Marios Gavalas has spent decades exploring Aotearoa’s mountains, forests and coastlines — and helping others do the same through his books, guiding, and photography.

In this episode of The Tramping Life, Marius shares stories from his early days tramping the Coromandel with little more than a tent and a pair of skis, to writing 18 guidebooks that introduced countless people to New Zealand’s tracks.

We talk about his transition from writer to professional guide, what it’s like to live for a decade in a yurt, and why his “tramping bucket list” now begins just outside his back door in the Motueka Valley.

Along the way, Marios reflects on the joy of slow walking, his encounters with falcons and penguins, and the quiet art of living close to nature — with just a thin layer of canvas in between.

https://hikingnewzealand.com/blog/meet-our-guide-marios-gavalas

Today we’re heading to Banks Peninsula and one of New Zealand’s most varied multi-day walks — a privately run track that combines coastal scenery, wildlife, and unusually comfortable accommodation. This episode explores Banks Track.

Opened in 1989, Banks Track was New Zealand’s first private walking track. The 31km route is walked over two or three days, crossing farmland, regenerating native bush, volcanic ridgelines, and dramatic coastline, with wide views over Akaroa Harbour and the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, walkers often encounter little blue penguins, New Zealand fur seals, and abundant birdlife.

I walked Banks Track over three days, through forest reserves, swam beneath waterfalls, followed exposed coastal cliffs, and stayed at Onuku Farm, Flea Bay, and Stony Bay — each offering a very different experience, from penguin colonies to outdoor wood-fired baths.

In this episode I give an overview of Banks Track, describe my experience walking it, highlight the wildlife and accommodation that make it unique, and share practical advice for anyone considering either the two-day or three-day option.

https://bankstrack.co.nz/

Neil Silverwood is a leading photographer, conservationist, and lifelong caver. Neil takes us not only deep underground but also high into the hills, sharing stories of tramping, caving, and flying.

We talk about the challenges of caving – from hauling 35kg of gear, to eight hours stuck in a squeeze, to emerging from the dark into alpine light. Neil reflects on caves as “a black-and-white world,” the universality of claustrophobia, and the joy of taking flight through paragliding. Neil also recalls adventures on Stewart Island, where the remoteness, wild weather, and rugged coastline bring their own challenges and rewards for trampers and explorers.

https://www.neilsilverwood.com/

Today we’re heading to the West Coast and one of its most popular tramps — an historic track best known for its natural hot pools. This episode explores the Copland Track and Welcome Flat Hut.

Developed in the early 20th century as a route across the Southern Alps, the Copland Track is now usually walked as a return trip from the West Coast road end to Welcome Flat Hut. The 18km track follows rivers, crosses swing bridges, and winds through lush rainforest before emerging beneath the towering Sierra Range.

I walked the track in early spring, navigating Rough Creek, sandflies, glacial rivers, and long stretches of well-graded track before spending two nights at Welcome Flat Hut. The 31-bunk hut is famous for its nearby hot pools, fed by natural spring water, and for the unusual Sierra Room.

In this episode I give an overview of the track and hut, describe my experience of it, and share practical advice for those thinking of walking it.

Corina Jordan is Chief Executive of the Game Animal Council and Fish & Game New Zealand. We talk about her lifelong love of the outdoors, from childhood adventures in Northland and Taranaki to her current role shaping New Zealand’s hunting and conservation policies.

Corina explains how modern game management can benefit both hunters and conservation, what “herds of special interest” mean for species like tahr and sika, and how organizations like Fish & Game are restoring wetlands and advocating for healthy rivers.

We also cover the realities of hunting in New Zealand today – from deer management and the Canada goose debate to the growing number of women hunters and the synergies between hunting and tramping communities.

It’s a thoughtful conversation about how people, policy, and passion intersect in the New Zealand backcountry.

New Zealand Game Animal Council - https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/
Fish & Game New Zealand - https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/

Geoff Spearpoint is one of New Zealand’s most experienced trampers, writers, and backcountry advocates. For decades he has explored some of the country’s most remote corners, helped preserve our huts and tracks, and inspired countless trampers through books, photography, and articles.

In this episode we talk about his beginnings in the Tararuas, youthful adventures that nearly went wrong, and the friendships that shaped his tramping life. Jeff shares stories of ambitious expeditions across Fiordland and the Southern Alps, surreal moments in the mountains, and encounters with kiwi and kakapo.

We also discuss the evolution of New Zealand’s hut and track network, the volunteer movement to preserve it, and the cultural importance of huts in our backcountry. Jeff reflects on climate change’s impact on glaciers, the rhythms of birdlife, and what still remains on his bucket list after a lifetime in the hills.

Craig Potton is a photographer, publisher, conservationist, and one of New Zealand’s most thoughtful voices on wild places.

Craig’s stories take us from crawling out the back door as a kid in Nelson, to surfing wild west coast breaks, finding happiness in the Himalaya, and carrying camera gear heavy enough to need a chiropractor decades later. We talk about burning down a hut (almost), sleeping beneath bivvy rocks, the heartbreak of vanishing glaciers, and the deep connection between wilderness, gratitude, and art.

Celia Wade-Brown is a Green Party MP, former mayor of Wellington, founder of the Wairarapa Walking Festival, and a lifelong tramper. From childhood walks in London’s parks and the Lake District, to rafting adventures, multi-day tramps in the Tararuas, and eventually walking the length of New Zealand on Te Araroa, Celia’s journey reflects her passion for the outdoors and sustainable living. In this episode, she shares the joys and challenges of Te Araroa, why outdoor education matters, the importance of conservation funding, and why protecting New Zealand’s wild places matters more than ever.