What's it like to walk 1200km? These two walkers share their journey

PLUS: What did Sir Ed Hillary do this week in 1958 and see the results from this week's poll.

January 07, 2026

Nick McFarlane has enjoyed walking more with his sones.

We chatted to two participants of the Walk1200km challenge to find out why they joined and what they have got out out of it.

Nick McFarlane said: “Signing up to Walk1200km was a no-brainer for me‭. ‬I’ve always been aware of the benefits of walking‭ ‬‮–‬‭ ‬it’s pure gold for the body‭, ‬mind and spirit‭ ‬‮–‬‭ ‬though I knew I needed more than just good intentions to stick with it‭. ‬It’s all too easy to lapse when you don’t have a goal‭. ‬Walk1200km provides that‭; ‬there’s no escaping the progress tracker‭!

“I’ve found regular walking has positively influenced both my physical and mental health‭. ‬I’ve noticed my ability to bounce back after a decent hike has increased‭. ‬What used to‭ ‬‘kill’‭ ‬my legs no longer does‭. ‬I’ve become much more confident and adventurous‭. “

And Anne Simmons said: “An unexpected spinoff of Walk1200km is that I’ve become stronger all round‭. ‬It’s helped me in my work‭, ‬which is physically demanding‭. ‬Then there’s the relaxation and enjoyment that comes with being in our great outdoors‭.‬

“I’d encourage anyone‭, ‬whether urban walker or mountaineer‭, ‬to join Walk1200km‭. ‬Walking costs nothing and we can tailor the challenge to our own particular circumstances‭.”

Missed yesterday’s feature? For the last year, longtime tramper Matthew Cattin has put aside his topo maps and picked up his zoom lens to dive headfirst into the world of birding.

Quiz

How long is Northland’s 90-mile beach?

  • A. 90 miles

  • B. 55 miles

  • C. 72 miles

  • D. 102 miles

Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…

This week in tramping history

Sir Ed Hillary’s team reaches the South Pole

3 January 1958

The third expedition to reach the South Pole overland was headed by British explorer Vivian Fuchs, with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary leading the New Zealand support team.

Hillary’s team initially set up Scott Base on the Ross Sea. Using three converted Ferguson tractors, Hillary and three men were responsible for laying a line of supply depots towards the South Pole for Fuchs to use on the final leg of his journey. Instead, Hillary saw the opportunity to beat the British and continued south, arriving at the South Pole first on 3 January 1958, becoming just the third man – preceded by Roald Amundsen in 1911 and Robert Falcon Scott in 1912 – to reach the Pole overland.

Current Issue - Jan/Feb 2026

Recipe: Smokey Summer Nachos 🌮

The smokiness of the chipotle peppers alongside the sweetness of fresh corn levels up the flavour profile of an otherwise ordinary bowl of chilli beans.

Photo: Izzie Thompson

Profile

  • Time: 20 minutes

  • Serves: 3

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp cumin

  • 2 tbsp oil

  • 1 onion

  • 4 garlic cloves

  • 1 capsicum

  • 2 ears of corn

  • 1 can of tomatoes

  • 1 can of chilli beans/black beans

  • 1x100g can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (La Morena – orange label)

  • 1 bag Tostidas corn chips (great shape for scooping)

  • 1 avocado

  • 3 squares of dark chocolate

Optional to garnish

  • A lemon or lime

  • Coriander or spring onion

  • Small pottle of sour cream

  • Grated cheese

Method

Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Cut the capsicum into small bite-sized pieces. Husk the ears of corn. Heat the oil in a frypan and, when hot, add the onion and garlic. Fry for a few minutes or until the onion starts turning golden. Add the cumin and capsicum, and with a sharp knife shave the corn kernels into the pan. Cook for five minutes. Slice the chipotle peppers into strips then add to the pan with the canned tomatoes and beans. Simmer for another five minutes, or until the mix is hot throughout.

Serve with corn chips, avocado, and any other garnishes.

Featured Book

The Face of Nature

An environmental history of the Otago Peninsula Jonathan West explores what people and place made of one another from the arrival of the first Polynesians until the end of the nineteenth century.

Subscribers get a 10% discount.

Poll results

On Monday we asked Wilderness Daily readers what there ideal tramping conditions were.

The results are in: 26% prefer to tramp in sunshine and heat, 59% prefer to tramp in mist and mood, and just 15% prefer frost and snow.

Here is a selection of comments from readers:

Of tramping in mist and mood, one person said: “I feel a sense of comfort as if the bush is wrapping itself around me, giving me a big hug. The colours are so vibrant at this time too. It gives me goosebumps thinking about it.”

Of walking in sunshine and heat, one person said: “I would rather be hot than cold, and although I love mist and mood I wouldn’t compromise for a wonderful view.”

Of tramping in frost and snow, one person said: “Visibility is better, as long as you take care where you are putting your feet, frozen ground is dryer and more firm, the air feels fresher.”

Quiz answer

Answer B - 55 miles (88km)

A common - but unverified - story for the name claims early Europeans took three days to traverse the beach, with their horses typically able to cover thirty miles per day.

According to the legend, the Europeans took this to mean that the beach was 90 miles long, failing to account for their slower speed due to the sand.

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