Adventure Magazine 226

N E W Z E A L A N D 

ADVENTURE 

ISSUE 226 

JUN/JUL 2021 

NZ $10.90 incl. GST 

WHERE ACTIONS 

SPEAK LOUDER 

THAN WORDS

what's a story worth? 

For my birthday one of my sons bought 

for me a ‘thing’ called StoryWorth. 

Basically each week it sends you a 

topic and asks you to write about it. It 

covers everything from “what was your 

mother like as a child?” to “how have 

you changed since leaving school?”. 

Once the site has gathered enough 

stories it then makes it into a hardbound 

book. 

This week’s question was one that 

had me pondering for some time, but I 

thought I would share it with you. “What 

adventure do you remember the most?" 

My reply: 

Having had such a lifetime of 

adventures, how do you possibly 

choose one. But this is one that stood 

out as it was an adventure I felt I was 

lucky to make it back from. 

It was an 8-day rafting trip with Ultimate 

Descent down the Karamea River in the 

middle of winter in the mid 1990’s. 

It is a grade five river (bear in mind 

grade 6 is unraftable). The day we flew 

in by helicopter it was snowing hard and 

that night there was a big earthquake 

that changed the flow of the river. Add 

to that, the snow and rain created an 

additional one meter of water flow on 

the river. To make matters worse when 

the helicopter left in a rush, they took 

half of the food back and all of the toilet 

rolls! 

By the end of day two we had run out 

of food and had to eat dried chickpeas 

that had been stored in the ground from 

a previous trip. 

#226 

monumental. Twice, Fritz, one of the 

support kayakers came up to us in the raft 

and said “if you fall out in the next kilometre 

you will drown” and then simply paddled off. 

We portaged dozens of rapids far too big 

to raft and also now unknown because the 

earthquake had changed the flow of the 

river, it was all new. End of day five 80% 

of the people were walking zombies, who 

could hardly hold on let alone paddle. 

The mountain radio did not work (before cell 

phones) so we could not be helicoptered 

out, so we had to simply do our best. 

The images here show what it was like all 

the time. If you look closely, you can see 

Mike Steel grabbing a woman that fell out 

in the death zone, cannot recall her name. 

Mike pulled her back in the raft but in doing 

so dislocated her shoulder. 

No one drowned but it was such a difficult 

trip it is used by Outdoor Qualification 

providers to show how a good trip can go 

really bad really quickly. 

Hmmm no toilet paper; my sister was 

reading a book that got thinner and thinner 

as the trip went on. 

Luckily not all our adventures have such 

dire consequences, but it seems that the 

ones you make it back from are the ones 

that you remember. 

If you have a story to tell – it does not have 

to be life or death feel free to reach out to us 

as we like featuring stories by our readers – 

send direct to the editor: 

Steve@pacificmedia.co.nz 

Steve Dickinson - Editor 

Each day was freezing, and the rapids 

THE HAVEN 

yoUr AdventUre staRts Here 

As spontaneous as the weather. The Haven is up for anything, 

with technology features to keep you warm, dry and looking good. 

merrell.co.nz 

23 Locations Nationwide - www.radcarhire.co.nz | 0800 73 68 23 ADVENTUREMAGAZINE.CO.NZ | adventure@radcarhire.co.nz 01

Lise Billon and Kilian Echallier ski touring in Engelberg, Switzerland. 

MATTIAS FREDRIKSSON © 2021 Patagonia, Inc.

page14 

Image by Derek Cheng Image provided by Nick Pascoe Image by Eric Skilling 

Image compliments Red Bull Content Pool 

page 20 

page 42 

page 50 

#226 

contents 

14//The Ultimate Obstacle Course 

with Aniol Serrasolses 

20//Richmond Range 

Old Man and Lake Chalice Circuit 

26//Kate Courtney 

Training for success 

30//Central Otago River Journeys 

with Nick Pascoe 

36//To the Island 

Take the weather with you 

42//Rider on the Storm 

Angelo Concilio 

46//How to train your emotions 

with Dr Sven Hansen 

50//Go with the flow 

The joys of climbing 

56//Chasing the human connection 

In adventure photography 

88//Travel 

Travel bubbles 

Vanuatu 

plus 

72. gear guides 

86. subs 

96. active adventure 

FOLLOW US ON 

www.facebook.com/adventuremagnz 

adventuremagazine 

www.adventuremagazine.co.nz 

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION 

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#FORTHEADVENTURE 

04//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#226

BEHIND THE COVER 

This photo was taken in 2019, on one of the 

busiest days of the season on Mt. Ruapehu at 

Whakapapa ski field, so I decided I wouldn’t use 

the lifts because they were jam packed. I took the 

Valley T Bar up to the top and bootpacked around 

for some better and untouched lines near the 

resort boundary line. 

I hiked about twenty to thirty minutes above the 

lifts, stopped for a break with some friends and 

took some photos. I noticed these two skiers 

traversing the cornice and climbing one of the 

Pinnacle peaks. It seemed like they were thinking 

about dropping into the backcountry, with a twenty 

meter drop below them. I happened to have 

my camera out, saw the opportunity and left my 

friends to set up the shot. 

we ARE climbing 

The Pinnacles, Mount Ruapehu - Image by Chris Chase 

With my body on the edge of the cornice, I zoomed 

in to them and framed the shot with the peaks 

behind. I shot quickly and managed to get a few 

good ones. Not a minute after I shot the photos 

did the cloud consume them and they had to 

retreat from their position. 

EDITOR & ADVERTISING MANAGER 

Steve Dickinson 

Mob: 027 577 5014 

steve@pacificmedia.co.nz 

ART DIRECTOR 

Lynne Dickinson 

design@pacificmedia.co.nz 

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subs@pacificmedia.co.nz 

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PUBLISHERS 

NZ Adventure Magazine is published six times a year by: 

Pacific Media Ltd, P.O.Box 562 

Whangaparaoa, New Zealand 

Ph: 0275775014 

Email: steve@pacificmedia.co.nz 

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Contributions of articles and photos are welcome and must be accompanied by a stamped selfaddressed 

envelope. Photographic material should be on slide, although good quality prints may 

be considered. All care is taken but no responsibility accepted for submitted material. All work 

published may be used on our website. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without 

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effort to ensure the accuracy of material in this publication, it is a condition of purchase of 

this magazine that the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for loss or 

damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in this publication, or from the use of 

information contained herein and the publishers make no warranties, expressed or implied, with 

respect to any of the material contained herein. 

Adventure Magazine 

Whereever we go, 

our preferred car 

hire is... 

WINTER WARMER 

As the weather cools across the country 

it's timely to lean towards those drinks 

that warm us up. Hot toddy style drinks 

are steeped in history as before ice was 

readily available it was common to serve 

drinks not only at room temperature but 

hot. Originating in India and made from 

the sap of palm trees, hot toddies date 

back to the 1700s. Commonly known for 

their medicinal touch for poorly peeps, why 

not get creative and drum up a hot cocktail 

to batch up on those cold winter nights and 

preferably next to a fire. 

Make in a hot toddy glass 

1 jigger (60mls) whiskey 

1 barspoon of agave - leave out if you 

want a less sweeter option 

A couple of cloves and a cinnamon stick 

A quarter jigger of Tangelo Liqueur @ 

kiwispiritdistillery 

A few dashes of orange bitters 

Top with hot rooibos tea with vanilla and 

stir gently with a cocktail spoon. 

Follow Sue on Instagram: @cocktailontherock 

To sign up for the weekly newsletter: www.cocktailontherock.co.nz 

Takeshi Tani 

Virtual Reality, WI5+/6 

Banff National Park, Canada 

For over thirty years Bivouac Outdoor has been proudly 100% New Zealand owned and committed to 

providing you with the best outdoor clothing and equipment available in the world. It is the same gear 

we literally stake our lives on, because we are committed to adventure and we ARE climbing. 

Photo: John Price 

johnpricephotographic.com 

World Class Indoor Climbing 

First visit $25* then free for a week! 

Fantastic community, beginners 

welcome, boulder classes for all ages 

and abilities, inquire now. 

* Discounts for youths and own gear 

Student Mondays, entry $15 

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@northernrocks.climbing 

Unit 17, 101-111 Diana Drive, 

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“Northern Rocks is an indoor bouldering facility, we 

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people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities.” 

OFFICIAL GEAR SUPPLIER 

PROUD SUPPORTER OF... 

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PHOTO HOMESTAY 

How would you like to improve your photography skills whilst 

being hosted in in one of the most beautiful parts of the world? 

Chris McLennan has led photography expeditions all around 

the world, but Glenorchy in the South Island is his home and 

certainly one of his favorite places to photograph. It is not 

hard to see why he chooses to live in this amazing location. 

Chris has been running photo workshops from his home in 

Glenorchy since last winter. These small, intimate photo 

workshops (Glenorchy Photo Homestays) are a great way 

to advance your photography skills in a one-on-one setting. 

You will be guided to spots in Glenorchy to photograph the 

landscapes that only a local will know. Not only will you 

learn new photography techniques but you will work on post 

production as well. Each workshop is customized to suit the 

guests. 

The mountains around Chris’s home will draw you in but 

so will the weather. The landscape and sky gets incredibly 

moody as dramatic weather rolls in. There are endless 

photographic locations that change with fog, clouds and mist 

in the most beautiful way. 

08//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#226 

Glenorchy Photo Homestays were designed to 

accommodate groups of 1 – 4 and staying in Chris’s 

home allows for photography on the fly. If the night sky is 

clear the back yard is a perfect place to learn more about 

astrophotography. 

The 2 night, 2 day photography workshop will start with a 

meet and greet on night 1 and includes airport pickups if 

required from Queenstown, all transportation, photography 

workshop, access to private land and modern comfortable 

accommodation in Chris’s home. 

Come stay in Chris’s home, learn from him and experience 

Glenorchy. 

Further information and bookings: 

www.chrismclennanphotography.com 

https://bit.ly/CMphoto_homestay 

Email: chris@chrismclennanphotography.com 

BOBO.CO.NZ/SALEWA

FUTURE RETRO 

WITH WARREN MILLER 

In early May Warren Miller’s 71st feature film screened across New Zealand in 

cinemas and will rage through winter till mid July.With the days getting shorter and 

snow hitting the alpine areas, it is a great reminder that sliding on snow is not too far 

away and a new Warren Miller film is about to launch. Warren Miller Entertainment 

(WME) and Adventure Entertainment (AE) are excited to announce to Warren Miller 

fans that the tradition continues, with the cinematic release of the brand’s 71st film, 

Future Retro presented by Switzerland. 

In Future Retro, progressive, young female skiers Lexi duPont and Amie 

Engerbretson journey to the heart of deep-rooted ski culture in Switzerland, and 

freeskiers Baker Boyd and Victor Major rip the endless peaks of Iceland, using a 

1,300-year-old farm as their base camp. A trio of world-class snowboarders Elena 

Hight, Danny Davis and Nick Russell travel to Antarctica and witness the impact of 

climate change. 

Legendary skiers Scot Schmidt and the Egan brothers show a new crop of athletes 

how they were responsible for the extreme-skiing movement of the ’80s and ’90s, 

and the next generation of skiers and riders show us what it means to challenge the 

status quo. From competitive triumph on the road to the podium at the World Cup 

in Killington to pushing boundaries of big-mountain skiing in Alaska, Future Retro 

presented by Switzerland will be that connection—past, present and future. 

Future Retro presented by Switzerland, was premiere on May 7 in Auckland, the first 

city in the Southern Hemisphere to screen the film, before moving right across both 

North & South islands. All movie goers have the chance to enter the Major Prize 

competition which includes fantastic overseas holidays, gear, beer and more! Get 

your mates & family together to get the stoke fired up for winter and witness some 

amazing skiing & snowboarding on the big screen. 

Join this collective experience as the legacy continues. 

Go to warrenmiller.co.nz to learn more & purchase tickets. 

Featured Athletes 

Jim Ryan | Kaylin Richardson | Lexi duPont | Amie Engerbretson | Baker Boyd | 

Victor Major | Forrest Jillson | Tanner Rainville | Tom Day | John Egan | Dan Egan | 

Scot Schmidt | Jack Lovely | Maria Lovely | Parkin Costain | Elena Hight | Danny 

Davis | Nick Russell | Marcus Caston

70,000 followers can't be wrong 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION 


@ adventuremagazine 

@ adventuretraveller @ adventurevanlifenz

THE ULTIMATE 

OBSTACLE 

COURSE 

Despite the limitations 2020 imposed 

on us all, it didn't stop Spanish 

kayaker Aniol Serrasolses and a 

crew heading to Chile to set up the 

ultimate natural obstacle course 

featuring a 25km descent down a 

snowy volcano, sailing through 

dense forest before landing the 

world’s first double kickflip in a 

kayak over a waterfall, and finally 

setting down on a glassy lake, all at 

speeds of over 100kms. 

The route started at the summit of the 

volcano, went through the forest near 

the slopes of the Palguín river, over the 

Tomatita waterfall on the Captrén river 

and culminated in the Villarrica Lake – 

connecting water, land, wind and fire in 

a single journey. 

"These are the elements where I feel 

most alive. I've always felt comfortable 

connecting mountains, forests and 

rivers. I can't imagine a life away from 

them," says Serrasolses. 

ADVENTUREMAGAZINE.CO.NZ 15

"The part on the snow was 

kind of the hardest part as a 

kayak is not really made for the 

snow, so you ride it like a sled" 

The ambitious project didn’t go hitch-free, though – the high 

speed the kayak reached when gliding over the snow caused a 

spectacular crash. 

"The part on the snow was kind of the hardest part as a kayak 

is not really made for the snow, so you ride it like a sled. You 

go really fast but you’re kind of out of control. On one of those 

descents I lost control before reaching a section with ice blocks. 

I hit one of those blocks at about 80kph and it sent me flying 

more than 10 metres. I tried to control it in the air, but in the end, I 

ended up falling on totally hard snow." 

“That crash is next level as the snow was pretty hard. Definitely, 

that one hurt. My idea was to go around those pieces of ice and 

avoid them. Before doing that move, my kayak started spinning 

out of control. So, I went straight onto the ice and it sent me into 

the air." 

Previous Page: Aniol stands at the top of the old lift station before dropping in. This station maintained itself intact after 

the eruption of the volcano in 1984 

Above: Flying off a cliff in volcano Rukapillan and high speed riding through the slopes 

Above: Wall ride in the rio Nevados. 

Following page:: Aniol launches a Switch Panam off 18 meter Tomatita falls in the Captren river 


As if high speed and unusual kayaking terrain 

weren’t enough, when he reached the waterfall, 

Serrasolses scored a manoeuvre never seen 

before on a kayak: the first double kickflip. 

"The trick is to do two full rotations in the air. It's 

been tried for many years surfing waves in the river 

or the sea, without success," says Serrasolses. 

"This time I managed it on the first attempt and I 

couldn't be happier. The next one will clearly have 

to be the triple, won't it?" 

"This whole concept was to take kayaking out of 

its element, rather than always down rapids and 

waterfalls," he explains. "That double kickflip is a 

double rotation and it’s been attempted many times 

before, but no one has ever succeeded. This time 

it just went really good. I got two rotations on my 

first try but it took a lot of commitment to do it off 

that height. If you don’t land correctly, the impact 

on your back is hard… Actually it’s hard even if you 

land it correctly!" 

So is he planning to go even bigger on his next 

project? Perhaps not: "Over the last few years 

my focus has been a lot on the progression of 

the sport – the hardest waterfalls, the biggest 

water rivers, the highest waters. As I’m getting 

older, I want to do more creative stuff and more 

shooting and projects to put kayaking in really cool 

locations, where it hasn’t been seen as much." 


hiking 

TALES 

RICHMOND RANGE 

OLD MAN AND LAKE CHALICE CIRCUIT 

By Eric Skilling 

"Despite being at less than 

2,000 metres high, the low 

cloud and steep barren ridges 

made us feel like we were on 

top of the world." 

It is easy to understand why the 3,000 km Te Araroa Trail 

crosses the Richmond Range. If you wanted to show 

off New Zealand it would be a crime not to include this 

spectacular bit of country – rugged and exposed peaks 

with unique vistas ringed by stunning native forests which 

hide crystal-clear streams and waterfalls and arguably 

the loudest concentration of native birds outside of any 

sanctuary. It seems bold to single out less than 100km of 

the Te Araroa but do the miles to those barren tops and you 

get to enjoy the superb landscapes that are reckoned to be 

“…. amongst the very finest along Te Araroa ”. 

Spending time here is a reminder of why hiking is becoming 

so popular. 

You would be a little crazy to attempt the more exposed 

sections of the track in bad weather. Along with those views 

come exposed drop-offs that will keep you focused even 

when the weather is great, with the added challenge of few 

chances to refill water-bottles as you traverse the ridges. 

But this is sunny Marlborough so it is more likely you will 

get enjoy those landscapes in brilliant sunshine and cooling 

breezes especially if like us, you arrived there just after 

Christmas under a cloudless blue sky. 

There is plenty of choice in the park with 250 km of tracks 

and 30 huts, but our party of six were attempting a four-day 

circuit that would take us from Lake Chalice to Old Man hut, 

a day trip to summit Little Rintoul and then a return via the 

Goulter river back to the lake. 

Driving to the start of the track is an experience by itself 

although we managed it without the aid of 4-wheel drive. 

The gravel road quickly narrows to a narrow winding track 

with plenty of switchbacks and a fallen tree to negotiate. 

