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

  1. Thousand Acre Plateau

    2D AGO

    Thousand Acre Plateau

    In this episode of The Tramping Life, we head into the north-west of Kahurangi National Park to explore the Thousand Acre Plateau — a vast upland landscape of limestone formations, open tussock and sweeping horizons. Rising to around 1000 metres above sea level, this elevated former seabed feels unlike almost anywhere else in New Zealand. Accessed via the Matiri Valley Road near Murchison, the tramp begins gently along a 4WD access track to Lake Matiri Hut, before a sustained 750-metre climb delivers you onto the plateau rim. From there, the route traverses open, often boggy terrain to the tiny two-bunk Poor Pete’s Hut and on to Larrikin Creek Hut beneath the limestone bluffs of The Haystack. Along the way are distinctive landmarks such as The Needle and Mount Misery, offering optional scrambling trips and expansive views across this stark, exposed landscape. I share my three-day, 44km journey across the plateau in mid-summer — the long hot crossings, the steep climbs, dry tarns, sandflies, an refreshing creek dip, and a close brush with heat exhaustion. We also encountered an inspiring retired couple who had been tramping five days a week for over a year — proof that adventure doesn’t come with an expiry date. This is a route rather than a manicured track. It demands fitness, sound navigation, and respect for rapidly changing conditions. In summer, there is little shade and heat can be a serious factor. In wet weather, the mud and stream crossings can be challenging.

    8 min
  2. Jan Finlayson - Public Access, Stewardship Land, and Grasshoppers

    MAR 13

    Jan Finlayson - Public Access, Stewardship Land, and Grasshoppers

    Jan Finlayson has spent a lifetime exploring and advocating for New Zealand’s wild places. In this conversation she reflects on childhood memories of camping and school tramps, early adventures on the Routeburn, and the lessons learned from near misses in the mountains and rivers. We talk about her strong views on hut booking systems and access rights, and why legal roads and stewardship land matter for the future of conservation. Jan’s stories move between humour, challenge, and deep care for the backcountry — and remind us what’s at stake in protecting the places we tramp.

    24 min
  3. Angelus Hut

    MAR 6

    Angelus Hut

    Today we head into Nelson Lakes National Park to one of the country’s most iconic alpine destinations — Angelus Hut. Perched at 1,650 metres beside Lake Angelus and surrounded by the rugged Travers Range, Angelus is a true alpine hut — spectacular in fine weather, serious and unforgiving when conditions turn. In this episode I walk through the five main routes to the hut: the exposed Robert Ridge, the more sheltered Speargrass Track and Speargrass Creek route, the Travers Cascade route, the steep Mount Cedric route from Sabine Hut, and the demanding unmarked line via Sunset Saddle from Hopeless Hut. I share the history of the hut — from the original 1956 tin shelter built by the Nelson Ski Club with supplies dropped by RNZAF Bristol Freighter, through to the modern 28-bunk hut opened in 2010 — and reflect on multiple visits over the years, including torrential rain, hailstorms, solo travel, knee injuries, and one trip that ended with New Zealand entering national lockdown. Angelus Hut is as much about decision-making as it is about scenery. I discuss route choice, alpine risk, weather awareness, booking requirements, and why this is not a place to push on in marginal conditions. If you’re considering the classic Travers–Sabine Circuit, or simply want to understand what makes Angelus one of New Zealand’s standout alpine huts, this episode will give you both context and practical insight.

    16 min
  4. Marios Gavalas - Publishing, Guiding, and Yurts

    FEB 27

    Marios Gavalas - Publishing, Guiding, and Yurts

    Marios Gavalas has spent decades exploring Aotearoa’s mountains, forests and coastlines — and helping others do the same through his books, guiding, and photography.   In this episode of The Tramping Life, Marius shares stories from his early days tramping the Coromandel with little more than a tent and a pair of skis, to writing 18 guidebooks that introduced countless people to New Zealand’s tracks.   We talk about his transition from writer to professional guide, what it’s like to live for a decade in a yurt, and why his “tramping bucket list” now begins just outside his back door in the Motueka Valley.   Along the way, Marios reflects on the joy of slow walking, his encounters with falcons and penguins, and the quiet art of living close to nature — with just a thin layer of canvas in between. https://hikingnewzealand.com/blog/meet-our-guide-marios-gavalas

