The Tramping Life

Jonty
  • 5.0 (1)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Conversations with people who share a deep love for exploring Aotearoa New Zealand on foot. From the well-trodden Great Walks to the rugged solitude of remote backcountry routes, our guests share their favourite hikes, huts, and hard-earned lessons from the track. Whether you’re an experienced tramper or just curious about what makes hiking in New Zealand so special. The Tramping Life offers inspiration, practical insights, and a deeper connection to the landscapes that shape us. #tramping #hiking #interviews #newzealand #nzhiking #hike #tramp #travel #walking #travel

Episodes

  1. Geoff Spearpoint - A Life Exploring the Backcountry

    4D AGO

    Geoff Spearpoint - A Life Exploring the Backcountry

    Geoff Spearpoint is one of New Zealand’s most experienced trampers, writers, and backcountry advocates. For decades he has explored some of the country’s most remote corners, helped preserve our huts and tracks, and inspired countless trampers through books, photography, and articles. In this episode we talk about his beginnings in the Tararuas, youthful adventures that nearly went wrong, and the friendships that shaped his tramping life. Jeff shares stories of ambitious expeditions across Fiordland and the Southern Alps, surreal moments in the mountains, and encounters with kiwi and kakapo. We also discuss the evolution of New Zealand’s hut and track network, the volunteer movement to preserve it, and the cultural importance of huts in our backcountry. Jeff reflects on climate change’s impact on glaciers, the rhythms of birdlife, and what still remains on his bucket list after a lifetime in the hills.

    30 min
  2. Craig Potton - Photography, Happiness, and Rock Bivvies

    JAN 2

    Craig Potton - Photography, Happiness, and Rock Bivvies

    Craig Potton is a photographer, publisher, conservationist, and one of New Zealand’s most thoughtful voices on wild places.   Craig’s stories take us from crawling out the back door as a kid in Nelson, to surfing wild west coast breaks, finding happiness in the Himalaya, and carrying camera gear heavy enough to need a chiropractor decades later. We talk about burning down a hut (almost), sleeping beneath bivvy rocks, the heartbreak of vanishing glaciers, and the deep connection between wilderness, gratitude, and art.

    34 min
  3. Celia Wade-Brown - Politics, Walking Festivals, and Te Araroa

    12/19/2025

    Celia Wade-Brown - Politics, Walking Festivals, and Te Araroa

    Celia Wade-Brown is a Green Party MP, former mayor of Wellington, founder of the Wairarapa Walking Festival, and a lifelong tramper. From childhood walks in London’s parks and the Lake District, to rafting adventures, multi-day tramps in the Tararuas, and eventually walking the length of New Zealand on Te Araroa, Celia’s journey reflects her passion for the outdoors and sustainable living. In this episode, she shares the joys and challenges of Te Araroa, why outdoor education matters, the importance of conservation funding, and why protecting New Zealand’s wild places matters more than ever.

    26 min
  4. Gerry McSweeney - Conservation, Tourism, and Penguins

    12/05/2025

    Gerry McSweeney - Conservation, Tourism, and Penguins

    Gerry McSweeney is a lifelong tramper, former president of Forest & Bird, and founder of Wilderness Lodges at Lake Moeraki and Arthur’s Pass. Jerry reflects on his early days with the Christchurch Tramping Club, hard river crossings and tramping with trains, and how tramping shaped his lifelong commitment to conservation. We hear stories of endurance epics in the Southern Alps, the importance of predator control, and the transformation he’s witnessed in New Zealand’s forests and birdlife over decades. Gerry also shares his passion for Fiordland crested penguins, thoughts on tourism and guiding, and his favourite huts and hidden valleys. It’s a conversation that weaves together tramping adventures, conservation battles, and a deep love of Aotearoa’s wild places.

    30 min
  5. Kemi & Niko - Creativity in Corrugated Iron

    11/21/2025

    Kemi & Niko - Creativity in Corrugated Iron

    My guests today are Kemi and Niko, the creative duo behind Kemi Niko & Co. Known for their handcrafted miniature huts, public art projects, and love for New Zealand’s backcountry, they blend art, design, and outdoor culture in a way that’s utterly unique. We talk about how they began as broke artists in Wellington, their passion for real materials and hut heritage, the challenge of raising kids who tramp, and the surprising demand for tiny huts made from salvaged tin and timber. It’s a story of creativity, persistence, and connection — to the land, to people, and to the simple joy of shelter. For more information visit their website at http://www.keminiko.com/ and follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kemi_niko/

    22 min
  6. Alistair Hall - Wilderness Magazine & NZ's Worst Tramp

    11/07/2025

    Alistair Hall - Wilderness Magazine & NZ's Worst Tramp

    Alistair Hall has been the editor and publisher of Wilderness Magazine for nearly two decades — and part of its story since the early 1990s. In this episode, he talks about his earliest outdoor memories, the “type two fun” that sparked his passion for tramping, and the muddy, magical challenge of the Southern Circuit on Rakiura. He shares what it takes to produce a monthly magazine that’s chronicled New Zealand’s outdoor culture for more than 30 years, why Wilderness has endured while others folded, and what he learned from an ill-fated experiment with AI illustrations. From school camps in Tongariro to the “worst tramp in New Zealand,” to launching the Walk1200 challenge — this is a fascinating look behind the scenes at a publication that’s inspired generations of trampers.

