Photo: Rob Bates
This Northland section of Te Araroa includes a bit of everything, making for a perfect day walking the coast. Enjoy a mix of farmland, native bush and clifftop walking as you hug the coastline.
Missed yesterday’s feature? We highlighted the five unique ways to reach Lake Angelus.
⏰ Just five days remain for aspiring writers and photojournalists of all ages to apply for a $1000 scholarship, apply today!
Sponsored
Mountain dog challenge
Climb 10 peaks with your dog to complete the Mountain Dog Challenge!
As you embark on this year’s Walk1200km, will you have a four-legged companion along for the journey? The team at Further Faster know a thing or two about heading out on adventures with your dog.
A few years ago they started the Mountain Dog Challenge, which involves summiting 10 peaks with your pup. After you’ve done 10, your dog gets a bandana to show off to their friends! There is also an amazing community of dog-loving adventurers in our Facebook group.
If this sounds like a bit of you and your dog, check out all the info at www.mountaindogchallenge.co.nz.
Quiz
How many peaks/points in the Tararua Range are over 1500m?
A. 9
B. 13
C. 15
D. 19
Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…
Current Issue - March 2026
Every Tararua hut ranked, the possibilities of packrafting, three life changing journeys, 7 mapped trip reports, gear guides and dozens more articles!
Recipe: Backcountry crusty bread 🍞
Deliciously aromatic crusty bread and cakes can be cooked on your tramping stove, the embers of a glowing fire, or a hut’s wood stove.
Photo: Adam Thomas
Profile
Time: Mixing dough 5 min, proofing dough 4-8 hours, bake time 30-40 min
Makes: 1 loaf
Ingredients
Bread:
120ml water
3 tsp Surebake yeast
½ tbsp cooking oil
½ tsp salt
260g high grade flour
Backcountry oven:
To create your backcountry oven, you will need:
A large billy with lid
A smaller bowl or billy that fits completely inside
A few stones to rest the small billy on
Baking paper
Method
In the morning before starting the day’s walk, heat water to lukewarm in the small billy.
Sprinkle in the yeast, stir and leave for a few minutes to hydrate. Add the oil, salt and flour. Mix with a strong spoon until combined.
Knead the dough for around five minutes, put it into the billy and pack it snugly in your pack.
A few times throughout the day, knead the dough for a minute or two. When the final destination is reached, give the dough one last kneading.
Line the small billy with baking paper and pop the dough in.
Cover and place somewhere warm to rise for about an hour.
Bake in your billy oven for 30–40min over a low heat.
Featured Book
Wild Wellington
This handy and informative illustrated guide highlights over 30 of the best wild and urban places to discover and explore the region’s natural diversity, from the south coast to Kapiti.
Subscribers get a 10% discount.
Poll results
On Monday we asked Wilderness Daily readers what they thought of our ranking of all the huts in the Tararua Range.
The results are in: 11% said our list was spot on, 56% said close but no cigar and 33% said we were way off track.
Here is a selection of comments from readers:
“Maungahuka is my favourite and I'd have Kime hut much much higher in the list”
“Overly weighted on how hard to get to.”
“When it is pouring with Tararua rain every hut is welcome.”
Quiz answer
Answer B - 13
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