20//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#226 ADVENTUREMAGAZINE.CO.NZ 21

Stopping at the Enchanted Lookout is well worth the 

vista of the meandering Wairau River, its banks marked 

out with a kaleidoscope of neatly outlined paddocks and 

orchards, to the rugged gullies and landscapes of the 

Raglan Range and the distant Kaikoura peaks, tipped 

with snow after a recent snowfall. 

After a short walk we emerged from the pine forest and 

found ourselves looking down at a tranquil scene - Lake 

Chalice hut nestled in beech forest, bordered on one 

side by a noisy stream making its way down to the lake. 

Even better, that was the last of the pine trees. 

Arriving at a hut in early afternoon has its perks. 

Firstly, you get to book a bunk for the night much to 

the disappointment of the Ashburton Tramping Club 

members who arrived a few hours later, but we also had 

enough time to enjoy the 6.5km circuit of Lake Chalice, 

a far cry from the more challenging terrain we would 

face over the next three days. Formed by a massive 

landslide two thousand years ago the lake has no outlet 

stream, with the lake draining through landslide rubble 

to the Goulter Stream. Overnighting in Lake Chalice hut 

was a pleasure. 

Next day we followed the track into the forest. This is 

steep country. But so spectacular. The forests vary from 

podocarp to lush beech forests, scattered with ancient 

rimu, rata and kahikatea, and chilly but crystal-clear 

streams that make carrying full water bottles a waste 

of energy. The streams were flowing deep enough to 

offer up some priceless photos and videos but shallow 

enough to avoid wet boots. 

The track itself is mostly up. Lots of up. When it is not 

going up it follows the contour through a marked but 

largely unformed track. However, we were cheered 

on by tui, robin and the one-bird orchestra that is our 

inimitable bellbird. 

Finally, after an about seven hours or so we emerged 

out onto Old Man ridge and quickly forgot all aches as 

we soaked up the wilderness eye-candy from the ridge. 

It had been a tough day but the vistas around us made 

the effort all worthwhile. 

The track then followed the ridge line through mountain 

beech draped in fronds of moss followed by barren 

rocky outcrops and scree slopes. Having climbed over 

1,000 metres to Old Man ridge, the loss of almost 

200 metres in altitude down to Old Man Hut was as 

disheartening as watching a weka making off with your 

lunch, but it was still a pleasure to emerge out onto the 

large grassy clearing into the shadow of Little Rintoul 

towering several hundred metres above us. 

Finding a relatively flat clearing as large as this was 

pleasantly surprising considering the steepness of the 

surrounding country, which was just as well as we were 

going to share the site with 3 other groups that night. 

We set up camp and then sat down to a well-earned 

dinner and large cups of hot, sweetened coffee in the 

cooling evening. A little after dusk a cool damp mist 

rolled across the ridge which was enough to send us 

all to the warmth of sleeping bags and a tent. I certainly 

appreciated the warmth of my Macpac gear. 

Enjoying a couple of nights at this site was one of 

the many highlights of a memorable trip. I cherish the 

nights spent in a tent drifting off to sleep to the calls of 

weka and morepork (check out “the joy of camping”), 

but both mornings I gave up trying to pick out the 

various bird calls in the dawn chorus. There seemed to 

be a competition to be the loudest, most melodic bird 

of the morning, all for our benefit. There were just too 

many calls to identify individual species, so I just lay 

back in my tent and savoured the moment. 

Later that morning the walk back up to the ridge with 

day packs and a cooling westerly turned out to be a 

breeze compared to the previous day’s efforts. We 

emerged from the bush-line into bright sunshine and 

scrambled through the sparse vegetation onto the 

shattered rocks on the slopes of Little Rintoul. 

It did not feel all that long before we were making 

our way cautiously along the narrow track with its 

steep drop-off and onto the barren summit. The views 

seemed way out of proportion to the effort. It was 

like we were on top of the world with the steepness of 

the ridge around us and the low cloud blanketing the 

valleys to the west. To the east the mighty Kaikoura 

Range stood out on the horizon, still white-capped after 

the snowfall the days before we arrived. 

Seven hundred metres below Old Man Hut looked 

small and vulnerable against the vast beech forests 

and ridges that surrounded it. It took a bit of effort by 

our long-suffering leader to prise us off the peaks and 

ridges that day. 

Top left: Lake Chalice and Old Man Circuit / Top right: Evening mist rolling into the Old Man campsite had us all 

clambering into the warmth of our sleeping bags early that evening. 

Clockwise from top: Scambling the barren rock up Little Rintoul, with Old Man Hut a mere spec 700m below us / Hiking 

through the dense podocarp forests with the crystal clear streams and birdlife was a real priviledge / North back along 

the ridge from Little Rintoul with two of our party on the sub-peak / The surreal atmosphere of moss cover mountain 

beach on Old Man Ridge 


Eventually we made our way off the ridge and back to a 

deserted Old Man hut. That evening we enjoyed another 

one of those very satisfying meals and watched as Little 

Rintoul turned red in the sunset. Then as so often happens 

after the shared experience of a tough and exhilarating 

few days, the banter flowed, and new friendships were 

cemented. 

Walking out alongside the Goulter river next day turned 

out to be a bit trickier than we expected. It wasn’t quite 

believable that the time given for the mostly downhill hike 

back to Lake Chalice via Goulter river was the same seven 

hours it took to climb up along Old Man track. Perhaps we 

were a bit light-headed at the thought of that beer chilling in 

the fridge at Linkwater and the New Year’s Eve celebrations 

that night. Regardless, we took a cursory look at the Topo 

map and decided the recommended time had to be wrong. 

The Goulter River is one of those classic crystal-clear 

South Island rivers, cascading over multi-coloured smooth 

rounded boulders, and which we crossed more times than 

I would care to remember. Seven hours after leaving Old 

Man we emerged onto the clearing at Lake Chalice hut, with 

sodden boots, a few aches and several scrapes bearing 

witness to another solid day’s efforts. 

Cracking day 

for a stroll. 

CASS VALLEY, NEW ZEALAND 

TEMPERATURE 9° | ELEVATION 1783M 

As usual all that effort was forgotten once we were back 

at Linkwater, enjoying the company and banter of fellow 

adventurers in the garden bar of the local restaurant, a wellearned 

beer in hand and a meal cooked by someone else. 

Unfortunately, none of our group welcomed in the New Year, 

but I think we could be excused. 

The Richmond Range is another gem in the crown that 

is the New Zealand wilderness, offering jaw-dropping 

panoramas, dawn-choruses that you will reminisce forever, 

beautiful beech forests and enough challenging climbs 

to make that evening meal and coffee the tastiest, most 

satisfying you have enjoyed in an awfully long time. A great 

setting for some shared challenges and an opportunity to 

make new friends. 

Thanks to Macpac, Keen, Backcountry Cuisine and Jetboil. 

Top to bottom: Spirits were high as we left Little Rintoul and headed back to an empty Old Man Hut / The view from 

Enchanted Lookout across the Wairau River Valley and the mighty Kiakouras is well worth the stop / We crossed the 

crystal clear waters of the Goulter Stream more times than I care to remember 


KATE COURTNEY 

TRAINING FOR SUCCESS 

American mountain biker Kate Courtney reveals her training regime and 2021 

goals. With a cross-country World Championship and overall World Cup title 

already in the bag, Kate Courtney is rightly viewed as one of the world’s best 

mountain bike riders. But the 25-year-old is only just getting started and has 

created the ultimate home backyard training set-up to help her add to her already 

significant haul of trophies. Known as her fitness fortress, the area boasts a 

well-stocked gym complete, zwift set-up, ice bath and even her very own outdoor 

sauna. Here is what the American had to say about her training regime, the 

importance of recovery and what she hopes to achieve during the 2021 race 

season: 

What’s your first memory of cycling? My first vivid cycling memory is riding on the 

back of the tandem with my dad. We went out in the rain, there was no-one else on the 

mountain and the weather continued to decline. We ended up seeking shelter and we 

found five crumpled up dollars in my dad’s saddle bag, so we got blueberry pancakes. 

Of course to me that was the most epic day and for the longest time that’s what cycling 

was; a way to spend time with my dad, to get out and if I’m lucky, get some blueberry 

pancakes. 

I think the connections that you form while cycling are really unique, partly because it’s 

a sport where you can be side by side, or on the tandem I was behind and you can talk. 

It's really a great way to connect with people, whether it was my parents, my brother 

growing up, or now some of my closest friends. 

What does your typical training regime look like? I would say my lowest weeks are 

15 to 17 hours on the bike and my biggest weeks are 25 to 30 hours, but those are 

rarer. I consider strength training part of my fitness training and I spend anywhere from 

two to six hours a week in the gym. I trained a lot more volume last year, as I didn’t 

travel much and did 20 to 25 hour a week of training, every week. 

I approach it on a two-year cycle and last year was what we referred to as a 

development year, which also changes this year quite a bit and that for me is quite 

exciting. I think it’s producing different results and I’m definitely coming into this second 

year approaching Tokyo more rested physically and mentally. 

The focus this spring is on the high-intensity, knife-sharpening race prep, which is my 

typical race build up; you do base, you have to do moderate training, then I start in 

spring to do intensity and for me that’s in the form of training camps. 

I just got back from Malibu where we did ‘Mali-Boot Camp’ with three of my old teammates. 

We design these camps to really push me and help me progress towards 

racing, then training gets a bit more intensity-and recovery-focused once we hit the race 

season. 

I do yoga, I do mobility work, I work with a PT and do a lot of recovery activities outside 

of training like foam rolling, ice baths and saunas. And number one – very good sleep!

"For me, I think preparation is the antidote to those 

challenging situations, because at the end of the day 

you can only control what you can control." 

How important is recovery in the training process? 

I think that’s the frontier of sports performance right 

now. If you are always going at 75 to 90 percent of 

max, you never recover, but you also never hit that 100 

percent. It’s about using your motivation and your skills 

at planning and resting to maximise those important 

sessions and avoiding those medium-effort, mediummotivation 

which burn you out in the long run. 

Do you find it hard to switch off on your rest days? 

I’m working on it! I’m proud of this year; I’ve taken more 

complete rest days and that’s something that I used to 

not do. I use Whoop to track my recovery and every day 

that I take as a complete rest, the next day I’m in the 

green, so it definitely works. 

It’s a challenge for me managing how much I do on 

these rest days, because I have to do something during 

and I think my dog has been my secret weapon! I’ll 

take him for a walk, I’ll take him to the beach; I’ve done 

something, but it’s quite relaxing. 

What about the mental side of fitness and health 

– do you train that? Definitely! I work with a sports 

psychologist and I have for the past five years. I 

personally think that the mental game is a huge part of 

success, but it’s also a huge part of just being a healthy, 

happy person in the long run. I think that dealing with 

situations and emotions requires certain skills and 

perspectives that need to be developed and for me 

that’s done through sports psychology, plus reading, 

journalling and all of those kinds of things where I give 

myself space and time. 

Do you get nervous before races and if so how do 

you manage that? I do, definitely; I think everyone 

does and I think nerves are a sign you really care about 

something. For me, I think preparation is the antidote 

to those challenging situations, because at the end of 

the day you can only control what you can control. If 

you manage those things, hopefully the outcome takes 

care of itself and if it doesn’t, hopefully you’ll have more 

opportunities in the future. 

Do you use online training as part of your 

preparation? I’m doing my first Zwift race! I’m trying 

to embrace the opportunities that we do have to stay 

in shape, not just ‘in shape’ in the normal way – I can 

train – but I think there are some things you definitely 

get from competition that you can’t replicate and that’s 

what I learned last year. You can race yourself around 

as much as you want, but for your central nervous 

system actual racing is just a different stimulus. We’ve 

been looking for more ways to incorporate that into 

my training, whether it’s Strava segments, getting 

fast people to ride with or compete with, or even Zwift 

racing, which I said I would never do! I’m doing some 

small warm-up ones, some very random races, because 

I think that there’s some finesse to it, but I will report 

back! 

What about the research being done into female 

athletes training around the menstrual cycle. Is that 

something you look at within your training? I have 

and I’ve worked with Red Bull on that. I think it’s very 

important and very interesting that people are finally 

looking at the differences between men and women. 

Hopefully there’ll continue to be more studies, not just 

around menstruation but also nutrition in the future and 

training. I think a lot of these baselines that we take for 

granted are based on research done primarily on men 

and so that kind of cutting-edge research is going to be 

important moving forward and it’s exciting that they’re 

finally doing more. 

What drew you to study human biology – did it 

come from your interest in sport or is it something 

you’ve always had a passion for? I think it was a little 

bit unrelated to cycling. I studied human biology, which 

at Stanford University is a very interdisciplinary major 

and we have a lot of freedom to tailor it to your interests. 

I was interested in global health and technology 

innovation, so it was a very Silicon Valley thing to be 

looking into. 

I really enjoyed learning about health, less on a 

biological individual basis and more on an aggregate 

basis. Of course we had to take bio and get all of those 

fundamentals, but I was more interested in public health 

and global health level of analysis and that’s certainly 

something that’s been very interesting this year! 

Did your studies include wearable tech? It was 

health tech and wearables, mobile apps, those kinds of 

things. And being where Stanford is, in Silicon Valley, 

meant it was a really unique experience – we got a lot 

of exposure to local start-ups and people coming in and 

telling us about things that might be on the horizon, 

which was really exciting.I hope to head back to some of 

that someday, but I enjoy focusing on bikes right now. 

Where does your confidence come from? I heard 

a definition of it recently that was ‘confidence is the 

belief that you can uphold promises that you make to 

yourself’. You can develop confidence from different 

parts of your life, but for me it’s about believing that I 

can do things that I set out to do on the bike. 

It’s a strategic combination of working on mental skills 

and managing the external environment to give me an 

opportunity to build confidence. It’s not always going 

to be linear and perfect, but if you’re progressing and 

getting better, you’re going to feel great! 

Previous Page:Kate Courtney / Right: Kate in action. 

Images by Emily Tidwell / Red Bull Content Pool 


kayaking 

TALES 

CENTRAL OTAGO 

RIVER JOURNEYS 

By Nick Pascoe 

There are Graham Sydney paintings on walls 

throughout the country portraying the rolling 

tussocked hills of Central Otago. It’s known for 

wine, fruit, the rail trail, and stunning summer days. 

However the high plateaus hide other gems and 

in amongst them you can find a network of New 

Zealand’s best wilderness rivers. 

A cold winter brings snow to the mountains and hills. 

When this starts to melt and run off the area becomes 

a whitewater kayaking destination with rivers such as 

the Nevis, Waikaia, and Shotover, being established 

spring classics. Whitewater kayaking in New Zealand 

can be a fickle sport, requiring specific river levels, and 

complicated access plans. This has left many areas 

unexplored and new adventures to be found. With 

vision and a well timed Saturday evening phone call 

Will Martin and Shannon Mast roped myself and Max 

Rayner in to take a look at the Upper Pomohaka River. 

Sunday started with a flat tyre, snow beside the road 

after a late spring storm, and then two hours of fourwheel 

driving to the top of the Old Man Range where 

a snowdrift stopped us in our tracks in the heart of 

Central’s rolling hills with no river in sight. An hour of 

hiking with our boats saw us exploring the gold mining 

relics at the historic Junction hut, and relieved smiles 

on our faces as the river had enough water to float our 

kayaks. 


It was 1pm and we had 20km of unknown wilderness river 

in front of us, so we promptly pushed off to enjoy the first 

few kms of stunning alpine country. A few boulder choked 

rapids kept us on our toes, until we came around a bend to 

see a horizon line in the river and a lone ancient beech tree 

far below us. With the river looking like it dropped off the 

edge of the world we expected a big portage and got out to 

inspect the rapid, to be pleasantly surprised to find a clean 

3m waterfall and boulder gardens. This was our entry into 

the beech forest, and a section of amazing whitewater. We 

made quick ground until encountering a more technical and 

consequential rapid. By this point it was late in the day, and 

our margin for error was disappearing along with the sun. 

We opted to bushwhack our boats up and around the rapid. 

I made an unfortunate misstep and gathered some cuts 

and bruises from a gravity assisted descent at one point, 

but we all made it back to the river safely. Our stoke came 

back with just a few paddle strokes on the river, and we all 

shared high fives half an hour later when we popped out of 

the beech forest and could relax and watch the sunset as 

we floated the few kilometres of flat water. 

We loaded our boats onto the waiting vehicle as it got dark. 

Satisfaction levels were high, but the trip wasn’t done yet 

with our other vehicle still parked way up in the hills where 

we’d left it that morning. A layer of low cloud had moved 

into the Teviot valley, and we crawled our way up through 

the mud and the murk onto the top of the Old Man Range 

once more. It was 11pm at night and we were above the 

cloud for a stunning moonrise, while crossing all fingers 

and toes that we didn’t get a vehicle stuck in the snow or 

mud. The cards fell our way, and I made it back to Wanaka 

at 1am thoroughly exhausted but stoked on exploring a 

new part of our backyard. 

A couple of weeks later conditions aligned once more, and 

five of us found ourselves at the Aspiring Helipad at midday 

on a Monday. It had rained the day before, and we hoped 

that the North Branch of the Motatapu River would now be 

at an ideal water level. As the heli gained elevation it was 

odd to gain a new perspective of our local area, Glendhu 

bay, Treble Cone ski area, and Wanaka itself. Only a few 

minutes later we found ourselves very much alone, high 

in an alpine valley with no marked access. Our friend Ben 

Young had done his chopper pilot training in Wanaka, 

and regularly flew this route as he gathered his hours. 

