It was New Zealand’s unbelievably diverse and breathtaking landscapes that first drew me into the world of hiking and outdoor adventure. Believe it or not, before stepping onto this island, I had never really camped or tackled a multi-day hike. Everything changed here. The so-called “Great Walks” – eleven of the most scenic trails in the country – captured my imagination, inspired me to follow my heart, and set me on the path toward an incredible journey of exploration the wilderness of this special country.
What a majestic spot to watch the sun rise on the East Coast. One of the harder to beat.
This river paddling journey was pure chaos. A Chinese teammate, who couldn’t swim, three days of consecutive rain and untight barrels. Safe to say we were soaked to the bones.
Ok, that escalated quickly. What seemed like a wonderfully harmless hike turned into an absolute nightmare. In the end, I had to save the life of a fellow Japanese hiker and help navigate a helicopter. But that’s a story too long to tell here.
Pretty sure this is my favorite of all the “Great Walks”. The scenery and the camping spots were out of this world.
This time, I teamed up with some Māori friends. We completed the Abel Tasman hike, living out of hammocks and smoking homemade bongs on the beach. Honestly, what more could you ask for in life?
People who know me are aware that I sometimes get myself into crazy challenges. Like, who would try to walk 100 km through the jungle as fast as possible on their birthday – just for fun? Well, well, well…
The Heaphy Trail was intense but breathtaking. I can still feel the thousands of sandfly bites on my skin. Despite that, the rugged beauty of the coastal landscape was an absolute highlight.
When Antarctica blows a storm, you’d think the best option is to get inside, right? Wrong. You can also hike in full winter conditions – even in mid-summer. That’s exactly what I did when temperatures suddenly dropped 25 degrees overnight.
Does it deserve its hype? Milford Sound is one of those places that feels like it came straight out of a fairy tale. Especially after heavy rainfall, countless waterfalls appear out of nowhere and cascade down the steep faces of New Zealand’s fjords. A spectacular view.
