail offers hikers an unforgettable experience with its breathtaking views of glaciers, mountains, and valleys.

Located in New Zealand's stunning Southern Alps, the Rees-Dart track is a popular hiking route that takes you through some of the most...

Venture beyond the bustling Mt Fyffe track with this challenging two to three day circuit and be rewarded with stunning sunrises and two boulder strewn rivers.

2022 was a year of ups and downs, twists and turns and by the end everything I had planned was turned completely on it's head.

Labour Weekend generally marks the end of winter and the beginning of the Spring and Summer tramping season, it's one of my most favourite long weekends.

Lower Salmon Creek Biv is a nice side trip from Black Hill Hut, something I completed while doing the Wharfedale Hut and Black Hill Hut circuit.