    34 min
  5. Banks Track

    FEB 20

    Banks Track

    Today we’re heading to Banks Peninsula and one of New Zealand’s most varied multi-day walks — a privately run track that combines coastal scenery, wildlife, and unusually comfortable accommodation. This episode explores Banks Track. Opened in 1989, Banks Track was New Zealand’s first private walking track. The 31km route is walked over two or three days, crossing farmland, regenerating native bush, volcanic ridgelines, and dramatic coastline, with wide views over Akaroa Harbour and the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, walkers often encounter little blue penguins, New Zealand fur seals, and abundant birdlife. I walked Banks Track over three days, through forest reserves, swam beneath waterfalls, followed exposed coastal cliffs, and stayed at Onuku Farm, Flea Bay, and Stony Bay — each offering a very different experience, from penguin colonies to outdoor wood-fired baths. In this episode I give an overview of Banks Track, describe my experience walking it, highlight the wildlife and accommodation that make it unique, and share practical advice for anyone considering either the two-day or three-day option. https://bankstrack.co.nz/

    11 min
  6. Neil Silverwood - Caving, Paragliding, and Giant Spiders

    FEB 13

    Neil Silverwood - Caving, Paragliding, and Giant Spiders

    Neil Silverwood is a leading photographer, conservationist, and lifelong caver. Neil takes us not only deep underground but also high into the hills, sharing stories of tramping, caving, and flying.   We talk about the challenges of caving – from hauling 35kg of gear, to eight hours stuck in a squeeze, to emerging from the dark into alpine light. Neil reflects on caves as “a black-and-white world,” the universality of claustrophobia, and the joy of taking flight through paragliding. Neil also recalls adventures on Stewart Island, where the remoteness, wild weather, and rugged coastline bring their own challenges and rewards for trampers and explorers. https://www.neilsilverwood.com/

    28 min
  7. Copland Track & Welcome Flat Hut

    FEB 6 · BONUS

    Copland Track & Welcome Flat Hut

    Today we’re heading to the West Coast and one of its most popular tramps — an historic track best known for its natural hot pools. This episode explores the Copland Track and Welcome Flat Hut. Developed in the early 20th century as a route across the Southern Alps, the Copland Track is now usually walked as a return trip from the West Coast road end to Welcome Flat Hut. The 18km track follows rivers, crosses swing bridges, and winds through lush rainforest before emerging beneath the towering Sierra Range. I walked the track in early spring, navigating Rough Creek, sandflies, glacial rivers, and long stretches of well-graded track before spending two nights at Welcome Flat Hut. The 31-bunk hut is famous for its nearby hot pools, fed by natural spring water, and for the unusual Sierra Room. In this episode I give an overview of the track and hut, describe my experience of it, and share practical advice for those thinking of walking it. https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/westland-tai-poutini-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/copland-track-to-welcome-flat-hut/

    9 min
  8. Corina Jordan - Hunting, Conservation, and Coexistence

    JAN 30

    Corina Jordan - Hunting, Conservation, and Coexistence

    Corina Jordan is Chief Executive of the Game Animal Council and Fish & Game New Zealand. We talk about her lifelong love of the outdoors, from childhood adventures in Northland and Taranaki to her current role shaping New Zealand’s hunting and conservation policies.   Corina explains how modern game management can benefit both hunters and conservation, what “herds of special interest” mean for species like tahr and sika, and how organizations like Fish & Game are restoring wetlands and advocating for healthy rivers.   We also cover the realities of hunting in New Zealand today – from deer management and the Canada goose debate to the growing number of women hunters and the synergies between hunting and tramping communities.   It’s a thoughtful conversation about how people, policy, and passion intersect in the New Zealand backcountry. New Zealand Game Animal Council - https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/ Fish & Game New Zealand - https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/

    26 min
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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
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Tramping Life
  • Show Website
    The Tramping Life

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