Kia ora whānau, adventure-minded souls who have been coming here to read my words for many years, plus all the people who stumbled across this and are still reading. I have a new home for my writing on the web: duncwilson.substack.co.nz My most recent year spent on (and off) The Waka & Waewae Journey has READ MORE
Waka & Waewae Day 33: Whakahoro to Mangapapa Pā
Off on the Whanganui River! I woke up and packed down my tent at the Whakahoro DOC campsite. Gear loaded, I trudged over the gravel road to the Blue Duck Station Cafe, the scene of the previous night’s gorge-fest. Upon arrival on the Thursday, I’d booked in to have dinner on the Friday night. As READ MORE
Winter 2022 in Pukenui – FAQs
In the bizarre, colourful and adventurous year that is my 2022, it’s no wonder there are a lot of questions. What is happening? What is going on? Just what? So, here, in the style of the much-loved Dunc’s Big Bike Ride FAQs, are my FAQs for winter 2022. I hope it’s helpful. Where are you? READ MORE
The Waka & Waewae Journey
Traversing the length of New Zealand by raft and on foot, for an adventure like no other Imagine you’re out hiking. It’s a spectacular day in nature, which ends at a secluded and calm lake. It’s the perfect reward for your day’s effort. Water gently laps the lake’s small, pebbly beaches. Deep greens from the READ MORE
Hitting pause on the Waka & Waewae Journey
Kia ora e te whānau! It’s with great sadness I have to pause and postpone The Waka & Waewae Journey. Again. It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly. It’s not a decision at all. Due to injury, I have no choice. Tendonitis, which is the presumed affliction right now (thanks Helle for the advice from READ MORE
Waka & Waewae Day 32: Kaitieke Monument to Whakahoro
The one where the wrist started to ache, massive walnuts and the dodgy-as bridge! I stopped by the war memorial that gives Kaitieke Monument its name, noting Roger’s relatives’ names on the side. Shit, war really costs people, eh? Just stop it. My wrist hurt, but I was mentally ready for the 25km road walk READ MORE
Waka & Waewae Day 31: Mangahuia to Kaitieke Monument
Food fisticuffs and Fishers Track Returning to Mangahuia, where the Department of Conservation campsite rests, had gone without incident. I’d caught the bus from Auckland back to National Park, munched a vegan curry and sipped a pint at Schnapps Bar. I had then visited that Four Square for dinner supplies, before walking the simple six READ MORE
Waka & Waewae Day 30: Whakapapa to (nearly) National Park
Smash, dash and wasp sting rash. More tales from my packraft traverse of Aotearoa-NZ At dinner the previous night, Laura’s dad Ian had offered me a ride to National Park. I had accepted and was all in, until the adventure bug overwhelmed me during breakfast. Heading back to Auckland for a mate’s wedding and to READ MORE
Waka & Waewae Day 29: Oturere Hut to Whakapapa Village
A day between the maunga The 23 or so people crammed together in the hut kept the place toasty, even long after the fire died down. I was the first to wake, shortly before 6am, and attempted to shuffle off my bunk in silence to make a coffee. A wooden roof beam, however, had other READ MORE
Waka & Waewae Day 28: Tongariro to Oturere Hut
Road, maunga and strange, alien world Following the previous day’s adventure and tussle with Rotoaira, I spent the night at Tongariro Holiday Park. It’s often known as ‘Base Camp’ by those heading up to do the world famous Tongariro Crossing day walk. The night had been freezing. This made the inside of my sleeping bag READ MORE
Waka & Waewae Day 5 – Port Chevalier to Big Bay
The time had come to pick this thing up again. Quitting the Waka & Waewae Journey, when I fell down in a sweaty heap at the Pukenui Holiday Park and said “no more”, seemed like something that happened in a former life. Auckland, stopping and spending time with whānau had been relaxing and regenerative. I READ MORE
Cape Brett Track: hiking one heck of a tough and rugged northerner
Track: Cape Brett Track Level: Advanced (oh yeah, it’s advanced) tramping track Distance: 16km – from track start to hut Time: 8 hours, ~6 hours moving Take: Phone, water (hut water can be salt-tainted), the most supportive friends you have This 2018 article originally appeared on Newshub Travel Sweat was streaming from my pores faster READ MORE