The hectic pace of urban life can be an assault on our senses. Ray Salisbury found the antidote in this quiet corner of Nelson Lakes National Park, where reflecting tarns captured wild mountain grandeur under a vast blue dome.

He writes, "Suitable tent sites were found, the billy was boiled... As the sun sank below the ridge and shadows lengthened, there was not a breath of wind. The silence was glorious."

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Immerse yourself in nature on this new loop trail in the Hūnua Ranges.

You come to an unbridged river, consider it carefully, and decide it is safe to cross. Before stepping into the water, what factors should you consider to make it across safely?

Heather Grady from Outdoor Training New Zealand gives us five things to check to make the safest crossing possible.

See our list of upcoming tramping events and activities across the motu. Have an event you want to feature? Email us the details!

1 March - 30 April: MD Outdoors Adventure Film Festival Submissions Open

Location: Online

Are you an aspiring adventure filmmaker or just love capturing your adventures? MD Outdoors want to watch your stories and follow your journey in the outdoors!

Put together a short (up to 20-minute) film featuring an outdoor pursuit or adventure - whatever that means to you. The shortlisted films will be showcased in July 2026, with screenings in Nelson and beyond in New Zealand. More info.

20 March - 30 April: Waiheke Walking Festival

Location: Waikehe Island

This event runs over two months, featuring a range of community walks and activities you can sign up to, exploring the myriad of tracks weaved across the island, including hikes over private land not usually accessible to the public. More info.

1-30 April: East Auckland Walkfest

Location: East Auckland

A curated celebration of the region’s most scenic and surprising walking trails. From coastal strolls to countryside rambles, this event offers something for everyone, no matter your pace or passion. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, a family with young children, or someone who simply loves a leisurely stroll, WalkFest has options to suit all fitness levels and interests. More info.

2 May: Book launch - Trailblazers - A History of the Nelson Tramping Club (1934 - 2026)

Location: Elma Turner Library, Nelson

This is the story of a bunch of Nelsonians exploring their backyard, and in the process, finding joy, adventure and camaraderie. Among the day-walks and epic climbs, are tales of aircraft crashes, missing trampers, romances, inter-club rivalry, as well as the building and maintenance of a dozen backcountry huts. Ninety-two years later, these trampers are still marking tracks and restoring huts. Written and presented by Ray Salisbury. More info.

2-3 May: 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 would be required if you become lost in the New Zealand bush), including survival priorities and building a bivvy. More info.

6-7 May: Overnight Banks Peninsula Walking Festival

Location: Canterbury

This two-day, guided overnight walk follows a lesser-known route to Rod Donald Hut. Led by Richard Suggate - former Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust co-chair- and supported by Sara Templeton, the walk will focus on vision sharing, stories of place, and the work happening across Banks Peninsula. More info.

7 May: 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.

12 May: DOC Great Walk Bookings open

Location: Online from 9:30 am and 12 pm

Dust off the tramping boots and warm up those clicking fingers - bookings for DOC’s Great Walks, huts and campsites for the 2026/27 season open from 12 May. More info.

14-16 May: OTNZ Basic Navigation and Compass Skills

Location: Wenderholm Regional Park

This course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to be able to navigate using a Topo50 map and ground features on well-marked tracks in areas typically open to the general public. More info.

17-19 May: Electrify Queenstown

Location: Tahuna Queenstown

Talks, workshops, and experiences covering advances in electrification and renewable energy. Test out new electric things, speak to leaders in the space (i.e. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts), tour an electric home and more. More info.

Various dates across April, May & June: Banff Mountain Film Festival

Location: Across the motu

Get ready, Aotearoa! The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour — the biggest annual fundraiser for the New Zealand Alpine Club — is back this April to 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. Don't miss out — secure your tickets today at banff.nz

Answer C - Rappel

A rappel is the controlled descent of a steep slope using a rope. It is also called abseiling. The rope is securely anchored at the top of the slope, and the climber uses a variety of techniques to increase the friction on the rope to control and manage their weight to descend smoothly.

Quiz provided by Pam Hutton/PuzzleBeetle.

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