Applications for the second annual Shaun Barnett Memorial Scholarship are now open. The scholarship offers up to $1000 in support of the successful applicant’s backcountry adventures and creative development.
Wilderness established the scholarship in December 2025 as a tribute to leading tramping author and photographer Shaun Barnett. The inaugural recipient was Erin Hewetson, her story will be featured in our November 2026 issue.
Applications for this year’s scholarship close 15 October.
Missed Friday’s feature? New online tool makes hut bookings easier, hiker reunited with backpack 60 years after he fell into a glacier, Japan using AI drones and wolf robots to keep bears at bay and more in last week’s The World Outdoors.
Poll
Will you apply for the 2027 Shaun Barnett Memorial Scholarship?
Check Wednesday’s newsletter for the results!
Do you have a question you want to put to other Wilderness Daily readers? Email [email protected] with your question.
Featured Book
New Zealand Bird Calls
This book features 60 birds and each entry includes information about habitat, distribution, appearance and behaviour of the bird, along with a description of its calls.
An essential guide for any beginner or bird enthusiast to enjoy in the field or at home.
Subscribers get a 10% discount.
This month in tramping history
Outward Bound school established
1 September 1962
In September 1962 Christchurch lawyer Hamish Thomas founded a New Zealand version of Outward Bound at Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds. He had previously visited adventure schools of the same name in Britain. Students are taken into the mountains and waterways to challenge themselves and reach their full potential.
The school was opened by Governor-General of New Zealand Lord Cobham. Thirty-six young men attended the inaugural course; female students were welcomed in October 1973 and in 1978 the first course for disabled students was held. More than 50,000 students have since attended Outward Bound.
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.
Photo of the week 📸
This week’s photo comes from Richard Zajkowski who sheltered overnight at Robert Lodge in Nelson Lakes National Park during a blizzard. According to Richard, the next morning however, “was a stunner.”
This photo was submitted as part of our monthly Last Weekend feature. Each month we publish reader submitted photos in the mag and online. If your photo is published you’ll received a Real Meals meal worth $18!
Email [email protected] with your submissions.
Have a photo you want to share with Wilderness Daily readers? Flick us an email with the photo and a few words about it.
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