    22 min
  7. Victoria & Emilie Bruce - Mother, Daughter, Trailblazers

    10/24/2025

    Victoria & Emilie Bruce - Mother, Daughter, Trailblazers

    Victoria and Emilie Bruce have shared thousands of kilometres of trail — and hundreds of backcountry huts — between them. When Emilie was just seven years old, the pair set off to walk the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail, raising funds for conservation and mental health, and inspiring trampers young and old along the way.   In this episode, Victoria and Emilie talk about the adventures that shaped them — from snowstorms in Nelson Lakes to the solitude of the West Coast — and the lessons learned through blisters, laughter, and lollies. We hear how their journey turned into two books (Adventures with Emilie and Emilie Walks), and how they’ve kept exploring ever since — with more than 400 huts now ticked off their growing list.   It’s a story of courage, curiosity, and connection — a reminder that the best adventures are often the ones we share.

    26 min
  8. Andrew Buglass - Huts, Solitude, and the Birth of Permolat

    10/10/2025

    Andrew Buglass - Huts, Solitude, and the Birth of Permolat

    Andrew Buglass is the founder of Permolat and the central figure in The Hut Keepers, a new film celebrating the grassroots effort to preserve New Zealand’s hut network. In this episode, Andrew shares his deep connection with the mountains, the challenges of solitude, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to protecting backcountry huts. From youthful nights in the hills with only a transistor radio for company, to leading a movement that has kept our huts alive for future generations, Andrew reflects on what it means to belong in the backcountry. Photo: Andrew by lake on Elliot tops, credit Paulette Birchfield

    30 min
  9. Jerry Van Lier - Tales from the Tararuas

    09/27/2025

    Jerry Van Lier - Tales from the Tararuas

    Jerry Van Lier is the creator and host of the Tararua Fever podcast, which dives deep into the rugged, rewarding, and sometimes notorious Tararua Ranges. From his very first tramp at the age of six to weathering gnarly conditions on southern crossings, Jerry’s stories capture both the challenges and the joys of these hills. We talk about tramping clubs and changing generations, hairy sections like the Waiohine Pinnacles, the huts he loves (and avoids), his philosophy on gear and safety, and what’s still on his bucket list. Jerry’s passion for the Tararuas shines through — as does the adrenaline that keeps pulling him back.

    23 min
  10. Megan Dimozantos - Advocacy, Adventure, and the Future of Tramping

    09/17/2025

    Megan Dimozantos - Advocacy, Adventure, and the Future of Tramping

    Megan Dimozantos is president of the Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC), and a passionate advocate for our huts, tracks, and wild places. We talk about her late introduction to the outdoors through rock climbing, her years of 24-hour solo mountain bike racing, and how volunteering with LandSAR drew her deep into New Zealand’s backcountry. Megan shares stories of epic 10 to 15 day trips, the lessons of running out of food in the wilderness, the special meaning behind moving a hut with an all-women crew, and the challenges tramping faces in an era of social media and climate change. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about advocacy, adventure, and what sustains our tramping culture.

    30 min
  11. Rob Brown - Keeping the Hut Network Alive

    09/13/2025

    Rob Brown - Keeping the Hut Network Alive

    Rob Brown is one of the most influential voices in New Zealand tramping. Rob is the National Operations Manager of the Backcountry Trust, the organisation that supports volunteers to restore and maintain our huts and tracks. He is also a renowned photographer, writer, and long-time advocate for the outdoors. In this wide-ranging conversation, Rob shares stories of his early adventures with the Massey University Alpine Club, his long tramping partnership with Shaun Barnett, and the making of the best selling Classic Tramping. We talk about memorable trips into places like Ivory Lake and the Landsborough Wilderness, near-misses in wild country, and the evolving role of New Zealand’s hut network. Rob also reflects on what huts mean for our culture, how the Backcountry Trust works in partnership with DOC and local communities, and where the future of our backcountry huts might be heading. If you’ve ever wondered about the stories behind New Zealand’s huts — and the people who keep them alive — this episode is for you.

    40 min
  12. Lou Sanson - From Track Cutter to DOC Boss

    09/13/2025

    Lou Sanson - From Track Cutter to DOC Boss

    Lou Sanson, former Director-General of the Department of Conservation, has spent a lifetime in New Zealand’s backcountry. From his childhood on the West Coast being taken tramping before he could walk, through teenage missions into wild valleys, to a career cutting tracks, leading DOC, and supporting the Backcountry Trust, Lou has lived and breathed the outdoors. We talk about: His earliest memories of family adventures in the hills.The tramps and mentors that shaped his love of the backcountry.Turning a passion for the outdoors into a lifelong career.Memorable tramping trips — from Ivory Lake to Stewart Island to the Auckland Islands.The future of our hut and track network, and the balance between recreation, conservation, and tourism.His annual tradition of spending the longest day of the year on a mountain summit.It’s a conversation full of stories, reflection, and inspiration from one of the key figures behind New Zealand’s conservation and recreation legacy.

    28 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Conversations with people who share a deep love for exploring Aotearoa New Zealand on foot. From the well-trodden Great Walks to the rugged solitude of remote backcountry routes, our guests share their favourite hikes, huts, and hard-earned lessons from the track. Whether you’re an experienced tramper or just curious about what makes hiking in New Zealand so special. The Tramping Life offers inspiration, practical insights, and a deeper connection to the landscapes that shape us. #tramping #hiking #interviews #newzealand #nzhiking #hike #tramp #travel #walking #travel

Information

  • Creator
    Jonty
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Tramping Life
  • Show Website
    The Tramping Life

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