This river was his project, and after taking a moment to 

appreciate the snow capped mountains, we set to our task 

of discovering what the river held downstream. 

It was low volume and bouncy to begin with, much like 

a poorly shaped water slide. The alpine setting was 

spectacular though, and the moody afternoon light painted 

a stunning picture as we found a few bigger rapids and 

drops to really get our hair wet. It was not long until the 

river grew in size and became consistently steeper. 

The quality of the whitewater increased, however the 

opportunities to stop were slim and margins for error 

low. We took our time, settling into an efficient leap frog 

style where one person would get out and scope the line 

through the next rapid, and then if things looked positive 

wave us through. In this method we moved at a solid pace, 

with periodic interruptions to stretch our legs by walking 

around a rapid that was not going to leave a kayaker in a 

healthy state. 

Distance wise we began to get close to the confluence of 

the North and South Branches of the Motatapu, however 

we were conscious that the valley still looked a long way 

below us. We weren’t wrong, a particularly long section of 

tight continuous whitewater awaited. This section would’ve 

required linking consequential move after move for almost 

500 m, and while it seemed each move was possible we 

were conscious of the dwindling daylight and the fact we 

were still a long way from home. In the best interests of 

leaving our future selves something to aspire to (and more 

honestly our own self preservation in the moment) we 

opted for the tramping with kayaks option. Our portage 

put us back on the river at the top of another steep rapid, 

however we could see a pool at the bottom and too many 

great moves to ignore so we took turns at paddling the 

best rapid of the day. After emerging from this mini gorge 

thankfully the river did finally ease, and we popped out at 

the confluence with the South Branch. 

The sun was low in the sky, and floating through the far 

mellower whitewater we had ample time to appreciate the 

revegetation work going on around the Motatapu river. 

This was highlighted with one more mini gorge and two 

harder rapids amongst the beech forest. We emerged to a 

stunning sunset over Glendhu, rather thankful for going two 

from two and again escaping nightfall on the river. 

Spring had a kick in it’s tail though, and another weekend 

rain event lined up the Otago headwaters. This time my 

friend Cam Kerr and I had our eyes on another close-asthe-crow-flies 

Wanaka river, the Dingle Burn. Our ambition 

was to paddle from its source below Highlander Peak 

where it starts life as a small stream and follow it 30 km out 

to Lake Hawea. 

The weather was clear and sunny as we left Wanaka, but 

got steadily more gloomy as we approached the Ahuriri. A 

flooded river and muddy 4wd access into Ahuriri Base Hut 

boded well for our kayaking, but not so much for the uphill 

grunt to come. Our planned access route was to tramp 

600 m up onto the crest of the mountain range separating 

the Ahuriri valley from the Dingle Burn, and then descend 

to Top Dingle Hut. The climb was a proper slog, but we 

were able to move surprisingly quickly on the old farm 

track. Standing at 1450 m with our kayaks looking across 

to the snowy peaks of the Barrier Range was a stunning 

and surreal moment of ‘why did we think this was a good 

idea?’. 

The rain turned right back on for our descent, which was 

to prove more technical and scary than the kayaking to 

come. The track was muddy and slippery, and our kayaks 

were acting like anchors trying to drag us to the bottom 

of the hill by the fastest route possible. There was a real 

sense of relief when we reached the friendly fishermen and 

warm fire of Top Dingle Hut. The crux of the trip was now 

in front of us; how good had our weather forecasting been, 

and was there the right amount of water in the river for our 

kayaks? 

Previous Page: Cam Kerr high above the Dingle Burn, earning his paddle strokes - Image by Nick Pascoe 

Right: Shannon Mast in the upper reaches of the North Branch Motatapu River - Image by Max Rayner 

Following Page: Cam paddling past a massive landslide in the lower Dingle Burn - Image by Nick Pascoe 


The river was banks full but still running clear and blue, and so we 

pushed off into the flow to see what was downstream. We quickly 

found ourselves in a grassy hydroslide, watching the mountains 

recede behind us. The paddling was amazing; scenic, and continuous 

whitewater with a couple of mini gorges to add a little spice. Far earlier 

than we expected we found ourselves beaching the kayaks and 

tramping up to Cotters Hut. The cosy hut was to be our home for the 

night, and we settled down for dinner and desert while watching the 

deer emerge onto the flats. 

The next 6km of river entered a gorge, and we were excited to see 

what was to come. We quickly had big smiles on our faces, it was 

fun non-stop rapids, underneath a spectacular beech forest tunnel. A 

few fallen trees in the river kept us on our toes, but we made steady 

progress and emerged from the beech forest into the home stretch 

towards Lake Hawea. Lunchtime saw us at Dingleburn Station, feeling 

thoroughly content with the trip. 

With New Zealand’s borders closed our eyes have been forced to look 

inwards, and it’s apparent once again that there is plenty of adventure 

right here close to home. We’re blessed with an abundance of 

wilderness, suiting exploration by all manner of people and methods. 

The takeaway from our spring first descents, and a silver lining of the 

last twelve months of upheaval, was a renewed appreciation of the 

people and places that we have here in our home. 


TO THE ISLAND 

By Lynne and Steve Dickinson 

“The world is beyond us, 

It's too enormous 

But oh, the island is just right, 

It's the perfect size” 

Day one: Weather with You: 

“Everywhere ya go, always take the weather with you” 

When I noticed Crowded House’s “To the Island Tour” 

were performing at Church Road in Napier at the same 

time that THL Holdings were offering specials on their 

campervans, it was like a ‘perfect storm’ for a road trip. 

It was the end of March and the day we picked up our 

camper the sun was shining and the temperature gauge 

read 25 degrees and the forecast for the week was 

nothing but sun. With recent mountain bike purchases 

itching to clock up some miles we booked a camper 

with bike racks and off we went. Often one of the issues 

hiring a campervan for a short trip, is the hassle of filling 

in the paperwork, picking up the van, however, this was 

far from our experience; when we picked up our Maui 

camper, it was slick in and out and on the road. 

Little Waipa Domain on the banks of the Waikato River, 

our first stop, is not far from Lake Karapiro. This free 

camping spot had plenty of space, and to our surprise 

plenty of lake edge parking. We backed up to the river's 

edge, unhooked our bikes, locked the doors and headed 

off on the Waikato River Bike Trail. One of the joys of 

having a campervan is that you are right near where 

you want to be, in an amazing setting and it’s super 

convenient. 

The Waikato River Trail officially begins at the 

Pokaiwhenua Stream, just off the State Highway 1 on 

Horahora Road. I had unwittingly stumbled on the trail 

during the Spring Challenge Adventure Race at the end 

of 2020 and was keen to revisit it again. The trail covers 

over 100km and takes in 5 lakes and 4 hydro dams, but 

the trail is accessible from many locations along the way 

so you can bike as much or as little as you like. 

We started at the Little Waipa Reserve, an undulating 

section that follows a distinct path alongside the Waikato 

River. It is incredibly picturesque and it meanders across 

a well maintained gravel track before hitting the 500m 

continuous boardwalk over the Huihuitaka Wetland. 

According to the map and web research, the 6.2km ride 

is graded intermediate, however I would have graded it 

a little less. 

One of the issues with spending the afternoon biking is 

the need to feel clean at the end of the day. Although 

our camper was completely self-contained, we were 

surprised to find that the Little Waipa Domain offered 

toilets and not just showers but hot showers! This is not 

how remembered freedom camping in NZ. Impressed. 

Day Two: Now we're getting Somewhere 

“Lay me out with your heart 

Now we're getting somewhere 

Push me back to the start 

Now we're getting somewhere” 

One of the keys to an interesting road trip is to stay off 

the main roads. So although we were heading towards 

Taupo, we stuck to the backroads via Whakamaru Dam. 

It was here that we picked up the Waikato Bike Trail 

again. This section of the track goes from Whakamaru 

Dam to Atiamuri, a distance of 24 km, graded 

intermediate. On the entrance to the trial is a number for 

a shuttle service so if you don’t want to do the return trip 

you can organise to be picked up. We decided to bike for 

a while and then simply turn round. 

The start of the trail had no elevation but wound 

backwards and forwards through the trees along the 

river edge with large rock faces and pastoral lands 

creating an impressive backdrop. A couple of km along 

we reached the Lake Whakamaru Reserve, another 

fantastic free facility right on the river's edge. 

From here the trail became more technical as the path 


narrowed and the turns became tighter. Graded an 

intermediate (grade 3) due to the fact that there were 

drop offs on the river's edge, however it was not too 

challenging, just super fun. Make sure you follow the 

blue markers and the orange arrows as there are few 

places where the trail divides. 

After a few more km the trail ran alongside Highway 

30, linking Whakamaru Dam to State Highway 1 at 

Atiamuri, and ran alongside this for a km or so before 

darting back into the trees alongside the river. This part 

of the trail allowed you to see the river in the distance. 

There is something engaging riding alongside the 

banks of a river as auspicious as the Waikato. At this 

part, where it widens out more, you can appreciate its 

significance in New Zealand’s history. 

We continued along for another hour or so before 

deciding to turn round and head back to our car for the 

drive into Taupo. We stayed on the backroads enjoying 

the scenery and avoiding the major roadworks that 

seem to be plaguing every major road in NZ at the 

moment. 

Unfortunately there is only one way to Napier, so we 

headed across State Highway 5 for an hour or so 

before turning off towards Glenfalls DOC camp, the 

takeout point for the first adventure race I had ever 

done over 13 years previously. We backed our camper 

right up to the river and watched the sun set behind the 

alluvial landscape overlooking the Mohaka River. 

Day Three: Four Seasons in One Day: 

“Even when you're feeling warm 

The temperature could drop away 

Like four seasons in one day” 

The night had been clear but cold and when we woke 

up it was hard to see more than a few feet in front of us 

due to the thick mist that had settled over the Mohaka 

River, and the temperature had dropped to a chill 5 

degrees. So we packed up camp and headed into 

Napier for a more cruisy day of bike riding around the 

vineyards. By the time we reached Napier the sun was 

shining and we were back in singlets and shorts. 

We had been told about Ash Ridge Winery in Roy’s Hill 

as this was the place where “On yer Bike” was located. 

Knowing little about this part of Napier we decided 

to check them out and get a lay of the land. On Yer 

Bike offers bike hire and exclusive access through 

the surrounding vineyards, so if you don’t have your 

own bike this is the place to start your travels, and Ash 

Ridge Winery was the perfect spot to begin our wine 

tasting experience. Our hostess, Denise, explained 

the wines and the uniqueness of the more boutique 

wineries, and provided us with excellent tips about how 

to plan our day. 

You would think that biking between vineyards could 

be a bit of a hazard, but the thing is that it actually 

slows down the drinking process. We, however, chose 

to drive to Trinity Hill Winery and then to the last 

vineyard (in this case Abbey Winery and Brewery), 

and explore on bike from there. Unfortunately this 

meant that we spent more time imbibing that we did 

cycling. All I can say is that we were thankful that the 

campervan was close by and we could “sleep” the wine 

off before having to drive anywhere. 

Hawkes Bay has some clearly marked Freedom 

Camping areas in some top waterfront locations. 

We had already checked out Perfume Point which 

overlooks the harbour entrance with a surf break right 

Previous Page: Biking along the Waikato River Trail 

Above: Enjoying a beer after biking, at Little Waipa Reserve 

Clockwise from top left: The Waikato River Trail just past Whakamaru Dam / Four seasons in one day, mist surrounds our 

camper at Glenfalls DOC site / Delicious breakfast / Relaxing alongside the Mohaka River 


in front so we headed there for the night. However 

at 2am the music started. Peeking from behind our 

curtains we witnessed a rather dishevelled looking 

local, dropping pots and pans from the back of his 

car while he was attempting to locate his fishing gear! 

With AC/DC blaring from his car speakers full bore, 

sleep was impossible. So we decided to move… bad 

decision… Keeping with the music theme of this story, 

we should have known it was better to “love the one 

you’re with”. 

Another Freedom Camping location on the app 

provided by our Maui Camper hire company, was 

the Pump Track but this was full with campers so we 

moved further south to the next spot. We should have 

known something was up when we pulled in and the 

parking area was full of cars, all of which had steaming 

windows, meaning there were people inside. 

Unwilling to wake anyone up with the noise of our 

camper backing out we pulled in to the last remaining 

gap and settled down for some much needed sleep, 

by now it was close to 3am. Within half an hour two 

more cars arrived, parking directly behind us, blocking 

us in and the occupants got out to loudly continue their 

conversations right outside our window. At this point 

we felt it was evident we had taken some “residents” 

parking space and their conversation was meant to 

intimidate us. They achieved their goal and we offered 

to get on our way. By way of apology, one of the late 

arrivals yelled repeatedly, “my wife and baby are 

sleeping in that car.” At first we just felt relieved to have 

got away and then retrospectively it hit us how sad it 

was that a mother and baby were sleeping in their car, 

and they were obviously not the only ones. 

Day Four: Distant Sun 

“Still so young to travel so far 

Old enough to know who you are 

Wise enough to carry the scars 

Without any blame, there's no one to blame” 

Napier and surrounds is all about biking and walking, 

there are trails everywhere you look. Slightly jaded from 

our previous night we decided to explore some of the 

trails close to where the concert was being held later 

in the day at Church Road. On the advice of Denise 

from Ash Winery, we parked the camper behind the EIT 

(technical Institute in Taradale) and hooked onto the 

river trail towards Puketapu. 

The gentle meandering path alongside the river 

provided a perfect antidote to a long eventful night. You 

can ride the trail on one side of the river and cross the 

bridge at Puketapu and return on the other. The trail 

runs alongside vineyards, orchards and the river bank 

and we were amazed at the number of people out using 

the trail. We reached the bridge and on the other side is 

the cute local pub, The Puketapu, the perfect place for 

a mid-ride beer, wine or brunch… 

With the concert not starting till later in the evening, 

there are plenty of options for passing away a few hours 

so we headed up to Mission Estate winery for a lazy 

lunch in the garden. Then we parked the campervan as 

close as we could get to the event at Church Road, and 

were able to relax until the event started and we were 

only a few minute’s walk away. 

I have always felt a very strong connection with music, 

the fact that it can transport you back to a time and 

place in an instant. So when Crowded House opened 

up with “Distant Sun”, I was immediately taken back 

over 20 years ago to Waiheke Island, when Crowded 

House was a constant on our CD player. For the next 

couple of hours we were treated to a nostalgic trip down 

memory lane and were impressed with everything about 

the show, from their musicianship, stage presence and 

the intimate atmosphere. 

As the concert came to an end it signalled the final day 

of our roady and knew it was time to head back towards 

home. With the adrenalin still pumping (and a fair few 

miles to cover) we hit the road and made it as far as 

Taupo before settling in for the night at Reids Farm 

Freedom camping spot on the banks of the Waikato 

River (another impressive free camping spot). 

Day Five: Don’t Dream it’s Over 

“Hey now, hey now, don’t dream it’s over.” 

The following morning the rain arrived, almost reflecting 

our mood of sorrow that our road trip was coming to an 

end. As we drove the final miles towards Auckland you 

could feel the pressure of the city start to weigh down 

on you as the trees and fields were replaced by traffic 

and buildings. As we neared the drop off area at the 

airport it was with a little sadness that this roady was 

over. But the joy of hiring a campervan is that all we had 

to do was drive up, smile, hand over the keys, and walk 

away. 

So instead of lamenting that the trip was over, we 

simply got back home, picked up the phone and booked 

another trip. And as the song “To the Island” goes, “the 

world is beyond us, it’s too enormous, but oh, the island 

is just right, it’s the perfect size.” Time to go explore! 

“Dont' dream it's over” 

For excellent campervan hire contact www.maui-rentals.com/nz 

Clockwise from top left: The Waikato River Trail / On the Tutukairi River trail in Napier / Crowded House thanking the 

crowd (compliments of Crowded House) / The Puketapu 


RIDER ON THE STORM 

Angelo is a 21-year-old storm chaser from the port 

city of Salerno, in the south of Italy. Two years ago 

he took up storm chasing, a hobby that has led 

him to photographing extreme weather around his 

tempestuous home region of Campania and beyond. 

This is the story of how, and why, he does it… 

---- 

As I child, I was terrified of storms. Especially those that 

occurred in the summer, when a strong contrast between hot 

and cold air made them particularly violent. I remember one 

occasion in August, when I had just turned six years old. I 

was out shopping with my parents just a few kilometres west 

of Salerno when suddenly there was a loud noise coming 

from the direction of the Apennine Mountains. 

A huge cumulonimbus cloud split the sky in half, with hot and 

sunny weather on one side, and a very strong thunderstorm 

on the other. As the storm got closer, lightning fell a few 

hundred metres from us, and hail whitened the streets in 

minutes. This was a totally new experience for me, and I ran 

ANGELO CONCILIO 

into my father’s arms in terror. It’s a memory that remains 

with me to this day. I was afraid. But I was also in awe. 

Like the pull of a gripping horror movie, my fear morphed 

into fascination as I grew older. When a thunderstorm 

broke out at night, I would rush to my window to witness the 

night’s sky put on a brilliant show. As a young boy without a 

computer, I wasn’t able to access meteorological forecasts 

or detailed weather maps. But if I heard thunder, or sensed 

the sky was threatening, I would wait giddily in anticipation, 

ready with my parents’ camera in the hope of capturing a 

fleeting moment forever. 

