Conversations with people who share a deep love for exploring Aotearoa New Zealand on foot. From the well-trodden Great Walks to the rugged solitude of remote backcountry routes, our guests share their favourite hikes, huts, and hard-earned lessons from the track.
Whether you’re an experienced tramper or just curious about what makes hiking in New Zealand so special. The Tramping Life offers inspiration, practical insights, and a deeper connection to the landscapes that shape us.
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Peter Laurenson - The Himalaya, Photography, and Rockfall
Peter Laurenson is the author of Occasional Climber, Khumbu: Gateway to Mount Everest, and most recently Aotearoa Light, books that combine thoughtful writing with striking photography from New Zealand and the Himalaya. Peter reflects on growing up in New Plymouth, discovering the mountains later in life, and how his first journey to the Khumbu region of Nepal in the late 1980s shaped his relationship with tramping, climbing, and photography. We talk about returning to the New Zealand backco...
2 Oct 2026
Waikōwhai Walkway & Mount William Walkway
In this episode of The Tramping Life we explore two very different hikes in and around Auckland: the coastal Waikōwhai Walkway and the hilltop Mount William Walkway. Both offer rewarding walking close to the city, with great views and a surprising sense of escape not far from the urban area. The Waikōwhai Walkway follows part of the northern shoreline of the Manukau Harbour, running roughly 10 km between Hillsborough Bay and Lynfield Cove. The route combines foreshore walking, native bush tr...
25 Sept 2026
Derrick Field - Culling, Running, and Hut Building
Derrick Field has spent a lifetime in the hills — first as a deer culler in the 1960s, then as a ranger, hut builder, track cutter, mountain runner, and now as Chair of the Greater Wellington Backcountry Network. In this wide-ranging conversation, Derek reflects on the hard graft of culling in the Tararuas, cutting new tracks in Taranaki and the Wairarapa, building huts that are still standing today, and the volunteer mahi that keeps the backcountry alive. From sleeping in ratty huts to runni...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
14 ratings
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