Adventure Magazine December 2021 - January 2022

In July 2021 we moved our home and business from Auckland to Turangi, to bike, to hike, to ski, and to fish the winter season in the Central Plateau. Turangi is an awesome little town, nestled on the banks of the legendary Tongariro river and under the shade of the mighty maunga, Mt Ruapehu. It seemed like a great way to spend winter and it turned out a much better idea than we thought. In just a few hours the world as we knew it changed and the Delta variant arrived. We were lucky that we had made the move out of Auckland, sure we still had family back in lockdown and that was hard for everyone, but the fortunate decision to move south was stained by the fact that…

We use RAD car hire, not just because of the great range of cars, but because it’s so easy and so simple. There's not the long wait while you sign multiple bits of paper, they are streamlined and efficient. This time in Queenstown we picked up a Hyundai Santa Fe, an awesome SUV. The modern and elegant exterior design packed full of the latest technology, connectivity and entertainment functions. The Santa Fe sets a new benchmark when it comes to safety with its SmartSense package that includes the all-new Rear Occupancy Alert and Safe Exit Assist and the driver assist makes you feel like its driving you. Check them out: www.radcarhire.co.nz…

Legendary Mark Matthews had an idea about double towing at ‘The Right’ in Australia, and at the same time he would shoot Taj Burrow from behind. From Russell Ord: “On this day both Mark and Taj started with a couple of warm-up waves, smaller, cleaner and user-friendly. However, it did not take long for Mark to say, “let’s go this one”. I could see this dark mutant beast coming from miles away and knew it was one of the biggest waves of the day. They both let go of the rope so there was no escape; they were at the mercy of the ocean. I documented a piece of history, the wave decided not to participate – it shut down violently. Taj made it to safer ground, however Mark got the beating…

The day was Tuesday, 17 August 2021. It was a stormy mid winter day that the Southern Lakes had been looking forward to all season after a lean winter on the snow front. Majority of the early winter storms had hit the eastern coastal pathway of the Southern Divide but with over half a metre of snow in the forecast it was the storm-riding day of the season and Treble Cone was pulsating with an energy that only happens a couple of times a winter when powder fever hits. As the front finally cleared allowing an hour and a half of visibility before the lifts shut that afternoon, anticipation was high for what the next day would bring as mountains across the Southern Lakes received the dump of the season. On the…

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here, And you must treat it as a powerful stranger, Must ask permission to know it and be known. The forest breathes. Listen. It answers, I have made this place around you. If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here. No two trees are the same to Raven. No two branches are the same to Wren. If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you, You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows Where you are. You must let it find you.…

Tai Juneau is a freelance photographer and digital marketer who specializes in lifestyle and action content. Tai spent his entire life in the outdoor community either in the mountains or by the ocean. He was born in the Eastern Sierras of the US and raised in New Plymouth, New Zealand. He recently retired as a ski racer who spent time on the New Zealand Ski Team before racing for Colorado Mountain College in the western NCAA circuit. Tai currently splits his time between Oakura, New Zealand and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. His freelance work includes landscapes, architecture/ real-estate, product, and sport/event photography. Old Friends “It's only about 3-4km. Should be at the hut by about noon” said Nick. “Sounds great, I am excited about a New Zealand Hut trip” I reply. “I am taking…