The Tramping Life

Former Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage joins The Tramping Life to talk about her lifelong love of the outdoors, from building huts as a child to tramping the St James and the Old Ghost Road.
 
We hear about her earliest memories of wild Auckland gullies, mishaps with camp burners, and close encounters with karearea (NZ falcons). She reflects on her years in politics — the wins, frustrations, and the enduring fight to protect New Zealand’s landscapes from overdevelopment and invasive species.
 
Eugenie also shares her thoughts on the future of conservation, the lessons from the Jobs for Nature programme, and why ungulate and pig control are just as vital as predator-free efforts.
 
It’s a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation about tramping, conservation, and what it means to truly care for the places we walk.

In this episode of The Tramping Life, I head to North Canterbury to tackle one of New Zealand’s classic multi-day tramps: the St James Walkway.

This 66 km route winds through the high country, taking in the Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve, the historic St James Station pastoral lease, and Lake Sumner Forest Park. Typically walked over 4–5 days, it’s a tramp of wide open valleys, beech forest, river flats, and two relatively low passes—Ada Pass and Anne Saddle—offering a sense of scale and solitude rare in the South Island.

I share my experience walking the track at the end of March, including the bush-lined river valleys, suspension bridges over Cannibal Gorge, and spectacular viewpoints from Ada Pass. Along the way I spent nights in huts ranging from the quirky triple-decker bunks at Cannibal Gorge Hut to the modern comforts of Anne Hut, spotting local wildlife and even the famous herd of St James horses.

This is a special episode of The Tramping Life, dedicated to Shaun Barnett — one of New Zealand’s most respected tramping writers, photographers, editors, and advocates for the backcountry.

For many listeners, Shaun will be a familiar name from book spines, magazine covers, and hut shelves across the country. For others, he was a tramping companion, a mentor, a correspondent, or a quiet source of encouragement.

Shaun died in June 2024 at the age of 55, following a year-long battle with brain cancer. His passing was felt deeply — not only because of what he contributed to New Zealand’s tramping culture, but because of how he lived and how he treated people.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Shaun was editor and then roving editor of Wilderness Magazine, editor of FMC’s Backcountry, and the author or co-author of several seminal books including Classic Tramping in New Zealand, Tramping in New Zealand: A History, Sheltered from the Storm, and A Bunk for the Night. Alongside this work, he gave generously to conservation, mentoring, advocacy, and community life.

Shaun’s writing was meticulously researched, deeply informed by history, and grounded in genuine care for people and place. His knowledge of New Zealand’s tracks, huts, landscapes, and tramping history was extraordinary — and he shared it with humility, warmth, and quiet generosity.

This episode brings together memories from friends, colleagues, and fellow trampers who knew Shaun in different ways. Their stories paint a picture of a life well lived, and of a man who helped shape the tramping life in Aotearoa.
Photo credit: Peter Laurenson

In this episode of The Tramping Life, I take on the lesser-known Abel Tasman Inland Track, a 41km route through the forested spine of Abel Tasman National Park.

While most walkers stick to the iconic Coast Track, this route heads inland—climbing to nearly 900 metres near Gibbs Hill and offering a much tougher, quieter alternative. It’s steeper, rougher, and far less scenic, but delivers something increasingly rare in New Zealand’s Great Walk network: solitude.

I share my experience of pushing the track over two days instead of the usual three, dealing with relentless tree roots, mud, and long stretches without views. From the steady climb out of Marahau, to the tough middle section between Holyoake Clearing and Castle Rock Hut, through to a late arrival at Awapoto Hut and an early morning push over Pigeon Saddle, this is a very different side of Abel Tasman.

We talk about:
What the Inland Track is really like compared to the Coast Track
Whether it’s worth doing (and who it’s actually for)
The physical demands, terrain, and hut experience
Practical tips for planning, including transport and logistics
This is a track that divides opinion. It’s a solid workout and a chance to experience real quiet in a busy park—but it’s not one for views. If you’re curious about going beyond the beaches of Abel Tasman, this episode will help you decide if the Inland Track is worth your time.

Robbie Burton has spent a lifetime straddling two worlds — the wild backcountry and the world of books. The long-time co-leader of Potton & Burton, one of New Zealand’s most influential independent publishers, Robbie has also tramped and climbed across the country, including a three-month traverse of the Southern Alps from Milford to Nelson Lakes.
 
In this episode, Robbie reflects on growing up free-range in Nelson, the teenage adventures that sparked his lifelong love of the mountains, and how those early experiences shaped both his outlook and his publishing career. We talk huts and hunger, heavy packs and light gear, how tramping culture has changed, and the challenges of keeping outdoor writing and photography alive in a digital world.
 
It’s a conversation about wilderness, words, and why some journeys — on foot and in print — are worth taking slowly.

Photo credit Mike Sim
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