The Tramping Life

Episoder

• 
  Waikōwhai Walkway & Mount William Walkway 03.10.2026 6min

  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 between Hillsborough Bay and Lynfield Cove. The route combines foreshore walking, native bush tr...
• 
  Derrick Field - Culling, Running, and Hut Building 26.09.2026 26min

  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 today, and the volunteer mahi that keeps the backcountry alive. From sleeping in ratty huts to runni...
• 
  Mount Somers Track 19.09.2026 6min

  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 plains. I walked the circuit over a hot early-summer weekend about a decade ago. The trip inclu...
• 
  Hazel Phillips - Tongariro, Writing, and Secret Huts 12.09.2026 34min

  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 fascination with the hidden histories of huts, tracks and tragedies, and the research process beh...
• 
  Gillespie Pass Circuit and Lake Crucible 05.09.2026 7min

  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 Crucible Lake, a glacier-fed alpine lake tucked beneath Mount Alba. I walked the circuit in December ab...
• 
  David Norton - Native Forests, Biodiversity, and Farming 29.08.2026 28min

  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, riflemen and kaka, the hidden damage deer cause to our forests, and how trampers can help r...
• 
  Syme Hut 22.08.2026 8min

  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 forest and subalpine vegetation before emerging onto steep volcanic slopes of loose scoria and rock....
• 
  Chris Maclean – Tararuas, Publishing, and Nude Tramping 15.08.2026 27min

  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 co-authoring Tramping: A New Zealand History, his reflections on working with Sean Bar...
• 
  Greenstone Caples Track 08.08.2026 7min

  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 Valley – linked by the 698 m McKellar Saddle. I walked the track solo in winter over four days, initia...
• 
  Kayla Kingdon-Bebb - Grizzlies, Takahe, and Conserving the Oceans 01.08.2026 27min

  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 special, her love of the takahe, and how her experiences with grizzly bears reshaped her views on...
• 
  Motatapu Track 25.07.2026 9min

  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 Lake Wanaka, the Arrow River, and the surrounding peaks. The highest point is the 1,270 m Roses Sad...
• 
  Bruce Reay - A Life Lived in the Bush 18.07.2026 18min

  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 by helicopters after close calls in the mountains. We talk about his love of the bush, his time wi...
• 
  Queen Charlotte Track 11.07.2026 8min

  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 headlands, and around numerous coves and bays, offering dramatic views of sunken valleys, rocky co...
• 
  Duncan Webb - Hiking, Hunting, and Hypothermia 04.07.2026 29min

  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 Arthur’s Pass, his favourite alpine huts, tramping with family, and the balance between tramp...
• 
  Kaikoura Coast Track 27.06.2026 4min

  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 The Whare, while day two climbs to the 486 m summit of Skull Peak before returning to the Beach Ho...
• 
  Eugenie Sage - Conservation, Controversy, and Melting Jerseys 20.06.2026 27min

  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, and the enduring fight to protect New Zealand’s landscapes from overdevelopment and invasi...
• 
  St James Walkway 13.06.2026 8min

  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 flats, and two relatively low passes—Ada Pass and Anne Saddle—offering a sense of scale and solitude...
• 
  Shaun Barnett - A Wild Life 06.06.2026 36min

  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 encouragement. Shaun died in June 2024 at the age of 55, following a year-long battle with brai...
• 
  Abel Tasman Inland Track 30.05.2026 6min

  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 increasingly rare in New Zealand’s Great Walk network: solitude. I share my experience of pushi...
• 
  Robbie Burton - Publishing Our Tramping Stories 23.05.2026 28min

  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 up free-range in Nelson, the teenage adventures that sparked his lifelong love of the mount...