This led to my interest in photography, focusing mainly 

on the beautiful landscapes that form my home region of 

Campania. Here in Salerno, we are fortunate to have the 

Amalfi Coast to the west, and Cilento National Park to the 

south. Our coastline overlooks the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, 

between the Gulf of Salerno and the Gulf of Policastro. It is 

an area of natural beauty, and a perfect canvas on which 

storms can paint their beguiling magic. Before long, my 

landscape photography focused almost exclusively on the 

niche that was getting the most attention and bringing me 

the most joy: storms. What once frightened me now gave me 

a strong adrenaline rush, especially the first time lightning 

struck just a few metres away and resulted in a spectacular 

photo. From that moment on, I realised that I absolutely had 

to chase storms in southern Italy. It became almost like my 

drug. 

The storm season in southern Italy lasts almost all year, but 

the best time to hunt is from March to November, when the 

contrasts between cold and warm air are at their highest. At 

the end of winter, with the lengthening of the days and the 

longer daylight hours, the ground heats up more than in the 

colder months. Consequently there is more energy in play. 

Living a few kilometres from the southern Apennines, 

thermo-convective thunderstorms often occur during the 

afternoon. They are characterised by the development of 

huge cumulonimbus ‘anvil’ clouds that develop up to the 

highest limits of the tropopause: the boundary in the Earth's 

atmosphere between the troposphere and the stratosphere. 

At the height of the thunderstorm season, it’s possible to 

see storm cells at sea, often associated with the arrival of 

a cold front that accompanies them. These are viewed as 

being more dangerous, since the warm sea provides more 

energy than the spring or winter months. Most of the time 

they develop at night, when it is easier for us storm chasers 

to photograph lightning associated with waterspouts or 

tornadoes. 

For me, the best conditions in which to shoot storms 

are when there are isolated thunderstorms expected. 

This ensures the rest of the sky is clear and clean, 

especially during the darkness of night when you can 

admire the lightning bolts flashing out from the storm. 

Known as ''positive lightning’’, it is perhaps the most 

fascinating electrical manifestation that can develop from 

thunderstorms. These are extremely powerful discharges 

that are among the longest lightning that can be observed 

during a thunderstorm. Arising from young cumulonimbus 

clouds, they have the peculiarity of appearing to fall from a 

great distance from the cloud that generated them. 

After consulting the weather bulletins and the medium and 

long-term forecasts, my storm chasing friends and I decide 

where to position ourselves the day before. Then three or 

four hours before the storm is due to arrive, we’ll jump in my 

Jeep Renegade and head to our chosen spot. My standard 

equipment includes my Canon EOS 200D camera, my 

various lenses (70-300mm, 50mm art, and a 14mm), and 

– key to a good shot - my fixed camera tripod. Given the 

chase lasts most of the day, snacks are a must. 


People often ask me about the dangers of storm chasing. 

Put it this way: my parents are not too keen with my chosen 

activity. Before Covid, my day job was as a wedding 

photographer. They certainly preferred me photographing 

newlyweds, because it is of course a lot less risky. But it’s 

also a lot less exciting! 

The truth is that storm chasing is quite dangerous, 

especially to those who set out to chase storms without 

acknowledging the risks, or respecting nature, or doing 

their research. Most accidents caused by lightning occur 

outdoors. You are most at risk in the mountains, but all 

large and exposed places such as a lawn or a soccer field 

can be a dangerous place to be during a storm. Especially 

anywhere in the presence of water, such as the sea, 

beaches, piers, docks or outdoor pools. 

But it is not only lightning that is dangerous. Among the 

most dramatic and worrying effects of climate change is 

the increasing extremes of weather phenomena, destined 

to become increasingly violent as temperatures rise. A 

frightening change that is already underway has seen 

hurricanes becoming more powerful and destructive. 

Near the coasts, if you are near large plains, you can also 

experience waterspouts or tornadoes that can be very 

dangerous to human life. I once witnessed this danger 

myself, and I’m thankful that I live to tell the tale. 

It was the evening of October 3rd, 2019. Some weather 

models had offered a small chance of thunderstorms, and 

right on the Gulf of Salerno there formed a self-healing 

thunderstorm. This is a phenomenon that feeds itself and 

regenerates due to the contrast between the warm and 

humid low altitude air and the cool and drier high altitude 

air. On this occasion, it brought gusts of over 100km/h and 

a flurry of hail, hitting first the city centre, then the coastal 

area. 

In a hurry to capture it, me and a friend positioned ourselves 

a few metres from the beach to shoot some lightning. 

And while the picture that came out is amazing, I was 

almost killed as two bolts struck just a few hundred metres 

from our beach. It was a moment of pure terror, since we 

were positioned just steps from sea level! It was an epic 

experience, but really scary. Would I do it again? I would. 

But with a few more precautions this time. 

On another occasion in 2020, I was on the beach at Cilento 

National Park with friends who were surfing in the sea. A 

strong Atlantic disturbance had scourged southern Italy, 

bringing thunderstorms that resulted in huge waves in the 

Tyrrhenian Sea. After a few hours, a strong storm formed 

over the Gulf of Salerno, slowly approaching us. All of a 

sudden, electrical discharges came down a few hundred 

metres from the surfers! I had to call my friends out of the 

water because of the very dangerous situation. It was a 

captivating and epic thrill. My photos of that day resembled 

the scenes of foreboding and doom from Netflix’s Stranger 

Things. 

Recently I started working for Extreme Weather Club, which 

works to promote and publish the work of storm chasers all 

over Europe. But one day soon I aim to expand my storm 

chasing journey beyond Italy’s horizons. I would love to go 

to Venezuela where electrical storms are guaranteed almost 

all year round on the Catatumbo River and Lake Maracaibo. 

It's one of the most fascinating places on the planet for 

those drawn to extreme weather. 

Another dream trip would be the USA, where it’s possible 

to see and photograph supercells, tornadoes and lightning 

all at the same time. My hope is to one day join a team of 

storm chasers in the USA and around the world, working 

with The Weather Channel or National Geographic. Maybe 

that will be the day that my parents finally accept my chosen 

career. 

To read more about Angelo’s storm chasing experiences in southern Italy, head to DiscoverInteresting.com 

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Physiology in a Nutshell 

how to train your emotions and mind 

There are times when conditions, 

fitness and skills are perfectly 

matched, yet the mission fails. 

Here, the adventurer must 

understand and master the 

domain of emotion and mind. 

Scenario 1: Fear and the flight 

reaction 

Imagine you are well on your 

way to a summit through a 

difficult stretch of rock. The 

climber above knocks a flurry of 

rocks over you which fly past you 

into the abyss below. Your body 

tenses, eyes widen, lips pull back 

and you become stiff. A wave 

of fear engulfs your body. All 

you can think about is the awful 

consequences of an imminent 

error and a fall (worry). You start 

to tremble, hesitate and cannot 

move forward. Every move 

presents ghastly consequences. 

You are having a flight reaction. 

Scenario 2: Anger and the fight 

reaction 

A client you are guiding fails 

to follow instructions putting 

the group and mission at risk. 

Your eyebrows furrow down 

and in, the heat of anger 

By Dr Sven Hansen, MBChB, MBA. Founder of Resilience Institute 

Dr Sven Hansen is an amateur climbing and lifelong outdoor adventurer. With a background in special forces and sports 

medicine, he works with executives, professionals and athletes to build the resilience needed to achieve excellence. 

https://resiliencei.com/ 

rises to your chest, fists and 

face. Your mind says it is all 

their fault (rumination). You 

shout and dress the client 

down aggressively. The group 

is shocked, and the client 

dismayed. The rest of the trip is 

awkward. Their reviews damage 

your reputation. You just had a 

fight reaction. 

Scenario 3: Overwhelm and the 

freeze reaction 

The waves are huge on an ocean 

surf ski race. You have spent 

months training and thousands 

of dollars preparing. As you 

begin to ride the rising swells, 

uncertainty rises. Are you out of 

your depth (doubt)? A massive, 

turbulent wave rises behind 

you. Instead of paddling hard, 

you brace and panic. You fall off 

your ski. Pounded by wave after 

wave, your mind becomes numb. 

You cannot remount, lose your 

boat and paddle, and have to be 

rescued. You just had a freeze 

reaction. 

Those who have pushed the 

limits will recognise these 

reactions in ourselves, our 

colleagues and our clients. While 

we all study conditions, work 

on our fitness and sharpen our 

skills, often it is these reactive 

emotional and mental states 

that ruin a mission. What if we 

were to master and train these 

destructive reactions? 

We frequently hear phrases 

such as: “Keep emotion out of 

it.” Better advice is to understand 

and master emotion and the 

associated mental states. 

Best advice is to understand 

and master emotion and the 

associated mental states. 

Recent work in neurobiology helps 

us understand how we either react or 

respond to acute adversity. We can 

process emotion in two ways. Option 

one, under pressure is to default to 

unconscious reptilian reactions – flight, 

fight and freeze. The unseen emotion 

overwhelms the mind and drives 

automatic reactions. In combat, we call it 

‘condition black’. 

These reactions are driven by two almond 

shaped bodies called the amygdala in the 

temporal lobes – just inside the skull and 

adjacent to the earlobes. Unconscious 

emotional systems have been available 

since the time of reptiles. In the absence 

of an alternative response, these 

reactions have been selected and 

retained by evolution in our brains today. 

In flight, fear activates the sympathetic 

system pumping out adrenaline (body 

tension) and nor-adrenaline (mental 

tension). With blood pumping fast and 

under pressure to lower limbs, our legs 

become stiff and tremulous. There is an 

overwhelming drive to escape, rather 

than engage, the situation. The mind 

spins in worry or panic. 

In fight, anger activates the sympathetic 

system to drive blood under pressure 

to the chest, fists and jaw (again 

sympathetic). The overwhelming drive 

is to attack, hit, bite or shout. The mind 

spins in blame and rage at the person. 

In freeze, we activate the lower and older 

part of the vagus nerve. This tenth 

cranial nerve runs from the brain to 

pelvis – the longest pair of nerves in 

the nervous system. When activated, 

we can feint, void bowels or bladder, 

collapse, burst into tears, or collapse 

into submission. 

Adventurers seek to match skills 

to significant challenge – what we 

describe as the flow state. Flight, fight 

and freeze reactions will unravel your 

mission. Embarrassment, regret and 

shame linger. 

Experts have laid out a number of 

options to understand and master 

these reactions. When we do, periods 

of flow in moments of extreme 

challenge drive inspired and superskilful 

action. The result is enhanced 

performance . 

The physiology of flow is now well 

studied . You will recognise it when 

your mind becomes quiet – often to 

the point that memory is lost. Timekeeping 

stops – and time can stretch 

or compress. The experience has a 

feeling of grace. Afterwards it feels 

absolutely great – thanks to the flood 

of neurochemicals such as dopamine, 

endorphins and anandamide. 

Flow is an altered state of brain waves 

(theta and gamma), neurochemicals, 

sensory awareness, complete 

absorption, focus, and fluid responses 

to dynamic situations. It is so enjoyable 

to the adventurer, that we keep going 

back for more. 

The requirement is a well-trained 

Vagus Nerve. The new and upper parts 

of the Vagus nerve drive the calm, 

control and connect response. When 

we exhale, relax our face, calm our 

emotions and thoughts, and focus fully 

on the moment at hand, the new (or 

ventral) vagus fires. We experience 

calming, slowing, and focusing. Trust 

increases establishing the basis for 

playfulness, connection and superior 

performance. 

Flow is an altered state of brain waves (theta and gamma), 

neurochemicals, sensory awareness, complete absorption, focus, 

and fluid responses to dynamic situations. It is so enjoyable to the 

adventurer, that we keep going back for more. 


Acrophobia – a crippling fear of height 

Perhaps one third of people suffer a fear 

of heights. The reaction is flight. It ranges 

from a mild anxiety near a 16th floor 

window to being crippled with nausea, 

shaking, clinging and collapsing. For an 

adventurer this is life limiting. The options 

to solve this are clearly agreed: 

1. Acknowledge and engage: the 

experience is not fun, so your being 

avoids the situation. Accept it full and 

resolve to engage in re-training your flight 

reaction to a skilfully managed response. 

2. Map your reactions precisely; physical, 

emotional, mental: write down each 

experience you have had. Describe every 

part of it until it is a clear object without 

any emotional turmoil. Tell the story and 

use humour to accept the inappropriate 

reaction. Get comfortable with the 

discomfort. Remain resolved to succeed. 

3. Prepare and visualise: while this is 

normally done before a situation you 

can do it afterwards. Simply create the 

experience from memory or in your 

imagination. Work from the widest 

context and move inwards to seeing 

yourself and the objects around you. 

Visualise clearly the height and the risk. 

Notice the feelings and thoughts. Name 

the discomfort of fear, exhale, remember 

this is just your imagination and create 

the next action you could take. See 

this being successful. Visualise the 

successful mastery of the situation, step 

by step. Continually name the feelings, 

tame them and reframe them into action. 

The more realistic your visualisation, the 

greater success you will have. 

4. Develop a strong relaxation 

response: this requires daily practice of 

at least 8 minutes per day. Remember 

that calm underpins curiosity and 

courage. Calm is the antidote to 

fear. Train your vagal nerve daily. 

You can use heart rate variability 

monitoring (www.heartmath.com) or 

virtual reality to add precision (www. 

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ 

S1877050917321129 ) 

5. Accept, exhale and execute: starting 

with smaller challenges, now you must 

expose yourself to triggers. Every time, 

you feel the smallest reaction execute 

your trained response. Accept and 

name it. Exhale and tame it. Execute 

the next step with deliberate courage 

(reframe). If the reaction becomes 

strong, be willing to take a moment to 

sink into a relaxation practice. Focus on 

one step at a time. 

6. Build your stories of success: every 

time you succeed, go to your journal 

and unpack it. If you prefer, tell the 

story. Video analysis can be helpful. Be 

specific in laying down a clear memory 

of being able to take a step through 

your fear. You want to lay down a bed 

of memories that will support you the 

next time you stretch your longing for 

adventure. 

The truth that many authors fail to 

share, is that it takes thousands of 

hours of focused, deliberate practice 

with clear goals, and quick feedback 

(coaching) . To establish our skills, we 

need safety. However, to truly master 

flow, we must increase the challenge 

and risk to the point that we flirt with 

an amygdala hijack – flight, fight, and 

freeze. 

Here, we are working with the Vagus 

Nerve. We must seek to be fully alert to 

the emotional signals of fear, anger and 

overwhelm. Name the emotion, tame 

the emotion and reframe it for action. 

For example, when fear presents, feel 

it fully and describe it, use a calming 

practice to tame it, and reframe it with 

curiosity and focus on the challenge at 

hand. 

It is this edge between unconscious 

reaction (amygdala hijack) and 

deliberate, trained response under 

threat (flow) that separates the great 

and the average. A trained Vagus nerve 

is the physiological foundation. 

One third of people suffer a fear of heights. The reaction is flight. It 

ranges from a mild anxiety near a 16th floor window to being crippled 

with nausea, shaking, clinging and collapsing. For an adventurer this 

is life limiting. 

Six Practices for Flow in Extreme 

Challenge 

1. Take care of your recovery and 

preparation 

If you seek to master this edge of 

performance, you have to secure 

your sleep, skilled recovery and deep 

relaxation. These three components 

must be built into your life so that you 

can activate the new Vagus nerve. Get 

at least seven hours of sleep at the right 

time for your clock and with enough 

deep and REM cycles. Practice slow, 

diaphragmatic breathing every day. 

Meditate if you can or explore the Wim 

Hoff Method if you want to be a little 

edgy. 

2. Map the process of your own 

personal reactions 

This is the awkward work many of us 

avoid. The critical first step to mastery, 

is to understand when and how your 

ancient biology undermines your goals. 

Look for times that you have avoided 

conflict (flight), had angry outbursts 

(fight), or shrunk away (freeze) in the 

face of challenge. Ask those close to you 

when they notice these reactions. Work 

through the situation and the experience 

until you can see it clearly. Define clearly 

how it blocked your intention. What were 

the consequence you want to avoid next 

time? 

3. Define clearly the response you are 

seeking 

Write down how it might have worked 

out if you had mastered the reaction 

and responded with calm, focused skill. 

Rebuild the process that would have 

to unfold to succeed. For example: I 

feel my anger. Breathe out and pause. 

Take a moment to consider the other 

person’s experience. Resolve to engage 

with calm and respectful resolve to 

communicate the imperative for change. 

Describe how it would feel to have this 

powerful conversation. How would it 

improve the outcome for others? 

4. Master your own tactical calm 

practices 

We are often asked to rise to the 

challenge. Preferably, relax, exhale 

and sink to the level of your training (an 

ancient Greek phrase adopted by Navy 

Seals). Rapid (or tactical) calming is the 

doorway to flow. Experiment with the 

best practice to achieve rapid calm. For 

me, it is to breathe out slowly through 

my nose and bring my full focus into 

the moment. Practice it every time you 

stretch for a challenge. Lock the routine 

down so it becomes automatic. Once 

you do your Vagus nerve is trained and 

fit for purpose. 

5. Seek presence and connection to 

the moment 

A key element of flow is to be 100% 

present and connected to the challenge. 

This means suspending thinking about 

past or future and being fully immersed 

in the moment. It is called transient 

hypofrontality meaning the prefrontal 

‘thinking cortex’ is silent. While we must 

be aware of the emotion, we resist the 

temptation to flight (and worry) or fight 

(rumination on past). 

