A born and bred West Coaster with an ultra-running background, Paulette has recently become a tramping convert.
“Coming from an ultra-running background, I like a challenge,” she says. “I try to wring as much as I can out of every day and cover as much ground as possible, but that doesn’t mean going ultralight. I’ll carry extra weight if it means comfort at night, good food, and usually a ginger beer and whisky after a long day getting to a hut or campsite.”
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? The track to the highest point in the Marlborough Sounds is a 6.8km trip through silver beech forest to tussocky tops and, on a clear day, stunning 360-degree views of the sounds.
Quiz
Millers Flat is a small town in inland Otago. How did it get its name?
A - In honour of a European settler called Walter Miller.
B - A flour mill was built and operated there in the mid-19th century.
C - After the English town of Millers Dene.
Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…
Featured Book
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Gear review: Stealth Adventure Equipment Rata 25 review
Sporting extra-durable fabrics and a boxy laptop-friendly shape, the roll-top Rata 25 suits both town and backcountry. It’s kiwi-made, durable and gear editor Mark Watson found it makes a practical pick for a dual-use pack.
Current Issue - Oct 2026
Circling NZ’s sleeping giant, 22 walks across private land, applications open for the 2027 Shaun Barnett Memorial Scholarship, ultralight gear reviews, gear guides, the best places for field testing your lightweight kit and dozens more stories in our latest issue.
The weekend weather at a park near you…
You can check the weather anytime on our website. Updates daily.
| Location | Today | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelus Hut |
 -1°/8°
|
 -0°/7°
|
 -1°/6°
|
 -4°/9°
|
| Aoraki/Mt Cook VC |
6°/14°
|
 8°/13°
|
 4°/13°
|
4°/14°
|
| Arthurs Pass |
3°/13°
|
6°/10°
|
5°/9°
|
1°/14°
|
| Ben Lomond Summit |
1°/6°
|
1°/7°
|
-3°/5°
|
-4°/9°
|
| Brewster Hut |
0°/4°
|
3°/6°
|
1°/8°
|
-2°/8°
|
| Cape Reinga |
12°/16°
|
11°/16°
|
11°/15°
|
12°/15°
|
| Karangahake Gorge |
7°/16°
|
8°/16°
|
10°/17°
|
 7°/15°
|
| Kaweka J Summit |
-1°/10°
|
-2°/9°
|
 -0°/8°
|
 -3°/4°
|
| McKinnon Pass |
2°/5°
|
4°/7°
|
0°/9°
|
-0°/9°
|
| Mt Heale Hut |
10°/14°
|
10°/13°
|
10°/14°
|
12°/13°
|
| Mt Pirongia |
4°/10°
|
4°/8°
|
6°/10°
|
3°/12°
|
| Mueller Hut |
1°/5°
|
1°/3°
|
 -1°/3°
|
-0°/9°
|
| Pinnacles Hut |
5°/13°
|
6°/12°
|
7°/14°
|
 6°/10°
|
| Pouakai Hut |
2°/6°
|
3°/6°
|
3°/8°
|
-0°/9°
|
| Powell Hut |
2°/6°
|
3°/6°
|
1°/6°
|
-1°/7°
|
| Rotoiti/Nelson Lk VC |
1°/16°
|
3°/15°
|
7°/13°
|
0°/16°
|
| Roys Peak |
0°/8°
|
1°/10°
|
-1°/6°
|
-3°/10°
|
| Tongariro VC |
2°/11°
|
1°/11°
|
3°/10°
|
1°/11°
|
| Waitawheta Hut |
6°/13°
|
7°/13°
|
8°/14°
|
7°/12°
|
| Woolshed Creek Hut |
4°/17°
|
7°/13°
|
2°/7°
|
1°/12°
|
Report created on 01 October, 2026 at 6:52am. For a full forecast of the park of your choice, visit NIWA.
Quiz
Answer A - In honour of a European settler called Walter Miller.
Millers Flat was originally called Ovens Hill, but its current name refers to Walter Miller, an early European settler from Scotland. He established the Ormaglade Station there and farmed in the area from about 1849.
Quiz provided by Pam Hutton/PuzzleBeetle.
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