Cross beneath Taranaki Maunga and striking rock formations, through one-of-a-kind Ahukawakawa swamp, and to mirror-like Pouākai Tarn on this circuit, which rivals the Great Walks.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? 2026 Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year results are in - see all this year's finalists!

Canadian-run website Schnerp scans reservation websites like DOC’s Great Walk site and notifies users the moment a spot opens up.

Software engineer Daniel Thareja created Schnerp in 2022 to help people book adventures in his home country. This year, the service expanded into New Zealand after a chairlift conversation with a Kiwi and success stories are already flowing in.

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

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

TODAY: Guardians of Hope Documentary

Location: The Boathouse, Nelson, 5-9pm

A new documentary film highlighting the lives, challenges and resilience of rangers who devote themselves to protecting the natural world premieres in Aotearoa this month.

Guardians of Hope, filmed during Australian ranger Amanda Dudgeon’s extraordinary 94,000 km solo expedition through Oceania, brings audiences face-to-face with the people on the frontlines of conservation – including rangers working across Aotearoa New Zealand. More info.

30 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 June: Social Boulder @ The Gravity Well

Location: The Gravity Wall Nelson, 5:30-7:30 pm

Meet other climbers and improve your skills at our next social bouldering night at The Gravity Well! Join us for a super relaxed atmosphere, supportive crew & some one-on-one coaching. More info.

7 June: Paremata Flats Weeding Crew

Location: Paremata Flats Reserve, Delaware Bay, 9am–12pm

Monthly restoration working bee maintaining reserve habitats and removing invasive weeds. More info.

8 June: Canterbury Westland NZAC Section

Location: NZAC Headquarters, Christchurch, 7-8pm

We currently have several vacant positions on the committee. If you think you might be keen to give back to the club come along to our next committee meeting to see what you think. More info.

9 June: Raiders of the Lost Archive — Colin Monteath

Location: WEA, 59 Gloucester Street, Christchurch, 7:30–9pm

Expedition photographer Colin Monteath shares stories from Antarctica, the 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]

20 June: Searching for trampers

Were you a keen tramper? Were you a Rangiora Tramping Club member.
Please get in touch. We’d love to celebrate our 50th birthday with as many past and present members as possible. Email: [email protected]

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.

Answer B - Long harbour

Akaroa’s name comes from a Māori word meaning “long harbour” which refers to its location in a long sheltered bay. The area was also known as Port Louis-Philippe for a short period in the early 1840s, following French settlement there.

Quiz provided by Pam Hutton/PuzzleBeetle.

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