Aotearoa Adventures

TW: Cancer. Ellena Butcher has beat cancer - not once, but twice. In school, she hated cross country but now she has run four marathons and stays that keeping fit was key in beating cancer. Based in Cambridge, we talk about Ellena's favourite local walk in Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain. It is the world's largest pest-proof fenced forest, home to tautara, kiwi, takahē, a

Kurt Fenton, a seasoned hiker from the U.S., has spent the past 25 years exploring Aotearoa, especially the North Island. He came here in 1999 to help start a church in Hastings, where he worked as a pastor and now is a counsellor. Kurt shares his unforgettable and sometimes harrowing adventures, including Te Araroa and an epic 80km solo hike in Whirinaki that left him with some ch

Waikato Mum Anna O'Brien shares her love for hiking solo, with her kids or with her girlfriends. Her favourite trip was a Northland adventure with her three kids - from Whangaroa to Whangarei Heads, hiking and camping along the way. She talks about the simplicity and magic of their journey, an adventure that the whole family looks back on fondly. Anna's passion for the outd

Hamish McColl, a North Islander from Whangamata, had never ventured to the South Island until his honeymoon. In this episode, Hamish shares his week long road trip from Queenstown to Christchurch. He talks about experiencing beautiful sunrises at Lake Wakatipu to epic 4WD adventures at Tasman Glacier, all while navigating the quirks of campervan life, including a funny story when e

Bri O'Brien set herself the challenge to climb Mt Maunganui 38 times - the height of Mt Everest - in 14 days. Since losing her Mum to lung cancer, Bri has done many fundraisers to support the cause close to her heart. She discusses the challenge of setting a goal, holding yourself accountable and finding the motivation to show up day after day. Originally from the USA, Bri has

Paddle for Purpose is a group of four mates: Cared, Connor, Kurt & Drew. The team set off from Cape Reinga with a mission to sea kayak along the East Coast of the North Island to raise money for mental health and the environment. Over the 75 day journey, the group had huge challenges - from weather to physical pain to the overwhelm of the expedition before them. They discuss th

Jono Collins spent his childhood on a Hawkes Bay orchard, where his love for the outdoors began. His passion started with building forts and climbing trees, now he shares his love of camping with others. Through a large Facebook community group, Jono has created a space for other kiwis to share tips, advice and tricks on camping - from how to find the right tent, how to manage task

Growing up between Whangaparoa and Seattle gave Auckland firefighter Nicole Koch an adventurous spirit, inspiring her solo bikepacking trip from Queen Charlotte to Cromwell. On a $500 mountain bike, Nicole chased freedom and slow travel in the South Island, choosing a route of her own. Following a difficult break up, the 1200km journey gave her 14 days of biking to take time off wo

Red Paterson set off on a solo kayak circumnavigation, even after many told her it would be "impossible." Instead of listening to the naysayers, Red decided she would find out for herself whether the 5800km sea kayak journey around New Zealand was actually impossible or not. She shares about her strong determination, right from getting the idea, gaining sea kayaking skill

Two-time canoe slalom Olympian, Mike Dawson, spent a lot of time outdoors as a child and has a deep love for whitewater. While kayaking expeditions are within his comfort zone, Mike takes on a new challenge, journeying to the South Pole on a fifty day ski expedition inspired by Messner’s 1989 epic Antarctic crossing. We discuss the logistics of a journey in such harsh conditions,