6. Train on challenges just above 

your skill zone 

While we must maintain our basic 

fitness and skills in safe and secure 

environments, the adventurer must 

practice at the edge of discomfort. Kotler 

suggests reaching for challenges 4% 

above your skills. This puts you in a 

state where arousal is activated enough 

but not too much. In this arousal we 

practice tactical calm and mastery of the 

skills we seek. 


GO WITH THE FLOW 

By Derek Cheng 

Drive the ice tool into the vertical ice. Doesn’t stick well? Swing 

again, hitting the same mark. Close the eyes as it strikes 

to protect from ice blowback. Bring the feet up and kick the 

crampons in. 

Ice climbing engages every pore, every spectrum of every 

sense. The sound the pick makes as it strikes the ice. The 

scent of the sheer chill of the winter. The feel of the handle as 

you pull up on it, lock off, and fiddle in an ice screw. 

It's a pursuit that immerses you so deeply that you forget 

everything else. Only the singularity of the experience exists. 

Time flutters by as if irrelevant. 

There are several activities that can place you in a flow state 

- mountain biking, skiing, surfing, trail-running. I have pursued 

climbing in all its forms across the globe because, for me, it 

delivers enriching experiences and intense doses of euphoria 

more than anything else. 

What is it that makes climbing such a potent high, compelling 

some of us to give up financial and geographical stability and 

pursue an activity that yields nothing tangible? 

I was in my 20s when I first flew to South America on a oneway 

ticket to Patagonian granite, snowy Andean peaks, and 

Cuban limestone. It was the first time I was exposed to dirtbag 

life and the freedom of chasing rock and ice in wild, remote 

places. As soon as I came home, I started saving for the next 

fix, which I thought would be the last hurrah before the lust for 

dirtbaggery would fade, replaced by responsible hankerings 

for a family, puppies in sweaters, or a home with a white picket 

fence.But that never eventuated and I’m still chasing the high. 


The onset of Covid-19 has simply seen such adventures 

become New Zealand-centric; I spent the last summer 

exploring the remote corners of the Darran mountains in 

Fiordland. 

Climbing has been shown to help depression, likened to 

meditation, and even compared to the kind of mind-blowing 

awe that accompanies profound shifts in neural networks. 

But any claims about what the brain does during a climb 

are yet to be rooted in any real science because, according 

to climber and neuroscientist Dr Ashlee Hendy, we lack the 

technology to scan the brain of someone as they climb. 

The anecdotal trail led me to psychologist Dr Mihaly 

Csikszentmihalyi and his seminal 1990 book Flow: The 

Psychology of Optimal Experience. Flow, he says, is the 

state of being so immersed in an activity that it makes time 

and the ego melt away. “Thoughts, intentions, feelings, and 

all the senses are focused on the same goal. Experience 

is in harmony,” Csikszentmihalyi writes. “We feel a sense 

of exhilaration, a deep sense of enjoyment that becomes a 

landmark in memory for what life should be like.” 

Csikszentmihalyi interviewed people from all walks of life, 

including athletes, artists, musicians and chess masters. 

Among the flow-junkies he quotes are climbers, one of 

whom says: “You look back on awe at the self, at what 

you’ve done. It just blows your mind. It leads to ecstasy, 

to self-fulfillment.” Says another: “It’s a Zen feeling, like 

meditation or concentration… It’s like an egoless thing, in 

a way. Somehow the right thing is done without you ever 

thinking about it or doing anything at all. . . It just happens.” 

And yet I vividly recall terrible climbing experiences when 

things haven’t clicked, or fear has crippled the experience. 

Flow, Csikszentmihalyi says, can happen when the 

perfect amount of challenge tests your skill set. If it’s too 

easy, you succumb to boredom. If it’s too much, you’re 

consumed with anxiety. But if the challenge stretches you 

to the limits of your ability, conditions are ripe for flow. 

Climbing also ticks the key boxes for Csikszentmihalyi’s 

flow triggers: intense focus on the present moment, clear 

goals, immediate feedback, high consequences, rich 

environments, and total, physical awareness. 

Csikszentmihalyi says a key ingredient is transient 

hypofrontality - a less active pre-frontal cortex, which is 

the heart of higher cognitive abilities. It collects data and 

assesses risk, conducts analysis and makes plans. This 

also makes it the home of self-criticism and self-doubt, 

which are impediments to flow. 

This idea is reinforced in journalist Steven Kotler’s 

book The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of 

Ultimate Human Performance, which collates more recent 

research. “Parts of it [the pre-frontal cortex] are temporarily 

deactivating,” says psychology professor Arne Dietrich in 

Kotler’s book. “It’s an efficiency exchange. We’re trading 

energy usually used for higher cognitive functions for 

heightened attention and awareness.” 

In the flow state, the intuitive parts of the brain take the 

wheel. Alpha waves (the brain’s basic resting state) and 

theta waves (also present in states of deep meditation, or 

just before falling asleep) are more active, instead of beta 

waves (associated with concentration, learning, but also 

fear and stress). 

Kotler proposes that flow has enabled giant leaps in 

performance in extreme sports through a relatively short 

period of time. His book looks at, among other things, the 

free-soloing feats of Alex Honnold and the speed-climbing 

exploits of Dean Potter, who talks about yielding to The 

Voice in his head that intuitively guides him. (The book 

preceded Potter’s tragic death in a wing-suiting accident.) 

“When I’m really in tune with it, really deep in the zone, I 

get to a place where I disappear completely … when time 

slows down, my senses are unbelievably heightened, and 

I feel that oneness,” Potter told Kotler. “And that’s why I 

climb. I crave these experiences.” 

Cameron Norsworthy, co-founder of The Flow Centre, says 

flow doesn’t have a monopoly on high performance. But he 

adds that it is rare to be flow-free and climb at the limit of 

your potential. 

He says climbing is especially flow-worthy because it 

demands total focus. “The constant struggle, mental 

and physical, draws us away from our normal waking 

consciousness. You can walk into a gym and be selfconscious, 

but halfway up the wall, reaching a difficult point 

when you reach the crux, all your self-consciousness can 

disappear because the task demands it.” 

Climbing, he adds, also pushes you to keep improving. 

“It keeps us wanting to do more so that we can feel flow 

again. And in order to experience it at an equal or greater 

intensity, we keep seeking more difficult routes to hit that 

sweet spot. It creates this growth principle that continuously 

pushes our abilities, keeping us hooked on that next climb.” 

Other conditions that can enhance flow include 

novelty, unpredictability, and complexity. Some risk - 

and associated fear - also helps, because it releases 

norepinephrine, which mobilises the brain and body for 

action. But too much, as any climber can attest, and the 

experience just crumbles into a stressful fight for survival, 

regardless of whether there is any real threat. I recall 

climbing a route on Mount Taranaki, after a year away from 

climbing, where topping out didn’t bring any satisfaction or 

joy - only profound relief. 

These flow conditions provide a key to climbing’s unique, 

multi-layered tremendousness. Concentrating on one 

discipline can bring great joy, but if bouldering or sportclimbing 

don’t get you high enough, there’s always tradclimbing 

and multi-pitching, aid-climbing and big-walling, 

alpine climbing, free-soloing, and questing up lines of 

frozen ice with sharp, metal points extending from your 

hands and toes. There are always new skills to master, 

new limits to push, different manifestations of fear to 

master. Even within each discipline lies an infinity of 

varying challenges—from slabs to overhangs to roofs to 

corners to cracks. 

Previous Page: Frazer Burley steadies himself on Shades of Beauty, a WI4 multi-pitch ice route in the Columbia Icefield Parkway, Canada. 

Right: Chris Davis climbing Burning Spear (22) on the epic rock tower known as The Moai, in Tasmania, Australia 

Following Page: Kiff Alcocer soloing the West Ridge of Pigeon Spire in the Bugaboos, Canada. 


Another unique feature of climbing is that 

you don’t have to be the best of the best 

to unlock the climbing goodness. Success 

is best measured against what lies within. 

And although success on the hardest 

climbs are undoubtedly memorable, it’s 

overcoming a challenge - especially ones 

that seemed doubtful at the time - that 

really enhances the experience. One of my 

most vivid moments of climbing joy was 

on a route called Mari (17) at Arapiles in 

Australia, a grade that is easy for me now, 

but which lay at the edge of what seemed 

possible at the time. I battled through 

the dreaded pump at the crux, and then 

topped out from frigid shade into divine 

sunshine, triggering a potent rush that left 

me beaming for hours. 

Another was my first experience of 

climbing a new line on a virgin face. The 

third pitch of Ka-Kaa (21), in Morocco’s 

Anti-Atlas range, was full of thin, 

questionable gear and tenuous, technical 

moves. On the fifth pitch, a piece of rock 

exploded when I tested a piece of gear, 

but I managed to catch it in my hand and 

toss it harmlessly to the ground before 

gathering my composure, and then 

climbing through an intimidating roof. 

And every time I’ve ventured into the 

world of ice-climbing, the unique bold, 

cold, no-fall adrenaline and breathtaking 

landscapes almost always deliver a feeling 

of being reborn, redeemed, revived. 

Novelty. Unpredictability. Abundant 

complexity. Challenges at the edge of 

your ability. Success that can unravel a 

new perspective on what you’re capable 

of, and see continual improvement. Toss 

in landscapes that push the boundaries 

of sublime beauty, and sharing the 

experience with someone in your special 

tribe. Stir into a smooth, powerful potion. 

I’m now in my 40s, but I have as much 

climbing-wanderlust as when I was in my 

20s. Because in the end, to quote Jack 

Kerouac, “You won’t remember the time 

you spent working in the office or mowing 

your lawn.” 

Or, as civil rights leader Howard Thurman 

said: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask 

what makes you come alive, and go do 

it. Because what the world needs most is 

more people who have come alive.” 


CHASING 

THE HUMAN 

CONNECTION 

IN ADVENTURE 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

By Chris Chase 

How the idea of photographing the human connection to nature helped keep me 

enter into a new industry. 

“One foot in front of the other.” 

That’s every hiker’s advice to their friend in the group who 

they knew was a questionable call on if they could handle 

the walk or not. 

If you don’t give that advice, the person struggling could lose 

hope and get down on themselves, but also the rest of the 

crew would recognise their fate. That for the rest of the trip, 

they will have to help this person get through the ordeal... 

most likely by sharing the weight from their bag and lightning 

their load...or have to call off the trip. 

Seven simple words can mean the difference between that 

feeling of awe atop the mountain or the miserable sensation 

of admitting defeat and turning around, never getting to see 

what you walked all the way there for. 

Seven simple words mean the difference between growth 

and stagnation, success and indignation, pride and shame. 

Seven simple words can get you through just about anything, 

and those are the words I repeated to myself throughout my 

journey from being a school teacher in New York City to an 

adventure photographer in New Zealand. 

__________________________________ 

I started taking pictures of the outdoors in high school, when 

I would go on day walks with my friends and family back 

home in the suburbs outside of New York City. We would 

walk along local bike baths, streams and larger regional 

park trails wandering until we were bored and wanted to turn 

back. Sometimes that would be hours and would go into 

the dark, but we always enjoyed being in the moment and 

feeling uninhibited by schedules and expectations. 

When I started bringing my camera on walks, I would snap 

photos haphazardly and with no real focus. I just thought 

having the camera and getting some pictures meant I could 

have proof that the walk happened. 

Too often though, cameras and nature become synonymous 

with ‘landscapes.’ People are quick to want to show others 

the proof that they finally got to that place they bragged 

about climbing one day or skiing down and they just snap 

a random picture of the mountain peaks or the view with 

valleys below. 

And it is safe to say that at first, I fell into that trap too. 

When I would take the photos, I didn’t know how to train my 

eye yet and took photos of just about everything. 

As I went out on more adventures with my crew, I started to 

realise everyone who came out with me wanted the iconic 

arms outstretched, on top of a peak looking out into the 

world kind of picture...and of course being the only one with 

a proper camera out there, I would begrudgingly oblige. 

But little did they know that after I gave them their one nice 

picture, I kept taking more. I would zoom in really close 

to them and their face and walk forward or run at them to 

make them laugh. It started as a joke but I soon realised how 

interesting those photos actually turned out to be. 

Because it was more of a candid shot, their smile would 

Right: Two Skiers atop Mt. Ruapehu Pinnacles Ridge scoping out their path into the backcountry. 


e truer, warmer and wider. The rest of their face might 

be contorted and their stance awkward, but after every 

photoshoot that we would do on these mountain tops, we’d 

look at the photos on the camera and would break out 

laughing because I captured very real moments of emotion 

and the fun that we were having together up there. 

Around the campfire or back home after a long mission, those 

photos were the ones that were talked about the most. Those 

photos were the ones that, although they were candid, were 

more interesting and story worthy. 

It was during these hikes and adventures that I soon realised 

what was really interesting for people to see was how being 

out there doing this activity made them feel. What was 

missing in all of those quintessential landscape photos was 

the human connection to the outdoors. 

So I started to turn my camera on the people I was with. 

The fascinating thing I learned taking photos of people up 

close was that in the middle of whatever activity we were 

doing, be it mountain biking, hiking, or snowboarding...the 

subjects of my photos were never really aware of what their 

bodies were doing. 

I would usually run ahead and hide in the bushes, or climb 

a tree to get the right angle and wait for a good moment to 

snap the photo. As I waited, looking through the camera 

viewfinder, I would watch and notice what their bodies were 

doing. If we were hiking, was someone taking a massive step 

or grabbing onto a tree for support? Were they about to hit a 

jump on a mountain bike and making the all too familiar ‘oh 

crap this is a big jump’ face? 

Whatever it was, I felt like I tried to wait in the right place 

for the right shot. It became easy for me to capture these 

in between moments and made for some truly interesting 

conversations afterward. 

In the photo, you could see what the whole experience was 

like for that person. You could see the struggle, the hurt, the 

random excitement over a cool plant or animal they saw. 

So much about the human experience can be photographed 

if you know what to look for and when. The trouble is, that 

special moment of connection happens so quickly, like action 

and adventure sports, that if you are not ready for it you won’t 

capture it. 

And that happened to me more times than I could count when 

I was starting out. Blurry pictures, too bright, too dark, wrong 

shutter speed, eyes were closed. You name it, I’ve had it out 

there in the field...and boy was that frustrating! 

I had no clue about camera settings and let the camera do all 

of the work. I wasn’t confident in experimenting because I felt 

like I’d lose the opportunity if I didn’t. 

One foot in front of the other, Chris. One foot in front of the 

other… 

__________________________________ 

This mantra helped me when I went to university to study 

marketing. I left photography alone for a while because 

studies became intense. I ended up not liking the program, 

but took one course that would unknowingly put me on the 

path to New Zealand. 

It was an entrepreneurship course designed to help us learn 

entrepreneurial skills through teaching inner city children how 

to create and run a business. 

A lot of these children came from poorer areas, so equipping 

them with these skills at an early age could help them get out 

of situations they couldn’t necessarily control. I didn’t realise 

it at the time, but I was helping them follow the same mantra 

too. One foot in front of the other. 

I loved this course not only because of the skills I passed onto 

the children, but because of the human connection it brought. 

It was powerful enough to make me change my course of 

study and university. 

Just when I thought I was onto something and had it all 

figured out, I changed schools, and studied to become 

a teacher. At first I thought it was just another roadblock, 

another shoe in the mud. I was feeling like an exhausted 

hiker. But when I arrived at my new university, I realised it was 

hours away from the hustle and bustle of the NYC area and 

surrounded by nature. Things here would be different. 

Top left to right: My brother Mike, my original adventure buddy, after we summited a mountain in New York at sunrise. 

My trusty Atlas photo backpack. This thing kept all of my camera gear gear safe throughout the hike! 

It's always a treat when the photographer gets a photo of himself! Can you feel my connection to the watermelon here after 

9 days of hiking? 

Above: Mountain biker having fun on his bike, Whakarewarewa Forest trails, Rotorua 


At SUNY Plattsburgh was where I grew my appreciation and 

understanding for the outdoors. It was a cold place, getting 

to -30ºC sometimes for days or weeks at a time. 

And yet every snowstorm, rainy day or rough weather day, I 

was around the campus taking pictures. 

Being at this school allowed my excitement for photography 

to come back and the studies were going well. I spent a lot 

of my free time outdoors and found new crews of people to 

go adventuring with. Same story and same routine of going 

out together, doing some awesome extreme sport, capturing 

photos and sharing them with the friends on the trip. 

People liked them...but not much more than that. 

Sometimes they would occasionally share them on social 

media and they’d say thank you but it didn’t seem like the 

photos fully grabbed their attention. I knew what I was after 

all along in sharing this human connection with others, but 

I started to feel like it was ironic that these photos weren’t 

really shared beyond myself and the person in the picture. 

I wasn’t sure if it would go anywhere. 

Again my interest in photography ebbed and flowed, I 

graduated university to become a teacher and had my 

sights set on coming to New Zealand and teaching here. 

After two years teaching in NYC, I found a job in Auckland 

and began my New Zealand career. 

I immediately fell in love with this country and decided to 

find fellow adventurers like myself. I knew New Zealand 

had so much to offer in terms of untamed wild and I 

couldn’t wait to explore it. The trouble was I read stories of 

international hikers thinking they knew it all in the NZ wild 

and giving solo hiking a go, only to get into trouble and have 

to get rescued. 

