Adventure Magazine October - November 2020

The next person who tells me that they have really enjoyed lockdown, and that COVID has been like a forced holiday, is going to wish that they hadn’t. We have seen millions of dollars evaporate and the adventure industry struggle to cope. Travel businesses that have been a backbone of New Zealand tourism have closed and many folded for good. Many people have lost their jobs or feel that they could at any moment. Sure we have to learn to live with it; really there is little we can do except follow the rules and keep our country as safe as we can, but also we need to recognize that it is stressful, and for many that stress is bringing them to breaking point. You might not be able to make your…

This recipe was a similar template to the Kiwi Birdsong that was enjoyed so much. Made with Two Tone release, it is a gold medal winning NZ whisk(e)y. Two Tone refers to the two kinds of casks used to mature the whisky, European oak and American white oak. It is 40% ABV with no colouring added. The fruity and spicy notes made this whisky the perfect companion to the tangelo liqueur, which is made by distilling tree ripened local tangelos and NZ pure spring water. A smooth, luxurious, and sumptuous serve. To make: 2 jigger (60mls) @thomsonwhisky Two Tone Release whisky 20mls Te Kiwi Tangelo liqueur 20mls freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 dashes Angostura bitters Egg white Reverse shake, by shaking all ingredients except the egg white with ice, dump…

Climbing ropeless up a steep snow and ice face is never enhanced by mental images of your helpless body falling to its death. High on the vertiginous slopes of Mt Aspiring, the only thing keeping me from this fate were the front points of my crampons and my two ice axes. I was calm and focused, but could do nothing to stop these mental flashes of my flailing body being gobbled up by white oblivion. The face wasn't steep enough to worry an accomplished alpinist, but in the absence of such skill, competence, and general good looks, the 40 to 50 degree-slope was more than enough to unsettle me. A hard kick of the crampons. A strong strike of the ice axe. After a dozen or so movements, I paused to gather…

When Kiwi's Bridget Thackwray and Topher Richwhite found themselves landlocked in New Zealand with their trusted Jeep left at Moscow Airport, they take to exploring their own backyard. Having spent the majority of our relationship on the road, the idea of being locked down in New Zealand was quite foreign and daunting to us. The one thing we’ve always thought that could jeopardize our relationship is the prospect of having our freedom to travel crippled. It’s now been five months since we left our Jeep in Moscow Airport and our time in New Zealand has been far from what we had feared. With no idea of when we’d be able to return to Moscow to continue Leg 3 (from Russia to New Zealand), we decided we’d get stuck in and make the…

The iconic Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is true to its heritage combining capable features with updated design and materials to deliver luxury and refinement while proudly maintaining the iconic Jeep Wrangler look. Embracing the ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ attitude, this vehicle is positioned as an outstanding off roader, who’s capabilities mean it can tackle the toughest of terrains when required. ‘Heaphy’ has been fitted with over ten of the most capable genuine Mopar accessories available for this model. This ensures ‘Heaphy’ has what it needs to take on the tough New Zealand terrains during the winter months with ease. With over 70 safety features available on the vehicle and fitted with the legendary 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 Petrol Engine, ZF 8-Speed Automatic Transmission and Selec-Trac® 4x4 system, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon continues the legacy…

If you’ve lived in New Zealand for any length of time, chances are you’ve ticked off a few backcountry adventures. After all, about a third of the country’s land mass is protected land, and at least 10% is national park, so you don’t have to go far to find a wild and scenic patch of earth to explore. But once you’ve mastered your backyard routes and you need to step up the challenge, what’s next? It’s time to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds of the Great Walks, and one of the most prized routes for adventurous trekkers is Rabbit Pass, located in a remote area of Mt Aspiring National Park. The Rabbit Pass smile Longtime mountain guiding outfit Aspiring Guides, based in Wanaka, knows the route well,…