The Tramping Life

Kathy Ombler is a freelance outdoor writer, longtime contributor to Wilderness Magazine and FMC’s Backcountry, and someone who has spent decades learning the outdoors from the inside. Kathy grew up on a Waikato dairy farm, discovered the mountains through Outward Bound in the 1970s, and went on to work in outdoor education, conservation, and writing — often before formal qualifications or systems...

In this episode of The Tramping Life we head to Rakiura / Stewart Island for one of New Zealand’s most remote and demanding coastal tramps, the North West Circuit . This 125 km circuit follows the rugged northern coastline of the island through Rakiura National Park, passing windswept beaches, granite headlands, wetlands, and dense native bush. It typically takes 9–11 days to complete and links a...

Peter Laurenson is the author of Occasional Climber, Khumbu: Gateway to Mount Everest, and most recently Aotearoa Light, books that combine thoughtful writing with striking photography from New Zealand and the Himalaya. Peter reflects on growing up in New Plymouth, discovering the mountains later in life, and how his first journey to the Khumbu region of Nepal in the late 1980s shaped his relation...

In this episode of The Tramping Life we explore two very different hikes in and around Auckland: the coastal Waikōwhai Walkway and the hilltop Mount William Walkway. Both offer rewarding walking close to the city, with great views and a surprising sense of escape not far from the urban area. The Waikōwhai Walkway follows part of the northern shoreline of the Manukau Harbour, running roughly 10 km...

Derrick Field has spent a lifetime in the hills — first as a deer culler in the 1960s, then as a ranger, hut builder, track cutter, mountain runner, and now as Chair of the Greater Wellington Backcountry Network. In this wide-ranging conversation, Derek reflects on the hard graft of culling in the Tararuas, cutting new tracks in Taranaki and the Wairarapa, building huts that are still standing tod...

Today we head to Canterbury to explore the Mount Somers Track in Hakatere Conservation Park. Less than two hours’ drive from Christchurch, this popular tramp circles the slopes of Mount Somers, linking the Sharplin Falls Car Park and Woolshed Creek Car Park trailheads. The track combines striking volcanic rock formations, historic mining remnants, and wide views across the Canterbury foothills and...

Hazel Phillips is a tramper and author, whose books explore the landscapes, histories, and human stories behind New Zealand’s tracks and huts.   Hazel reflects on early tramping trauma, the 'stupid' Harper Pass tramp, and experiences that don’t always go to plan — from river mishaps to self-arresting on snow.   We discuss Hazel’s writing, including her books Solo and Fire & Ice, her...

Today we head into Mount Aspiring National Park for one of the South Island’s classic backcountry tramps, the Gillespie Pass Circuit . This spectacular 58 km circuit links the Young and Wilkin valleys, crossing the 1,500 m Gillespie Pass and travelling through beech forest, wide river valleys, and high alpine terrain. Along the way sits one of the best side trips in the region: the climb to Crucib...

Emeritus Professor of Ecology David Norton has spent a lifetime exploring Aotearoa’s backcountry — from teenage climbs in Arthur’s Pass to fieldwork deep in Westland’s forests. In this episode, he reflects on how those early tramping adventures shaped a career in ecology, restoration, and helping farmers understand the biodiversity on their land.   We talk about memorable trips in South Westland,...

In this episode of we head to the slopes of Mount Taranaki to visit one of the most spectacular and highest public huts in the North Island, Syme Hut . Sitting at around 1,940 m on an old volcanic cone high on the mountain’s southern flank, the hut offers remarkable views across much of the North Island on a clear day. The route begins at Dawson Falls Visitor Centre and climbs steadily through for...

Chris Maclean is a historian, writer, and unapologetic solo tramper who has spent a lifetime in the hills.   In this episode, Chris shares stories of swimming rivers with a pack on his back, being rescued from the Ruahines after his heart gave out, and the joy (and occasional awkwardness) of tramping in the nude.   We also trace his journey from publishing Tararua: The Story of a Mountain Range to...

In this episode of The Tramping Life we head to the Greenstone–Caples Track , a 61 km circuit through the Greenstone Conservation Area near Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu. Often overshadowed by the nearby Routeburn Track, the Greenstone–Caples offers an easier multi-day tramp through two very different valleys – the broad, open Greenstone Valley and the narrower, more forested Caples Valle...

