The dilemma of deer

As a tramper, you’ll be familiar with the importance of deer trails: trampled routes where deer travel and that make passage through the bush easier. Even Moirs Guide South has a section on route finding that is dedicated to using deer and wapiti trails.

While the presence of these trails simplifies backcountry travel, they come at a huge cost to our forest ecosystems, resulting in the near loss of many species from forests throughout the motu.

So what is the place of deer in the New Zealand backcountry? Jo Stilwell takes a deep look into the dilemma of deer in this month’s Natural History column.

Missed yesterday’s feature? We looked at these seven reasons why you should Walk1200km‭ in 2026!

25 Years of award-winning comfort, evolved

The LOWA Renegade has earned its place on trails across New Zealand by doing the simple things exceptionally well: comfort over distance, stability on uneven ground and weather protection you don’t have to think about. It’s been a LOWA mainstay for more than 25 years – and the new EVO version builds on that legacy. Expect improved traction through the updated outsole, smoother underfoot cushioning from the refined midsole and a cleaner seam layout designed to help reduce pressure points on long days out. Men’s wide fit available now, with the women’s Renegade EVO landing this March.

Quiz

When was Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park established?

• A. 1901

• B. 1927

• C. 1945

• D. 1953

Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…

This month in tramping history

NZ's deepest cave system is found under Mt Arthur in Kahurangi NP

January 2014

Nettlebed Cave was discovered in the 1960s and surveyed by a local speleo club during the 1970s. It’s a complex system of polished marble tubes, flooded chambers and tight squeezes. By the summer of 1981–82 some 50 cavers were attempting to delve deeper.

From 2011 a handful of dedicated cavers searched for the source of the wind that funneled through Nettlebed. Not far from Mt Arthur’s summit they abseiled 29 rope pitches into Stormy Pot, a vertical tomo that led on 5km towards Nettlebed. In 2012 a dye trace proved the connection of both caves. In 2014 Kieran McKay pushed through a narrow tunnel and bingo – New Zealand’s deepest cave. It is 1.146km deep and 48km long.

Recipe: Japanese curry hot pot

This curry-cum-hot pot is a quick and easy meal to throw together in any location.

Profile

• Time: 10-15 minutes

• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 1 potato

• 1 parsnip

• 1 small carrot

• Handful of cabbage

• Handful of broccoli

• 2 Japanese curry stock cubes (look for S&B Golden Curry brand)

• 1 packet of precooked noodles (Hokkien, ramen, udon)

• Water

Optional to garnish

• A lemon or lime

• Coriander or spring onion

• Small pottle of sour cream

• Grated cheese

Method

Half-fill your pot with water and bring to the boil. As the water heats up, dice the potato and parsnip. Add the stock cubes to the boiling water and press them so they break down. Stir well to dissolve.

Tip the diced vegetables into the pot, ensuring the water level covers the ingredients. Simmer everything for at least five minutes, or until the potato is just cooked.

Meanwhile, chop the carrot into half moons and the broccoli and cabbage into small bites. Add to the pot with the noodles, stirring gently to break up the noodles (this will probably take at least three minutes).

When the veg is cooked to your liking, share the contents and enjoy the meal.

Poll results

On Monday we asked Wilderness Daily readers if you prefer the comfort of a hut or the freedom of a tent.

The results are in: 58% of you would choose a hut over a tent.

Here is a selection of comments from readers:

[hut] “Spotting the hut near the end of a long day hiking is a welcome feeling, especially so if the weather is wet!”

[tent] “I enjoy sleeping in my 1,000 stars hotel (tent) any time of the year!”

[hut] “I am an older tramper and prefer the comfort of a hut. I now find it difficult to sleep on the ground and also to actually carry a tent.”

[tent] “I enjoy my own bit of personal space and the freedom of camping.”

Quiz answer

Answer D - 1953

Want to receive fewer emails? Did you know you can select the days of the week you receive Wilderness Daily? Update your preferences here.