Expeditions in New Zealand
Here are some of the expeditions I’ve completed across New Zealand that I’ll be sharing on this blog. It may take some time to document each journey in detail, but once they’re published, you’ll find them under the New Zealand tab in Expeditions. Below is the list in chronological order.
Travers-Sabine Circuit, Nelson Lakes National Park
Dates: 3-9 December 2022
Length: 7 Days
Start: Lake Rotoiti
Finish: Mt Robert Car Park
Total Distance: 84km
Type: Solo, a mix huts and camping
I headed into Nelson Lakes National Park for a 7-day, 84km solo journey on the Travers-Sabine Circuit — a challenging tramp combining two nights in huts and four nights camping with my fluffy friends a monkey and a croc along for the adventure. Needing some alone time, the trip became exactly what I needed. The landscapes were stunning, the terrain demanding, and the side trip to Blue Lake — known as the clearest freshwater lake in the world — was absolutely worth it. Parts of the route also followed the famous Te Araroa Trail. Living simply outdoors, carrying everything on my back, waking up somewhere new each day, meeting kind people along the trail, and moving through pristine wilderness reminded me how little I need to feel happy and fulfilled.
Greenstone-Caples Circuit, Otago
Dates: 11-14 October 2025
Length: 4 Days
Start: Greenstone Road End
Finish: Greenstone Road End
Total Distance: 61km
Type: Group of 4, hut to hut
In October 2025, I spent four days tramping the classic Greenstone-Caples Track through some of the most beautiful valleys in New Zealand. The journey was filled with lush forests, wide river valleys, cosy backcountry huts, and plenty of muddy, rain-soaked trails — a true New Zealand tramping experience. I stayed at Mid Caples Hut, McKellar Hut, and Greenstone Hut, each offering a warm and welcoming place to end the day. It wasn’t the biggest or hardest adventure, but there was something deeply comforting about walking through these quiet valleys, embracing the wet trails, and settling into simple hut life each night.
Hollyford-Pyke Packraft Loop, Fiordland
Dates: 19-27 October 2025
Length: 9 Days
Start: Hollyford Road End
Finish: Hollyford Road End
Total Distance: 150km
Type: Group of 2, hut to hut
In October 2025, Dave and I completed the legendary Hollyford-Pyke Loop — a wild 9-day journey combining tramping and packrafting through some of the most remote wilderness in New Zealand. It was our first proper multi-day packrafting expedition together, paddling an Alpacka Rendezvous double packraft that felt more like a canoe than a kayak. We carried over a week of food, expecting slow progress in rough weather, and ended up having the entire route — and all the huts — completely to ourselves. The weather was intense: relentless rain, strong winds, and very little sunshine. But somehow, that became part of the magic. We hiked in drysuits with rain jackets over the top, stayed surprisingly dry, and used cosy huts and a jet boat ride to Martins Bay to safely wait out the worst conditions. The constant rain even kept the sandflies away most of the time — a rare luxury in Fiordland. Despite the challenging conditions, the trip was unforgettable. The landscapes were stunning, the rivers and valleys felt incredibly remote, and there was something deeply satisfying about moving through such wild country completely under our own power. We’d love to return one day and experience the loop again in calmer weather.