I wondered how to find a group that I could safely go with to 

learn about the outdoors here. I found a social adventure 

company based in Auckland and started going on trips with 

them. I quickly fell in with this group and went on hikes and 

snowboarded just about every weekend I could. It seemed 

like the group for me. 

Much like at home, I knew to always bring my camera with 

me on these missions. I would of course focus on the 

dynamic scenery, but as I started to form friendships with 

people in the group, I noticed how easy it was to get them to 

be in front of the camera for me. 

Sounds familiar. 

I quickly realised how effortless it was to leverage the 

friendships I was developing in order to obtain these candid 

photos. 

We would have so much fun on our adventures and the 

camera never seemed to get in the way, so I really felt like 

I could get up close and personal to my friends in these 

moments and create photos that showed what it was truly 

like to be out in the New Zealand outdoors. 

After each trip, I’d post the photos to social media and more 

and more comments came in. I noticed people would save 

them as their new profile pictures or share them with family 

and the pictures would even get featured on the social 

adventure company’s website and social media pages. 

I was onto something once again, this time it felt different 

because my pictures were being seen by more eyes and 

being shown around the country to other adventurers. 

What was similar about this situation to my photography at 

home in the States was we were outdoors and having fun 

together. 

Those seemed like they were key ingredients to a 

memorable trip and I realised as long as my friend group 

and I were having fun on these trips, the content I produced 

would reflect that. 

I kept going on more weekend getaways and was exposed 

to more and more adventure sports New Zealand had to 

offer. I started learning how to prepare for and do overnight 

hikes, and my adventures in the country grew more and 

more extreme. 

All with my camera by my side. 

In the past three years of being in this country, I have 

amassed a wealth of knowledge about the outdoors here 

and engaged with incredible athletes and everyday people 

while they pursued their hobbies and seeked to achieve the 

benefits that come with being an adventurer. 

I am happy that all of this time I have been able to be right 

beside them in their journeys and figured out a way to 

insert myself into sometimes very personal situations and 

moments of achievement or even failure. 

I have been lucky to shoot photos in the outdoors just about 

every weekend since I arrived here, and everything I had 

learned thus far would prepare me for my latest and most 

intense adventure to date, hiking a portion of Te Araroa, the 

NZ long trail that goes from Cape Reinga in the north island 

to Bluff in the south island. 

_________________________________ 

If there was a time I needed to remember the hiker’s 

mantra, it would be standing at the lighthouse at the Cape 

up north, looking down the coast to the start of the track. 

On New Year’s day 2021, eleven brave hikers and I set out 

to walk the first major leg of Te Araroa for 10 days, from 

Cape Reinga to Waitangi. This trip was slated to be the 

hardest and most dynamic one I had ever done to date. 

All of that time outdoors with my family and friends prepared 

me for this adventure, and all of the practise getting in 

people’s faces during the adventures and taking photos 

would come handy here because I made it my personal goal 

to document the hike for everyone with my camera. 

I had never hiked with so much camera gear, 10kgs to be 

exact, let alone hiked for more than three days at a time...so 

much of what happened on this trip was entirely new to me. 

Top to bottom: My Te Araroa hiking crew at the Cape...before we got sandy! 

Looking south onto Te Araroa and 90 Mile Beach, from the northern edge 


nz 

I had to wrap all of my individual camera gear in dry bags, 

carry four extra batteries to last all ten days, and make 

sure I had several backups of memory cards just in case 

things went wrong when we were out there. I bought an 

amazing 40 Liter hiking pack specifically for camera gear, so 

I managed to stuff all of it and then my food and clothing on 

top of that. 18 or so kgs later, we were off and walking Te 

Araroa. 

Like any hiker, I dealt with my own personal struggles on the 

walk. Blistered feet, dehydration, mindless walking. I wasn’t 

exempt from everything the other hikers felt, and yet I had 

to manage capturing their experience. This was the biggest 

adventure of my career thus far and I couldn’t miss out no 

matter what. 

One foot in front of the other… 

I kept pace as best as I could, and kept my camera on my 

shoulder ready to fire if the moment called for it. As life 

would have it, I had to hitchhike after two days and leave my 

crew because my blisters were so bad. I struggled with that 

decision because I tried so hard to put one foot in front of 

the other...I needed to be there to capture the moments for 

them. 

I was ashamed, but I had to do what was best in the end and 

take another route. 

I had done that for years with my photography up until this 

point and would feel terrible about missing this chance to 

capture such an intense adventure. 

Lucky that after only 2 days rest, I was able to meet the 

group again and carry on to finish in Waitangi, having hiked 

7 of the 10 days together. 

________________________________ 

Hiking and documenting Te Araroa was, and has been, the 

pinnacle of my photography career thus far, but looking back 

on everything that needed to happen to achieve this wonderful 

goal, I could not have done it without the hiker’s mantra. 

I continue to pride myself on taking shots that embody the 

human connection to the outdoors, and I was able to capture 

that on Te Araroa but I recognize now after what seems like 

years and years in the making, this industry requires trust in 

yourself and trust in those around you. 

Trust in the process has helped me think past the shame, 

focus on the growth and ultimately reflect on how lucky I am 

to have now worked with big names in the industry and see 

my photos around in everyday life here. 

It is a long road to notoriety in this business, but if you are 

willing to put one foot in front of the other, you will eventually 

reach your goal and realise that the long path to success is 

worth the pain. 

I never would have thought I would go from being a teacher 

to now an adventure photographer, but I wouldn’t change it 

for the world. 

What I wonder now is...where’s the next adventure going to 

be? 

To see more of Chris's work, check out www.chrischasephotography.com 

Above: There is a reason it is called Twilight Beach. A beautiful sunset on night 1 of our 10 day adventure 


UNIVERSAL BLUETOOTH® HI-FI AUDIO AND COMMUNICATION 

SYSTEM FOR AUDIO-READY SKI AND SNOWBOARD HELMETS 

The first major snows are starting to fall across the 

Southern Hemisphere, and snow lovers are gearing 

up for the imminent resort openings. Of course, the 

usual pre-season rituals are being performed; watching 

videos, keeping tabs on the weather, getting an edge 

and wax… and searching for that amazing new piece 

of gear that will kick this season off right. 

Of all the exciting new technology available this 

season, now available to Kiwi and Aussie snowsports 

enthusiasts is a way to convert their snow helmet into 

an audio and communications marvel. 

THE ALECK 006 - UNIVERSAL WIRELESS HELMET 

AUDIO & COMMUNICATION 

Aleck 006 is the wireless audio system that brings premium 

sound and push-to-talk communication capability to any ski 

or snowboard helmet. With simple, glove-friendly controls for 

music and instant group communication from anywhere on 

the mountain, Aleck 006 puts your playlist at your fingertips, 

keeps your squad in touch on storm days, and makes 

meeting up for aprés easy. Any day on the snow is a good 

one, but the Aleck 006 makes every run better. 

GROUP PUSH-TO-TALK COMMS 

We all know how to use a walkie-talkie, and that’s how Aleck 

006 works—just press and talk. The Aleck GO! app (iPhone 

and Android) lets you easily switch channels between single 

users and as many custom groups as you want to create. 

Keep a family group and a big friend group, and add friends 

and family members on the fly. 

HIGH-FIDELITY AUDIO 

Aleck 006 is tuned for the optimal helmet audio experience right 

out of the box, with crisp highs and hard-hitting lows from its two 

40mm titanium drivers. Need a more individual audio experience? 

The powerful in-app equalizer allows you to fine-tune the treble, 

bass, and midrange until you nail that signature sound. 

GROUP GPS MAPPING 

Losing touch on the mountain is all too easy, especially on 

storm days and among riders with different ability levels. With 

GPS tracking in the Aleck GO! app, you can map the location of 

everyone in your crew—whether you’re waiting at the lift for a 

friend or you’re the one who’s gone AWOL! 

UNIVERSAL FIT 

Aleck 006 features a low-profile, lightweight design that’s 

compatible with any audio-ready snow helmet—at least every one 

we could get our hands on. 

Pick up the Aleck 006 now at Torpedo 7 or www.Aleck.io 

15-17 OCTOBER 2021 SPRING CHALLENGE NORTH NAPIER, HAWKE’S BAY 

FOR MORE INFO AND TO ENTER: WWW.SPRINGCHALLENGE.CO.NZ 

Make time to have adventures 

with your friends! 


TEMPERATURE 

IS DROPPING... 

SO IS THE SNOW! 

The temperature is dropping and so is the snow on the 

mountain tops. Many people are now turning their mind to 

decide upon a winter adventure for the year. This raises 

many questions some of which include: 

• Where is the best place to go for what I want to do? 

• What gear do I need to pack? 

• What skills do I need for the type of adventure I would 

like to have? 

• If I am going into the backcountry how much do I need 

to worry about the avalanche risk? 

• Where should I stay? 

• Who else can I go with? 

List goes on and sometimes is seemingly endless! 

However, the answer to these questions may be somewhat 

simple, namely find a reputable guiding company and let 

them do the work for you! Obviously, the benefits of using 

a guide vary considerably depending upon your skills, 

knowledge and the type of experience you are seeking. 

However, the list of benefits of being guided on your next 

winter adventure, not surprising, is also very long. 


AEROSIZE AIRBAG SYSTEM 

AVALANCHE AIRBAG 

WITH HYBRID STRUCTURE 

Lightweight, safety-tested and stylish, 'vest ONE' by 

AEROSIZE is the world's first certified avalanche 

airbag compact vest. 

Geared towards people exposed to the danger of snow 

avalanches, the vest contains AEROSIZE’s patented 

hybrid airbag system that’s smaller than your average 

avalanche backpack kit. However, the airbag retains 

the standard capacity of 174 liters when filled up, 

offering protection for off-piste snowboarding, skiing, 

snowmobiles and rescue teams. 

After pulling the trigger of Vest ONE, compressed gas 

from the cartridges inflates only the airbag structural 

chamber, therefore the airbag frame grows and 

stretches the fabric of the airbag walls. The rest of the 

volume of the airbag is filled automatically with 

air sucked in from the environment, allowing 

AEROSIZE to minimize the size of the components, 

the whole system, and the final product. 

The most important feature of the vest and the system 

is its small size and compatibleness with most of 

regualr backpacks (also specialized ones), thanks to 

it user stays protected with removed backpack. The 

design underlines the function of the vest while the 

aesthetics intend to underline its reliability, 

professional use and compactness. 

For more information and to purchase go to 

www.aerosize.com 

Backyard Brains Trust 

Qualified guides such as IFMGA or NZMGA have 

hundreds of days experience in the backcountry and have 

spent generally a decade or more gaining the knowledge 

and experience to guide clients. Put these qualified guides 

in a team and you have hundreds of years of experience 

all in one place. If this team cannot find you the adventure 

you are looking for, then something is wrong. 

In addition to helping you find the right adventure, the 

combined brain power of our guides also helps ensure that 

we have a wealth and depth of knowledge in terms of the 

local terrain and an institutional depth of current condition 

knowledge to find the ‘good stuff’ and avoid ‘the bad stuff.’ 

Snow Safety 

In the backcountry ski-touring with a guide who knows 

the snowpack and understands the avalanche conditions 

makes a lot of sense. For those of you who don’t have 

the time or inclination to be this up to speed with snow 

safety the guide can most certainly maximise the amount 

of time you can spend skiing as opposed to managing 

snow safety and avalanche risk for yourself. If you are the 

kind of person who has spent countless hours and dollars 

attending avalanche awareness courses and love doing 

your ‘snow profiles’ and ‘log book’ there is still a lot to learn 

from a guide. As well as seeing how your guide reads the 

snow on the day, your guide will also have the benefit from 

the collective input of snow safety professionals prior to 

heading into the backcountry. If you want to tap into this 

knowledge may come away from you day with more than 

great turns. 

Route finding 

We all know that whenever you go somewhere new a 

significant amount of time is often spent route finding, or 

dare we say it, getting lost! Obviously a guide knows not 

just the terrain and the route but more importantly where 

the best snow is! So where you ski with a guide you tend 

to spend a lot less time on navigation and a log more time 

on fresh lines. 

Skills development 

The often-forgotten benefit of an experienced guide is 

that they can also be a great mentor that can support your 

learning in the field. They can take time to evaluate your 

skills and help with progressions to expand your toolbox. 

Your guide can ultimately support you to develop skills that 

can enable you to have more adventures on your own. 

More often than not people are surprised by what they can 

learn by spending time with a guide, whether it was their 

intention to develop their skills further or not! 

Risk Management 

The backcountry has many inherent risks. This is a fact 

and one that should not be underestimated particularly in 

Aotearoa. Undertaking a trip 

To find a guide near you check out: 

www.aspiringguides.com 


PHOTO : ©Blake JORGENSON

KEEPING OUT THE COLD 

merrell Haven Mid Lace Waterproof Women’s $329.00 

As spontaneous as the weather. The Haven is up for 

anything, with seam sealed waterproof construction, 

100 grams of insulation and grip for traction during 

winter conditions. 

WWW.MERRELL.CO.NZ 

merrell Moab Adventure Chelsea Polar Waterproof 

Men’s $299.00 

Get all-day comfort with the same out-of-the-box 

fit you expect from Moab. This Chelsea delivers a 

lifestyle look, waterproofing, insulation and traction 

for winter weather adventures. 


Outdoor Research alti gloves $249.99 

Modular, waterproof/breathable gloves with 

revolutionary 3DFit Technology. PrimaLoft 

HiLoft and upgraded liner with PrimaLoft® Active 

for better moisture management and improved 

dexterity. 

WWW.BIVOUAC.CO.NZ/OUTDOOR-RESEARCH 

sealskinz Cold Weather Mid Length Sock $89.99 

The original, 100% waterproof, windproof & 

breathable mid length sock. The inner lining is 

crafted from fine Merino Wool to insulate and 

regulate temperature making this perfect for use in 

colder weather conditions. 

WWW.SOUTHERNAPPROACH.CO.NZ 

merrell Tremblant Polar Waterproof $349.00 

Designed for frozen winters. This mid-cut boot takes on 

cold conditions with super-comfortable, 200 grams of 

low bulk insulation and a waterproof lining. Stay warm 

and dry in the Tremblant boot this winter. 


AEROSIZE VEST ONE (PRICE 749 EURO WITH 4 GAS 

CARTRIDGES - 2 INFLATIONS) 

First compact avalanche airbag vest. This system 

allows you to use almost every type of backpack, and 

protects you even when you have your backpack off. 

Volume of the airbag 174 litres. Total weight with 2 

argon cartridges - 1985g. 

WWW.AEROSIZE.COM 

Macpac Traverse Tights $129.99 

Weather anything in a pair of toasty fleece tights 

made for every winter adventure. Perfect on hikes and 

camping trips around the snowline, the soft polyester is 

paired with elastane for stretch. Just as suitable when 

it’s freezing at sea-level, a mesh pocket inside the 

waistband (men’s) and side thigh pockets (women’s) 

are perfect for holding keys or other small items. 

WWW.MACPAC.CO.NZ 

Macpac Ion Polartec® Fleece Hooded Jacket $229.99 

An active mid layer made for comfort when you’re 

anything but comfortable. The structure of Polartec® 

Power Grid increases its ability to provide 

breathable warmth while decreasing weight and 

improving compressibility — perfect when you’re 

making the most of the outdoors. Also available as a 

half-zip pullover. 


Black Crows Camox Birdie $1399.95 

A womens specific, incomparable mid-fat all terrain 

ski reputed for its tolerance and playfulness. The 

association of a very progressive flex and good 

length side lines brings great manoeuvrability and 

strong hold at high speed. With a DNA derived from 

freestyle, the progressive and supple flex makes it 

easy to handle and adapted to progression; whereas 

its side lines give a very effective and stable edge. 

Creativity for everybody on all types of terrain. 

WWW.OUTFITTER.CO.NZ 

Black Crows Serpo NEW 93mm Ski $1499.95 

A newcomer in all-terrain skiing, the Serpo is 

designed for the piste and partially for off-piste. 

With 93mm at the waist, it’s a good carver, it’s there 

to really play with the terrain with its good flex and 

responsiveness together thanks to its layer of metal 

for grip and stability. 


Black Crows Mirus Cor NEW 87mm Ski $ 

A brand new UFO, the Mirus’ Cor is a ski for 

performance and design, to achieve an alliance 

between two worlds: freestyle and the most angular 

curves of today. Built with a fairly long rocker and a 

split tail, it allows short curves for playing, for piste, and 

for the side of the ski run, it is carving in a black crows 

approach and/or all terrain freestyle. Accessible, wellbuilt, 

and creative from any point of view. 


Outdoor Research Carbide Bibs $499.99 

Waterproof, 3-layer 40D Pertex® Shield protection 

with versatility and comfort. Features internal stretch 

mesh gaiters and reinforced scuff guards. 696g (med) 

WWW.BIVOUAC.CO.NZ/OUTDOOR-RESEARCH


sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Ultra Grip Knitted 

Glove $89.99 

The original, 100% waterproof, windproof & 

breathable knitted glove. Offering grip and an equal 

balance of warmth and breathability. Ideal for use in 

all weather conditions. 


Rab Kaon $399.95 

Hybrid jacket with 70g of 800-fill power RDS-certified hydrophobic European goose 

down in hood and body, Stratos synthetic insulation in shoulders, cuffs and hips. 

Ripstop nylon fabric, stitch-through construction, YKK reverse coil chest pocket, YKK 

front zip, half hem drawcord, stuff sack. 

