Tips & Tricks

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Tips and Tricks

 Advice on techniques, clothing, equipment, food, navigation, and other pearls of wisdom.

Waterproof Trousers for the New Zealand Backcountry

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As someone who leads trips across the full spectrum of New Zealand terrain, from easy family-friendly day trips to climbs up Aoraki, I’ve had a fair amount of experience working out exactly what type…

South Indian Dhal Recipe

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Another star appearance in Mountain Journeys trip cuisine is our South Indian Dhal. This recipe was picked up on Rob’s travels through Kerala…

Winter & Spring Tramping Gear List

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Tramping in winter and spring requires quite a few extra or different items compared to the warmer months. We’ve developed a gear list that you can use as a prompt next time you’re preparing for a…

Summer & Autumn Tramping Gear List

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We’ve developed a gear list that you can use as a prompt next time you’re preparing for a trip – check it out here, and please let us know if you have any feedback.

The Best Boots in NZ for Rugged Alpine Tramping and Introductory Mountaineering

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Rob’s devoted a full page on this website to an article about boots for transalpine tramping and hunting trips where snow is a major component. Such trips may also feature scree and rock scrambling,…

What our Chief Guide, Rob Frost, takes on his trips

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Our chief guide Rob had the pleasure of featuring in Wilderness Magazine’s “What’s In My Pack?” Unfortunately they were a little pushed for space, so not all of the text he sent was included.

Some ‘just-in-case’ items for tramping and hiking in New Zealand

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Spare layers, repair kits, and more… Our chief guide Rob goes through the items that should be packed for any trip in the hills, whether you’re tramping, hunting, ski touring, or mountaineering.…

Some practical considerations for timing your guided journey in the Southern Alps.

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This article is written to help you decide when might be the best time for a trip in New Zealand’s mountains. (Spoiler – There is no ‘best time’ – it depends on your specific trip objectives.)

Our famous cauli curry recipe

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This is a meal which always gets rave reviews from participants on our trips. It’s easy to cook in one big pot, and dehydrates easily.

How to S#!t in the Woods

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There has been much discussion about this issue, and rightfully so – more people than ever are getting into the outdoors, and if human waste isn’t properly considered then we’ll end up with…

How to Lighten Your Pack

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There are a ton of things you can do to reduce how much weight you carry, but I think these four things will make the biggest difference.

How to stop mild hypothermia from getting worse

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While hypothermia is a year-round risk in New Zealand, now that we’re approaching winter this risk is even more acute, especially if wet/windy weather or river crossings are involved. Here are the…

All about gaiters

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Practically every tramping or hiking gear list mentions “gaiters” but there are so many different types out there – how do you choose the right ones? And do you really need them at all?

Helmets when tramping?

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It might seem odd. If you’re not going on a climbing, mountaineering, canyoning, or caving trip, then why would you take a helmet?

Gear List for tramping day trips

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Even day trips can put you in serious positions, so we like to ensure we carry the essentials.

How to Camp in the Snow

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Snow camping is a magical experience in the right conditions, but needs careful planning to be enjoyable. It doesn’t involve just taking your standard tent to the snow, pitching it normally, and…