Shaun Barnett

A challenge of being a father of two teenage boys lies in maintaining their interest in those aspects of outdoor recreation that are their dad’s thing. It seems to me the trick is getting the balance right between adventure, fun, challenge and involving them in the planning and decision making. It was late summer, the cicadas were crooning and finally the stars aligned for a trip down Hutt River gorge. “It’s this weekend or never,” I told the boys.

Read more from the June 2025 Issue The track begins somewhat incongruously through a wrought-iron gate, a literal symbol of the Iron Gates Gorge in the valley below. Following the line of an old milling road, the wide track leads to an attractive arched bridge across Umutoi Stream. After a short, steady climb though beech forest, the signposted junction with the Tunupō Track is reached.

Read more from the July 2024 Issue Often we approach tramping like it’s a training schedule, a fitness programme or a ‘tick-the-box’ of completing another track. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it needn’t be that way. In the 1930s, ambitious speed trampers were dubbed ‘hissers’ by those enjoying a more sedate pace. The choice remains: tramp or toddle? Grunt or gambol? Stride or saunter? Hiss or hike?