WWW.OUTFITTERS.NET.NZ 

Rab Microlight Alpine $399.95 

Filled with 143g of 750-fill power hydrophobic down, RDScertified, 

water-resistant Pertex Quantum Infinity Weave 

fabric, harness-compatible hand pockets, two-way front zip 

with insulated zip baffle, stretch cuffs fit over gloves, helmetcompatible 

hood with an internal stretch gaiter to seal out wind. 


black diamond first light stretch hoody $449.99 

The perfect layer for backcountry rock walls, big alpine faces, and frigid weekend ski tours, 

the Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody is the ultimate in dynamic four-season insulation 

that breathes efficiently and stretches with your every movement. Other colours available. 


Rab Xenon $349.95 

Stratos recycled polyester synthetic insulation, ripstop 

lining and outer fabric, under helmet hood with 

stretch binding, two-way opening YKK front zip with 

insulated internal zip baffle and chin guard, zippered 

handwarmer pockets, internal zippered pocket, stuffs 

into pocket, elasticated cuffs, hem drawcord. 



SALEWA WILDFIRE EDGE GORE-TEX® $399.90 

The Wildfire Edge Gore-Tex® is an approach shoe that can be adapted from hiking mode 

to climbing mode - Simply tighten the switch-fit lacing system at the rear eyelet and then do 

them up. The Pomoca Speed MTN outsole offers enhanced grip and friction in both dry and 

wet conditions. 

WWW.BOBO.CO.NZ/SALEWA 

SALEWA VULTUR EVO GORE-TEX® $699.90 

Our Vultur Evo is an extremely robust alpine boot with a rugged Perwanger suede leather 

upper, durable TPU toe cap and full protective rand. The waterproof GORE-TEX® lining 

offers insulation and climate control; For mountaineering, mixed routes and glacier crossing, 

the stiff nylon and carbon loaded fibreglass insole ensures hybrid crampon compatibility, 

while the Bilight midsole provides good walking comfort. The Vibram® WTC outsole has an 

aggressive tread for high traction and a climbing zone at the toe for precise footwork. 

Fit: WIDE / Weight: (M) 940 g (W) 785 g (pictured) 


Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket $349.99 

The new version of this best-selling jacket has a dramatically 

reduced carbon footprint yet maintains its quality and 

performance. Warm, windproof, water-resistant, it uses incredibly 

lightweight and highly compressible 60-g PrimaLoft® Gold 

Insulation Eco with 55% post-consumer recycled content, 

wrapped in a 100% recycled polyester shell and lining. Fair Trade 

Certified sewn. 

WWW.PATAGONIA.CO.NZ/NANO-PUFF

Rab Electron $549.95 

800-fill power European goose 

down, RDS-certified, 

water-resistant Pertex fabric, 

stitch-through construction, 

various baffle sizes reduce 

bulk, 170g fill weight, 

small-volume 

helmet-compatible hood, 

YKK zips, elasticated cuffs, 

internal security pocket. 



SALEWA ALP TRAINER 2 MID GORE-TEX® $399.90 

The Alp Trainer 2 Mid GTX has a suede leather 

and stretch fabric upper with a protective rubber 

rand. Featuring a GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort 

lining for optimal waterproofing and breathability, 

and customizable Multi Fit Footbed (MFF) with 

interchangeable layers allows you to adapt it to the 

unique shape of your foot. 


SALEWA MOUNTAIN TRAINER 2 GORE-TEX® $399.90 

Our MTN Trainer 2 is a hard-wearing and versatile 

low-cut alpine approach shoe with a high-quality 

1.6-millimetre suede leather upper, full protective 

rubber rand, a fast-drying GORE-TEX® Extended 

Comfort lining and a Vibram® outsole. 

Fit: STANDARD / Weight: (M) 458 g (W) 396 g 


Outdoor Research Refuge air 

Hooded Jacket $399.99 

Water and wind-resistant jacket 

that helps you retain heat while 

working hard using the adaptable 

VerticalX Air insulation that keeps 

you warm when you need it and 

rapidly moves moisture the moment 

you start to perspire. 424g (w/m) 

WWW.BIVOUAC.CO.NZ/ 

OUTDOOR-RESEARCH 

Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoody $449.99 

Taking lightweight warmth to a new level with durable, abrasion-resistant Pertex® 

Quantum with Diamond Fuse Technology that protects the 800+ fill goose down 

without adding weight. Pertex® Shield with Diamond Fuse fabric adds weather 

protection to the hood and shoulders. 436g (med) 


Outdoor Research Refuge Hooded Jacket $419.99 

Water-resistant jacket using high-loft VerticalX 

synthetic insulation technology for resilient, 

breathable performance keeping you warm even 

when wet and so compressible it stows into its own 

hand pocket. 569g (m/l) 


Rab Valiance $699.95 

With 170g of 800-fill power RDS-certified hydrophobic 

European goose down, nylon inner, Pertex Shield 

taped waterproof outer, bonded narrow box-wall 

construction, synthetic insulation filled hood and 

cuffs, helmet-compatible, wired peak, YPP zips, hand 

warmer pockets, internal security pocket, drawcord 

hem, stuff sack. WWW.OUTFITTERS.NET.NZ 

SALEWA raven 3 GORE-TEX® $599.90 

Our Raven 3 GORE-TEX® mountaineering boot has an abrasion-resistant fabric 

upper to offer exceptional stability, durability and performance, all in a lightweight 

construction. The protective rubber rand and external TPU toe cap increase comfort 

and protection. 

Fit: WIDE / Weight: (M) 829 g (W) 629 g (pictured) 


Macpac Pulsar PrimaLoft® Hooded Jacket — Men's and 

Women’s $329.99 

A technical climbing jacket suitable for on-snow 

activities. Pertex® Quantum outer fabric provides 

exceptional breathability, PrimaLoft® Gold insulation 

offers outstanding warmth in wet conditions, and 100% 

recycled fabrics are all responsibly-sourced. The hood 

is helmet-compatible, too. 

WWW.MACPAC.CO.NZ

equip 

yourself! 

kiwi camping Morepork 1 Deluxe Swag $499.00 

Designed with 2 large storage vestibules and 2 entrances, porch for added shade, generous inner height, 

‘no-see-um’ mesh, 7.7kg pack weight and handy storage pocket. 

WWW.KIWICAMPING.CO.NZ/PRODUCT/MOREPORK-1-DELUXE-SWAG 

kiwi camping Tuatara 2.5 x 2.5 Awning $399.00 

Offers 6.25m² of covered area for sun or rain protection. 200g polycotton canvas awning, twist-lock 

design, adjustable height and mounts directly to existing roof rack. 

WWW.KIWICAMPING.CO.NZ/PRODUCT/TUATARA-SIDE-WALL-SIDE-AWNING-25M 

Macpac Rapaki 25L Backpack 

$199.99 

Built to last a lifetime, the Rapaki 

25 has been a staple for years. 

The latest version is made with 

a 100% recycled lining and 3D 

Moulded Mesh back panel for daylong 

comfort in the hills — or on 

your daily commute. It also has an 

attachment for your walking poles, 

two zipped pockets, a front mesh 

stash pocket, removable hip-belt, 

and its padded laptop sleeve is 

hydration bladder-compatible. 


Gasmate Hiker Stove $59.99 

Ideal for serious backpackers with a 170mm support 

span. The adjustable flame control provides over 

10,500 BTU output. Lightweight with foldable arms 

and piezo ignition. 

WWW.KIWICAMPING.CO.NZ/PRODUCT/HIKER- 

STOVE 

sunsaver classic 16,000 mah solar power bank 

$119.00 

Built tough for the outdoors and with a massive 

battery capacity you can keep all your devices 

charged no matter where your adventure takes you. 

WWW.SUNSAVER.CO.NZ 

Macpac Amp Ultra Running Vest $249.99 

Made for trail runners of all levels, the Amp Ultra helps you 

go further, faster, safer. It has room to keep an extra layer, 

snacks and walking poles within arm’s reach, and two 

500ml HydraPak soft bottles are included so you can stay 

topped up on-the-go. Designed to sit higher on your back 

for stability, the adjustable front closure makes it easy to 

create a perfect fit. Available in three sizes. 


Low Prices Everyday 

Free NZ Shipping on 

orders over $150 for 

members 

Members Earn Equip+ 

Loyalty Points 

shop online or instore 

equipoutdoors.co.nz 

Kiwi camping Rover Lite 3cm Self-Inflating Mat $99.99 

Compact to pack and carry, the Rover Lite self-inflates in minutes. The tapered design can fit in a 

sleeping bag, 1830mm long and 550mm wide. 

WWW.KIWICAMPING.CO.NZ/PRODUCT/ROVER-LITE-SELF-INFLATING-MAT 

gasmate MR Heater Portable Buddy $399.00 

Portable Buddy is a propane gas heater that is both 

lightweight and robust heating up to 18m². Featuring a 

low oxygen and accidental tip-over safety shut-off. 

WWW.KIWICAMPING.CO.NZ/PRODUCT/MR- 

HEATER-PORTABLE-BUDDY 

kiwi camping Harrier 4 Tourer Tent $649.00 

This tourer tent is designed without a central pole that take up valuable space. Made from 320g polycotton 

ripstop and a heavy-duty PVC bucket floor. 

WWW.KIWICAMPING.CO.NZ/PRODUCT/HARRIER-4-TOURER-TENT 

62 Killarney Road, 

Frankton, Hamilton, 

New Zealand 

P: 0800 22 67 68 

E: sales@equipoutdoors.co.nz 


ack country cuisine $9.29 - $13.89 

CHICKEN CARBONARA: A freeze dried chicken 

and pasta dish, served in a creamy italian style 

sauce. Available small serve (90g) or regular (175g) 

MUSHROOM BOLOGNAISE (Vegan) Mushrooms 

with tomato in a savoury sauce, served with noodles. 

Available small serve (90g) or regular (175g) 

WWW.BACKCOUNTRYCUISINE.CO.NZ 

back country cuisine 

CHOCOLATE BROWNIE PUDDING $12.89: Our take 

on chocolate self-saucing pudding, with chocolate 

brownie, boysenberries and chocolate sauce. Gluten 

Free. Available in regular serve (150g) 

ICED MOCHA $4.09: Our mocha is made with 

chocolate and coffee combined with soft serve to give 

you a tasty drink on the run. Gluten Free. 85g. 

WWW.BACKCOUNTRYCUISINE.CO.NZ 

POUCHES 

SOFT - PLASTIC 

RECYCLABLE 

Deep Creek Brewing- Sentinel $8.99 

STYLE: Hazy IPA AVB: 6.5% 

This White Tiger Sentinel is inspired by one 

of the four guardians of Chinese mythology, 

which represents the autumn season. Enjoy the 

beautiful passionfruit and a sprinkling of guava 

taste! 

WWW.DCBREWING.CO.NZ 

Deep Creek Brewing- Sentinel $9.99 

STYLE: Sour -Ginger and Peach AVB: 4.5% 

Fresh New Zealand peaches combined with the 

perfect amount of ginger bring to life this playful, 

delicious and refreshing latest addition to our sour 

family. Tune in with the Ukulele! 

WWW.DCBREWING.CO.NZ 

NZ’S NO.1 MEALS 

FOR HIKING 

ADVENTURES 

Find out 

more 

 

 

backcountrycuisine.co.nz/pouches 

radix nutrition EXPEDITION 800 | Plant-Based 

Turkish Style Falafel $15.90 

These 800kcal meals are designed for extreme 

energy requirements. They’re light weight, taste 

delicious and suitable in all environments. 

WWW.RADIXNUTRITION.COM 

radix nutrition PERFORMANCE 600 | Mexican Chilli 

with Organic Beef $14.90 

These 600kcal meals are the perfect lunch or dinner 

option for hikers and adventurers wanting to take 

their performance to the next level. 

WWW.RADIXNUTRITION.COM

FEED YOUR ADDICTION 

Like a ‘perfect storm’, we have seen a dramatic growth and 

development in online stores over the past 5 years. Now as we are 

made to keep our ‘distance’, online, ecommerce takes on a whole 

new meaning and value. We are dedicating these pages to our client’s 

online stores; some you will be able to buy from, some you will be able 

drool over. Buy, compare, research and prepare, these online stores are 

a great way to feed your adventure addiction while you are still at home. 

Ultra lightweight running shoes, made by runners. No 

matter where the trail takes you, Hoka One One will 

have you covered. 

www.hokaoneone.co.nz 

New Zealands largest independent Outdoor and 

Paddle store. 

www.furtherfaster.co.nz 

Never have a dead phone 

again! Because now you can 

charge straight from the Sun 

with SunSaver. Perfect for 

that week-long hike, day at 

the beach, or back-up for any 

emergency. Check us out at: 

www.sunsaver.co.nz 

www.packraftingqueenstown.com 

Specialising in 

small group guided 

packrafting trips and 

courses from our base 

in Queenstown New 

Zealand. 

Bivouac Outdoor stock the latest in quality outdoor 

clothing, footwear and equipment from the best 

brands across New Zealand & the globe. 

www.bivouac.co.nz 

Shop for the widest range of Merrell footwear, apparel 

& accessories across hiking, trail running, sandals & 

casual styles. Free shipping for a limited time. 

www.merrell.co.nz 

www.adventuresouth.co.nz 

Whether you enjoy 

cycle trails, road 

cycling, mountain 

biking or walking, 

Adventure South NZ 

can help you to explore 

New Zealand at 

your own pace. 

Full-service outfitter selling hiking 

and mountaineering gear and 

apparel, plus equipment rentals. 

Specialising in ski & snowboard 

touring equipment new & used; 

skis, boards, bindings, skins, 

probs, shovels,transceivers & 

avalanche packs. 

www.smallplanetsports.com 

Whether you’re climbing mountains, hiking in the hills 

or travelling the globe, Macpac gear is made to last 

and engineered to perform — proudly designed and 

tested in New Zealand since 1973. 

www.macpac.co.nz 

Living Simply is an outdoor clothing and equipment 

specialty store in Newmarket, Auckland. Your go-to place 

for quality footwear, packs, sleeping bags, tents, outdoor 

clothing and more. 

www.livingsimply.co.nz 

Our motto is “Going the 

distance” and we pride 

ourselves on providing top 

quality outdoor and travel 

equipment and service 

that will go the distance 

with you, wherever that 

may be. 

www.trekntravel.co.nz 

Gear up in a wide selection of durable, multifunctional 

outdoor clothing & gear. Free Returns. Free Shipping. 

www.patagonia.co.nz 

Offering the widest variety, 

best tasting, and most 

nutrient rich hydration, 

energy, and recovery 

products on the market. 

www.guenergy.co.nz 

Fast nourishing freeze dried food for adventurers. 

www.backcountrycuisine.co.nz 

Stocking an extensive range 

of global outdoor adventure 

brands for your next big 

adventure. See them for travel, 

tramping, trekking, alpine and 

lifestyle clothing and gear. 

www.outfittersstore.nz 

Specialists in the sale of Outdoor Camping Equipment, RV, 

Tramping & Travel Gear. Camping Tents, Adventure Tents, 

Packs, Sleeping Bags and more. 

www.equipoutdoors.co.nz 

Jetboil builds super-dependable 

backpacking stoves and camping 

systems that pack light, 

set up quick, and achieve 

rapid boils in minutes. 

www.jetboilnz.co.nz 

Supplying tents and 

camping gear to Kiwis 

for over 30 years, Kiwi 

Camping are proud to 

be recognised as one of 

the most trusted outdoor 

brands in New Zealand. 

www.kiwicamping.co.nz 

Reusable, BPA free water bottles containing a unique 3-in- 

1 filtration technology providing clean safe drinking water 

from any non-salt water source anywhere in the world. 

www.watertogo.co.nz 

Our very own online store where 

you will find hard goods to keep you 

equipped for any adventure. 

www.pacificmedia-shop.co.nz 

Radix provides freeze dried 

meals and smoothies made 

with all natural ingredients. 

These are perfect for 

athletes and adventures 

who care about their health 

and performance. Gluten 

free, Plant-based and Keto 

www.radixnutrition.com 

options are available. 

Get 10% off your first order online. 

Excellent quality Outdoor 

Gear at prices that can't 

be beaten. End of lines. 

Ex Demos. Samples. Last 

season. Bearpaw. Garneau. 

Ahnu. Superfeet. 

www.adventureoutlet.co.nz 


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SOAKED IN ADVENTURE 

It was a brisk morning as we stood in the paddock listening 

to the final safety briefing before the start of the Soaked in 

Adventure race held in Whakatane in late May. Although the 

event has been running for the past few years, it is the first 

time Team Mis-Adventure had taken part. The idea of another 

weekend away with our adventure friends was the main 

incentive, but we also liked the idea of a new challenge. A 

weather bomb was predicted to hit the east coast the following 

day and we just hoped that the weather would hold until then. 

The Soaked in Adventure Race is a team sport which involves 

running or trekking and mountain biking. Check points are 

collected along the way and you complete some exciting 

mystery activities. You find out where the start and finish line 

is the week before the race and will not see the course maps 

until the morning of the race. Once you receive your maps you 

can plan and strategise your course route and you must stick 

together and complete the race as a team. 

The race began in the paddock of a farm out the back of 

Whakatane, in Taneatua and was split into two sections, 

trekking and mountain biking with some mystery activities 

thrown in for good measure. We set off first on the trek section, 

with around 28 checkpoints to find. The terrain began on 

typical NZ farmland; wide open space with plenty of uphill’s 

before heading through a muddy swamp and into some 

native bush. The first few checkpoints were fairly easy to find, 

however checkpoint 8 proved a bit of a challenge. 