My guest this episode is Kayla Kingdon-Bebb , Chief Executive of WWF New Zealand, and a passionate advocate for biodiversity, climate action, and the role of indigenous communities in conservation.   Originally from Canada, Kayla grew up exploring forests and fjords before moving to Aotearoa more than 15 years ago. We talk about her first tramps in New Zealand, what makes the Heaphy Track so speci...

In this episode of The Tramping Life, I tackle one of the Lakes Region’s most challenging tramps: the Motatapu Track. This 49 km route runs between Glendhu Bay near Wanaka and Macetown near Arrowtown, crossing high tussock country with almost no flat sections. With around 3,000 m of cumulative ascent and descent over three major hills, it’s a hard but rewarding walk offering expansive views of Lak...

Bruce “Chopper” Reay has spent much of his life deep in the bush, from possum hunting and eel fishing in the wilds of the South Island, to his current home at Saxton Hut near Fiordland’s Hollyford Track. In this episode, Bruce shares his stories of living months at a time in the wilderness, eating possum, nearly failing his university degree due to over-tramping, and being rescued multiple times b...

In this episode of The Tramping Life, I explore one of New Zealand’s most iconic coastal walks: the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds. This 71 km route is typically walked from Ship Cove in the north to Anakiwa in the south, following ridgelines and shorelines with terrain that undulates between sea level and hills up to around 450 m. The track passes through native forest, across he...

Duncan Webb is the Labour MP for Christchurch Central and lifelong tramper. From his early days exploring the forests of England to challenging multi-day treks across New Zealand’s high country, Duncan shares his most memorable adventures, close encounters with wildlife, and the lessons he’s learned navigating both the outdoors and the halls of Parliament. We chat about his first icy river mishap...

In this episode of The Tramping Life, I explore one of the South Island’s best-known private tramps: the Kaikōura Coast Track. This 26 km two-day route is run by a pair of local farming families and offers a rare combination of epic coastline, regenerating native bush, farmland, and peaceful accommodation for a maximum of a dozen walkers each day. Day one follows the coast and inland gullies to Th...

Former Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage joins The Tramping Life to talk about her lifelong love of the outdoors, from building huts as a child to tramping the St James and the Old Ghost Road.   We hear about her earliest memories of wild Auckland gullies, mishaps with camp burners, and close encounters with karearea (NZ falcons). She reflects on her years in politics — the wins, frustrations,...

In this episode of The Tramping Life, I head to North Canterbury to tackle one of New Zealand’s classic multi-day tramps: the St James Walkway. This 66 km route winds through the high country, taking in the Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve, the historic St James Station pastoral lease, and Lake Sumner Forest Park. Typically walked over 4–5 days, it’s a tramp of wide open valleys, beech forest, river flat...

This is a special episode of The Tramping Life, dedicated to Shaun Barnett — one of New Zealand’s most respected tramping writers, photographers, editors, and advocates for the backcountry. For many listeners, Shaun will be a familiar name from book spines, magazine covers, and hut shelves across the country. For others, he was a tramping companion, a mentor, a correspondent, or a quiet source of...

In this episode of The Tramping Life, I take on the lesser-known Abel Tasman Inland Track, a 41km route through the forested spine of Abel Tasman National Park. While most walkers stick to the iconic Coast Track, this route heads inland—climbing to nearly 900 metres near Gibbs Hill and offering a much tougher, quieter alternative. It’s steeper, rougher, and far less scenic, but delivers something...

Robbie Burton has spent a lifetime straddling two worlds — the wild backcountry and the world of books. The long-time co-leader of Potton & Burton, one of New Zealand’s most influential independent publishers, Robbie has also tramped and climbed across the country, including a three-month traverse of the Southern Alps from Milford to Nelson Lakes.   In this episode, Robbie reflects on growing...

In this episode of The Tramping Life, we head somewhere few people associate with overnight tramping — Auckland. Just 25 minutes by ferry from the city lies Rangitoto and neighbouring Motutapu Island — two contrasting islands that combine volcanic geology, conservation success, military history and classic Kiwi bach culture. Rangitoto, Auckland’s youngest and largest volcano, erupted around 600 ye...

Adam Currie is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading young voices in the climate movement. We explore his love of wild, remote trips — from hauling surfboards through native bush to packrafting the Gillespie Pass circuit — and how time outdoors has shaped his activism.   Adam shares his thoughts on mentorship in the mountains, why accessibility matters more than fancy gear, and how tramping can he...