Photo: Jo Stilwell
"It all started with the collection of a small ultramafic rock, like the thousands we had walked over, yet interesting enough to stand out. A rich, dark red with tiny shiny flecks, it was knobbly and coarse and small enough to make no appreciable difference to our pack weight."
Ultramafic rocks were formed deep below ancient volcanoes and uplifted over millions of years by the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates.
Writer Jo Stilwell journeys to the opposite ends of the South Island on a quest to reunite two such rocks after a 25-million-year separation.
Missed yesterday’s feature? Research shows just a couple of nights in the wild can reset your circadian rhythm to give you a better sleep and help you feel more rested.
Quiz
Why is the plant tātarāmoa also called bush lawyer?
A. It was first documented by NZ solicitor and amateur botanist Thomas Kirk.
B. It is a protected plant with legal consequences for those damaging it or trying to export it.
C. You can get hooked by its thorns and cannot escape easily.
Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…
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Current Issue - June 2026
Expert tips for winter camping, seven overseas trails you’ll love, why a night under the stars is the perfect sleep fix, BTS at the OGU, mapped trip reports, gear guides and dozens more articles!
Winter mountain safety for kids
Photo: Victoria Bruce
Learning about mountain safety opens up options for trampers of all ages. Victoria Bruce and daughter Emilie (9) and took part in an introductory snowcraft course with Nelson Tramping Club.
She writes that it was a great way to build on their tramping skills and level up their winter trips. Here is her top takeaways.
Featured Book
Bewildered
What would move you to ditch your life and take off into the wild for five months? For Laura Waters, it took the implosion of a toxic relationship and a crippling bout of anxiety.
But when her walking partner dropped out on the second day, she was faced with a choice: abandon the journey, or face her fears and continue on alone? She chose to walk on.
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Tramping calendar
See our list of upcoming tramping events and activities across the motu. Have an event you want to feature? Email us the details!
Various dates across April, May & June: Banff Mountain Film Festival
Location: Across the motu
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour — the biggest annual fundraiser for the New Zealand Alpine Club — is back until July 2026.
Ski big mountain lines in Norway after losing a leg. Attempt a daring first descent of Mount Robson's legendary South Face. Journey by packraft through Alaska's Brooks Range in search of an Arctic mystery. Follow two fathers dragging their two-year-olds through the Swiss Alps on mountain bikes and more. Find tickets at banff.nz
TODAY: Raiders of the Lost Archive — Colin Monteath
Location: WEA, 59 Gloucester Street, Christchurch, 7:30–9pm
Expedition photographer Colin Monteath shares stories from Antarctica, Arctic and Asian mountain expeditions. More info.
13-14 June: Bush Skills for wāhine
Location: Whakamarama area, Bay of Plenty
Learn valuable skills for enjoyable and safe tramping and meet women with similar interests! More info - contact [email protected]
14 June: Public Plantings with the Summit Road Society
Location: Linda Woods Reserve, 1-4pm
The 233ha property, located between the Avoca and Horotane Valleys, is being developed into an open space for the community to enjoy. Help nurture, care for and develop the reserve on this planting day. More info.
20 June: Rangiora Tramping Club 50th anniversary
Were you a member of the Rangiora Tramping Club? Please get in touch with the club as it would love to celebrate its 50th birthday with as many past and present members as possible. Email: [email protected]
21 June: Public Plantings with the Summit Road Society
Location: Linda Woods Reserve, 9am-1pm
The 233ha property, located between the Avoca and Horotane Valleys, is being developed into an open space for the community to enjoy. Help nurture, care for and develop the reserve on this planting day. More info.
27 June: Mahoe-nui Winter Planting
Location: Sumner / Evans Pass, Christchurch, 9–11:30am
Community native planting day on the Port Hills. Includes steep terrain restoration work and post-event refreshments. More info.
28 June: Stories behind some of Aoteaora’s most interesting plants
Location: Otari Visitors Centre, 2pm
Why is speargrass so sharp? Why does the parapara have such sticky seeds (hint, little birds beware). Join Te Papa science researcher and evolutionary biologist Lara Shepherd on an exploration around Ōtari’s plant collection, she’ll reveal all sorts of fascinating facts about our native species. More info.
2 July: Outdoor Training New Zealand Auckland Branch meeting
Location: Point Chevalier Tennis Club, Auckland
The Auckland branch of OTNZ has an active committee, a manageable course schedule, and holds two monthly evening meetings to introduce new topics of interest and engage with the wider membership. More info.
2 July: Winter Hiking and Staying Safe in the Outdoors
Location: MD Outdoors, Nelson, 5:30-7:30pm
Special guest, Gideon, is a full-time practical risk management trainer with over 25 years spent operating in remote and demanding conditions.
The evening's discussion will leave you more confident, better prepared, and ready to take on winter backcountry travel. More info.
4-5 July: Outdoor Training NZ Survival Confidence
Location: Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
This two-day practical course is designed to provide participants with basic bushcraft survival skills (what you would need if you become lost in the New Zealand bush), including survival priorities and how to build a bivvy. More info.
17-18 July: MDOutdoors Nelson Film Festival
Location: Nelson
The film festival will be filled with door prizes, giveaways, competitions and epic films to inspire you and your family. Saturday night screening includes the awards night to announce the winners of this year's competition!
Quiz
Answer C - You can get hooked by its thorns and cannot escape easily.
Bush lawyer is a common name for a type of climbing blackberry plant found in the NZ bush. It has hooked thorns that can snag clothing and rip skin. Its humorous name reflects that idea that it will not let you go until it has drawn blood.
Quiz provided by Pam Hutton/PuzzleBeetle.
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