By now we were in fairly dense bush and after scrambling over 

fallen trees and down a very steep slope, we found we were 

completely alone. We had started the race with over 85 teams, 

but there was now not another person to be seen or heard. To 

be honest, this is the part I love about adventure racing, the 

feeling of being completely alone and having to rely purely on 

your own navigation and sense of direction. This is something 

usually reserved only for the teams either out the very front, 

forging their own paths, or for those who go in the wrong 

direction, like we did. Luckily we had not strayed too far from 

the "path" and so decided to turn back. As we were navigating 

our way down a stream, there was a loud noise beside us, it 

seemed we had startled a lone deer, which then darted out 

from behind a bush and disappeared up the bank on the other 

side. It was super cool and worth getting lost for. 

Once back on track we continued the trekking section (approx. 

10-15km) and the first mystery activities before picking up our 

bikes and heading out for the final section of the race (approx. 

25km mountain biking). The scenery continued to surprise, 

with stops at the most beautiful river for one of the mystery 

activities. The freezing cold water on our feet was a nice way 

to ease some of the aches and pains and also wash off the 

animal poop that had collected during the walk. 

For most of the ride we appreciated the scenery and enjoyed 

nearly every km, except for the 500m vertical hill that we had 

to push our bikes up. Our quads and calves were burning and 

unless you had your hand on the breaks when you stopped to 

catch your breath your bike would have tumbled back down 

to the bottom again. Although I hated every single step, I 

did get to witness some real teamwork. Those who found it 

a little easier, dropped their bikes at the top and went back 

down to help team mates who were struggling, and this is 

what adventure racing is all about. The downhill section that 

followed almost made up for it… but not quite! 

We crossed the finish line 5 hours 48minutes after we started, 

our aches and pains almost forgotten in the euphoria of having 

pushed ourselves to our limits once again. 

Soaked in Adventure runs three events through the year: 

Soaked in Adventure Whakatane: May 22nd 2021 

Soaked in Adventure Cambridge: July 3rd 2021 

Wander Woman Russell: November 13th 2021 

For more information or to enter checkout: www.soakedinadventure.co.nz 


SUBSCRIBE 

TO BE IN TO WIN FIVE NIGHTS AT 

PACIFIC RESORT RAROTONGA 

IN THE BEAUTIFUL COOK ISLANDS 

SUBSCRIBE AT 

WWW.PACIFICMEDIA-SHOP.CO.NZ 

PRIZE 

INCLUDES: 

• Five nights in a Premium Garden Suite 

for two people 

• Free use of kayaks, snorkelling gear, 

beach towels and sun loungers. 

• Daily Tropical Breakfast at Sandals 

Restaurant. 

• Free scheduled daily activities at the 

Beach Hut. 

• Free Kids Club (for children aged 6-12). 

• Daily guest welcome orientation on the 

beach. 

www.pacificresort.com/adventure-nz-special-offers/ 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: 

• Travel is valid 01 November 2021 to 31 May 2022 

(with blackout dates from 25 Dec 2021 to 10 Jan 

2022} 

• Accommodation is subject to availability at time of 

prize redemption. 

• This prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. 

• International and domestic flights are not included in 

this prize. 

• This Prize cannot be combined with any live specials 

and tactical campaigns in the market place and 

cannot be booked via any travel professional or 

travel wholesaler. 

• All other expenses are the responsibility of the prize 

winner. 

• Pacific Resort Hotel Group strongly recommends the 

prize winner purchases travel insurance at the time 

of booking the prize accommodation.

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium 

AITUTAKI LAGOON PRIVATE ISLAND RESORT-ADULTS-ONLY • COOK ISLANDS 

Overwater Heaven 

Float over the world’s bluest blue. 

Aitutaki. Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler’s favourite island. 

Indulge in the ONLY Overwater Bungalows on the ONLY private island resort 

in the fabled Cook Islands (just west of Tahiti) at the ONLY resort set directly on 

the World’s Most Beautiful Lagoon. Heaven sent for romantic escapes, birthdays, 

anniversaries, honeymoons ... and even second honeymoons. 

For guests aged 16+. Pure bliss. 

TRAVEL BUBBLES 

Aitutaki Lagoon | COOK ISLANDS 

info@aitutakilagoonresort.com | www.AitutakiLagoonResort.com (Live Chat avail.) 

P +682-31 200 

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF A VERY LONG TUNNEL 

Experience the Cook Islands’ Signature Beach Resort 

• Rarotonga’s best 4 star Full-service beach resort | 110 rooms/suites/bungalow/villas 

• Prime, secluded white sandy Aroa Beach | Best snorkelling in Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve 

• On Rarotonga’s southwest sunshine coast | Sizzling sunsets 

• Extensive free activities - stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling (all-tide), kayaking, tennis, gym, 

beachfront swimming pool, learn to dance the hula, make a lei, play the ukulele, husk a coconut 

• Kids & Teens Stay + Play FREE (to 16) | Free Moko’s Kids Club (4-11) | Free Teen Zone (12-16) | Creche 

• Captain Andy’s Beach Bar & Grill l Function + conference facilities 

• SpaPolynesia | Seventh Heaven All-Inclusive + Over The Moon Wedding Packages 

Slip off your watch, your shoes, your cares and immerse yourself in Paradise 

Aroa Beach + Lagoonarium | Rarotonga | COOK ISLANDS 

P (+682) 25800 | info@therarotongan.com 

www.TheRarotongan.com (Live Chat avail.) 

The travel bubble that opened between NZ and the 

Cook Islands on May 17th was more significant than 

the opening with Australia a month earlier. On May 

17th we opened to the Cook Islands and we saw a 

different kind of bubble open, a bubble for recreation 

not income generation. 

SANCTUARY RAROTONGA-ON THE BEACH-ADULTS-ONLY 

Where the 

ocean meets 

the sky... 

Sure, for the Cooks Islands themselves it is the 

tourism lifeline that they have been waiting for; 

a financial input that will put them back on track. 

But for New Zealanders, it gives us an option for a 

winter escape, a chance to travel again, relativity 

freely and in many ways, it is a hope for the future 

of travel. 

...here you have 

found Sanctuary 

Tourism makes for a considerable percentage of 

country’s yearly GDP, and you will all know how 

this loss of tourism has affected New Zealand. For 

example, pre-pandemic, China was our second 

largest-tourism market after Australia and the 

expenditure by 390,000 Chinese visitors in 2019 

hit a record high of $1.7 billion. The combined 3.9 

million overseas visitors who came to New Zealand 

in 2019 spent the equivalent of $47 million a day! 

But it is not only us, governments worldwide are 

also struggling to find creative ways to restore 

the inbound cash flow streams associated with 

international tourism and travel, and so now we are 

looking at a new word and new concept the ‘travel 

bubble’. 

Travel bubbles, also known as travel corridors, 

green corridors, and corona corridors, are 

essentially an exclusive partnership between 

two or more countries that have demonstrated 

considerable success in containing and combating 

the COVID-19 pandemic within their individual 

borders. 

Counties like us and Australia then go about reestablishing 

a mutual relationship by opening up 

the borders or section of the border to allow people 

to travel without the on-arrival quarantine period. 

Sometimes these corridors are one way traffic like 

Niue; you can fly from Niue to New Zealand and not 

have to isolate (that option if flying to Niue without 

isolation is not yet available). 

Stylish boutique resort for guests aged 16+. Set on secluded Aroa The Beach ‘option’ to be able simply to fly to Australia and 

lapped by Aroa Lagoon Although Marine Kiwis do Sanctuary, not have very Rarotonga’s big wings, they best snorkelling. the Cook Enjoy Islands is part of the subtle internal change 

complimentary stand-up themselves paddleboarding, made more than 3 kayaking, million overseas snorkelling & that fish happening feeding in the us all. It’s not to say they we 

trips 2019, which basically ground to a halt in March will all re-plan our New Zealand holiday, but it is a 

crystal clear blue waters, tennis, learn to dance the hula, make a lei, play the ukulele, 

2020 and the tourism infrastructure that entertained bending of what has been a ridged rule. You can 

husk a coconut. Bluewater the incoming Grill, and swim-up facilitated those bar, swimming leaving, ground pool, to spa, now tour travel desk, just for fun. Sure there are some risks, 

24 hour reception a & screeching security. halt. All Sanctuary guests also have full access Covid has to an all ability facilities to change and cause chaos 

at adjacent sister resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium. 

Aroa Beach + Lagoonarium | Rarotonga l COOK ISLANDS 

info@sanctuaryrarotonga.com | www.SanctuaryRarotonga.com (Live Chat avail.) 

P +682-25 800 


AITUTAKI LAGOON PRIVATE ISLAND RESORT-ADULTS-ONLY • COOK ISLANDS 

Overwater Heaven 

Float over the world’s bluest blue. 

Aitutaki. Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler’s favourite island. 

Indulge in the ONLY Overwater Bungalows on the ONLY private island resort 

in the fabled Cook Islands (just west of Tahiti) at the ONLY resort set directly on 

the World’s Most Beautiful Lagoon. Heaven sent for romantic escapes, birthdays, 

anniversaries, honeymoons ... and even second honeymoons. 

For guests aged 16+. Pure bliss. 

Aitutaki Lagoon | COOK ISLANDS 

info@aitutakilagoonresort.com | www.AitutakiLagoonResort.com (Live Chat avail.) 

P +682-31 200 

The combined 3.9 million 

overseas visitors who came to 

New Zealand in 2019 spent the 

equivalent of $47 million a day! 

anywhere. But as more people get vaccinated, that 

vaccine passport will become mandatory on some 

airlines and border crossings, so a safety structure 

will emerge that will allow us to travel. 

There are several countries that have travel corridors 

now in place and it is far from an ideal solution but is 

undoubtably a step in the right direction. The issue 

is however, as each country extends its bubble to 

a second or third or fourth destination, what impact 

will that have? Currently there is discussion between 

Singapore and Australia; would that, if formed, then 

impact on the Australian - New Zealand bubble 

as Singapore will have an air bubble with Hong 

Kong and and Hong Kong has relationship with 

relationships with both Japan and Taiwan. It gets 

complicated. 

Already these travel bubbles have proven to be a 

godsend for those looking to get their economies 

back on track and for those of us looking for an 

overseas escape from the NZ winter. 

For all of us we can see that the bubble, even with 

its limitations, is a light at the end of the tunnel where 

one day we will be able to once again travel freely. 

SANCTUARY RAROTONGA-ON THE BEACH-ADULTS-ONLY 

Where the 

ocean meets 

the sky... 

...here you have 

found Sanctuary 

“Escape ordinary” 

Caring luxury | Local flavour | One of a kind 

Stylish boutique resort for guests aged 16+. Set on secluded Aroa Beach 

lapped by Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary, Rarotonga’s best snorkelling. Enjoy 

complimentary stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling & fish feeding in the 

crystal clear blue waters, tennis, learn to dance the hula, make a lei, play the ukulele, 

husk a coconut. Bluewater Grill, swim-up bar, swimming pool, spa, tour desk, 

24 hour reception & security. All Sanctuary guests also have full access to all facilities 

at adjacent sister resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium. 

Aroa Beach + Lagoonarium | Rarotonga l COOK ISLANDS 

info@sanctuaryrarotonga.com | www.SanctuaryRarotonga.com (Live Chat avail.) 

P +682-25 800 

1191 Pukaki Street, Rotorua 

p: +64 7 348 4079 | w: regentrotorua.co.nz

vanuatu.travel 

3 DAYS ON MAEWO ISLAND 

VANUATU 

With dense jungle, towering peaks, and expansive, isolated 

beaches, the tiny island of Maewo, one of the most easterly 

islands of Vanuatu, is calling adventurers who love the 

romance of going off-grid. If you’re looking to switch off 

from the chaos of life back home, with little access to 

electricity and internet reception, Maewo makes for the 

perfect escape. Whether you want to explore life under the 

surface as you venture into underwater caves, or you’re 

ready for a challenge above sea level, hiking to some of the 

island’s many waterfalls, experience true Melanesian island 

hospitality and culture, Maewo has plenty of opportunities for 

adventure and culture. 

Don’t Miss: 

• The glistening Moon Cave 

• Maewo’s incredible waterfalls and cascades 

• Learning from the locals as they share their 

culture. 

How To Get There: 

Flights to Maewo are extremely limited, leaving from 

Port Vila only once or twice a week. The flight takes 

approximately one hour. You’ll fly into Maewo-Naone 

Airport at the north of the island. Check out the latest flight 

schedules at www.airvanuatu.com 

Maewo is a popular yachting destination, so if that’s possible 

for you, docking your boat is a unique way to approach the 

island. 

Useful Tips: 

Maewo has the highest rainfall of any island in Vanuatu, 

so be sure to pack for wet weather. This earns Maewo the 

‘waterfall island’ title, so be equally as prepared for deep 

clear pools and waterfall showers. 

Although Maewo is a long and thin island, getting from one 

side to the other isn’t as easy as it seems. Speak with local 

Maewo's Moon Cave 

guides to get advice on moving from one area to another. 

Life on Maewo is entirely off-grid. Public transport is near to 

non-existent, and don’t hedge your bets on posting a sneaky 

Instagram shot while you’re over there. Make sure you 

charge all your camera batteries before you go, and pack 

the kind of gear you would if you were camping: head torch, 

snacks, first aid kit, snorkel gear, mosquito coils, snacks. 

While transport can be elusive and expensive, walking along 

the west coast of Maewo is a much-loved activity. The whole 

island is only 56km long, and the paths along the west coast 

follow the coastal plains. If you have days to spare and love 

keeping those legs moving, consider walking the length of 

the island. 

Day 1: 

MORNING 

Your flight from Port Vila will take you to the northernmost 

end of Maewo, landing at the Naone-Maewo airport. A short 

drive away, you can make your way to Lua ete Salgola — a 

guesthouse in Kaiwo. 

AFTERNOON 

The guesthouse is an ideal place to set yourself up for 

exploring Maewo’s northern tip. Within easy walking 

distance of your accommodation are the Naone Cascades, 

also known as Big Wato, situated on the plateau above the 

airport. Your host can provide you with a guide to take you 

on the half-day excursion to see the cascades, where you’ll 

not only witness the power of the falls, but also experience 

a traditional welcome and plenty of local refreshments. 

Be sure to dance when a smiling face hauls you into the 

group! When you arrive back at your accommodation, enjoy 

a simple meal from your host and the company of friendly 

locals as they share stories and show you what life on 

Maewo is all about. 


Make sure you immerse yourself in the culture of Maewo 

Day 2: 

MORNING 

Wake up nice and early because it’s time to go south. 

Getting to Asanvari requires a truck from Naone Airport to 

Narovorovo, followed by a speedboat from Narovorovo to 

Asanvari. Keep an eye out for the spectacular birds that 

call Maewo home – the island is very popular amongst bird 

watchers. While the best of the action is in the mountainous 

terrain in the island’s centre, those with a keen eye are sure 

to see some local feathered friends, no matter where you are 

on Maewo. 

On the way, you’ll have the opportunity to jump off the boat 

and snorkel into Maewo’s Moon Cave. With ancient cave 

writings, stalactites and a kastom story that explains why the 

moon sits where it does in Maewo, this stopover will be sure 

to delight. 

AFTERNOON 

Once you reach Asanvari, the Mule Ocean View Guesthouse 

is your best bet for setting yourself up for great adventures 

in the south. Grab some lunch to go before you head off on 

a midday adventure to Lavoa Cascade. About a 2-3 hour 

return trip, this is the perfect way to cap off your second day 

in Maewo as you relax, take in the beauty of the falls, feed 

the fish and enjoy a sunset looking out over Ambae Island. 

When you return to your accommodation for the night, enjoy 

a meal from the restaurant, or cook up a storm yourself with 

their fresh vegetables, and enjoy the sound of the ocean as 

you drift off to sleep. Remember, this island has very limited 

access to the modern technology you’re probably used 

to. Make sure you’ve got a head torch, a book and some 

mosquito coils with you! 

Day 3: 

MORNING 

Today’s all about immersing yourself in the culture of Maewo. 

Whether it’s weaving and dancing with the local mamas or 

witnessing the expert musicians making incredible music 

with bamboo instruments, there are plenty of opportunities to 

dive into Maewo’s culture, and walk away with unforgettable 

memories and new skills. 

Depending on flight times, consider the all-day Hanare 

Custom Village tour. Home to the first high chief of Maewo, 

this sacred land is now used to showcase the traditional 

practices of Maewo culture and honour their ancestors. 

This tour will give you a taste of the Maewo way of life, from 

cooking to dancing to drinking to storytelling. We assure you, 

this’ll be one of the most powerful cultural experiences you'll 

have the opportunity to witness. 

If you haven’t got the time to visit Hanare, start your morning 

off by canoe fishing, commonly known as Mule Game 

Fishing. During your fish, your guide will teach you traditional 

fishing techniques and show you where all the fish are to be 

found. Going out in a rigger canoe is a powerful experience 

and an insight into the self-sufficiency of Maewo’s locals. 

AFTERNOON 

To cool off before heading back to the airport, take some 

time to snorkel in the south of the island. The reefs here are 

unparalleled and a huge draw card for the yachters who 

flock to Maewo 

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Adventure Magazine 226

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