Photo: Matt Tomkins
The Motatapu Track is a classic. Connecting Arrowtown and Wānaka, it’s both a standalone trail and a spectacular 47km section of Te Araroa. It includes a grunty 3000m of vert over four peaks, the highest being 1270m Jack Halls Saddle.
Māori used the valley as a mahinga kai and a pounamu trading route linking Lake Wānaka and Lake Wakatipu. Later it was home to gold miners and sheep herders. Today it hosts walkers and trail runners of all flavours.
Writer Naomi Arnold highlights the history, hills and dramatic scenery of this Central Otago classic.
Missed yesterday’s feature? This rewarding day traverse can also be enjoyed as an overnight camping nestled beside a tarn at 1580m.
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Quiz
Lake Wakatipu contains two larger islands near the Glenorchy side. Which is the correct pair?
A - Pig and Stag Islands
B - Tree and Shrub Islands
C - Pig and Pigeon Islands
D - Pigeon and Gorse Islands
Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…
Current Issue - Nov 2026
Discover this stunning 47km stretch of TA, 10 films to avoid before your next trip, a rugged, three-day tramp into the remote Tara Tama Range, the nightmare of being lost, the pros and cons of a smartwatch and dozens more stories in our latest issue.
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Recipe: Chia iskiate (frog spawn) 🐸
An ounce shot of chia iskiate, contains nine per cent of your daily protein, 13g of (mostly ALA) fat and 42 per cent of your dietary fibre as well as essential minerals like phosphorous, manganese, calcium, potassium and much, much more.
Profile
Cook time: 5 min
Serves: 1
Ingredients
1 tbsp Chia Seeds
1 tbsp Lime Juice
Water
Method
Pour a tablespoon of chia seeds and a tablespoon of lime juice into a short glass, add some warm water, then leave to stand for a few minutes (refrigerated if possible). Top the glass off with water then toss it down the hatch!
Poll results
On Monday we asked Wilderness Daily readers what your summer tramping calendar looks like.
The results are in: 63% of you are planning for multiple 2-3 trips, 15% of you have a couple of week-long trips on the books, 15% are opting for a mix of the above and 7% of you are planning a TA thru-hike.
Here is a selection of comments from our readers:
“One or two longer hikes if I can, and as many weekends as I can squeeze in without my non-tramper friends thinking I have forgotten them.”
“Flexibility (rather that a set plan) is the key, as opportunities arise, and plans may need to be adapted.”
“We have a week long Nelson Lakes tramp for 12 booked in for March '27. A 2 night section of Ruapehu around the mountain in November. 3 ovenighters on my list before the end of January.”
“Bring on summer!”
Have a question you want to ask your fellow Wilderness Daily readers? Send us an email at [email protected]
Quiz answer
Answer C - Pig and Pigeon Islands
Pigeon Island / Wāwāhi Waka and Pig Island / Mātau are the largest islands in Lake Wakatipu.
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