Think you need to be super fit before you start hiking? Think again. The truth is that hiking fitness isn't built in a gym or achieved overnight. It's built one walk, one hill and one adventure at a time.

Whether you're returning to the trails after a break or taking your first steps into the outdoors, there are simple ways to build strength, endurance and confidence without turning your life upside down.

In this article, I share the lessons I've learned from thousands of kilometres of hiking across New Zealand and beyond, along with practical tips to help you prepare for the trail.

You'll discover how to train for hiking in a way that fits real life, so you can spend less time worrying about whether you're fit enough and more time enjoying the journey. 🌿🥾

One of the most common questions prospective Milford Track walkers ask is, "Am I fit enough?"

The good news is that you don't need to be an athlete to complete New Zealand's most famous Great Walk.

In this practical guide, I share my experience of the track, what level of fitness is really required, how to prepare for Mackinnon Pass, common training mistakes, and why carrying a lighter pack can often make a bigger difference than spending extra hours in the gym.

Planning a New Zealand Great Walk but unsure which trail deserves a place on your bucket list? The Milford, Routeburn, and Kepler Tracks are three of the country's most iconic multi day hikes, each offering a unique mix of scenery, challenge, and adventure. 

From Milford's towering waterfalls and remote Fiordland wilderness to Routeburn's spectacular alpine vistas and Kepler's sweeping ridgeline views, choosing between them isn't always easy. 

In this detailed comparison, I'll share my firsthand experiences on all three tracks and compare the scenery, difficulty, logistics, costs, booking challenges, and overall experience to help you decide which Great Walk is the best fit for your next adventure.

Aotearoa New Zealand is an adventure playground which has been thrilling hikers for many years with its incredibly beautiful scenery, luxuriant rainforests, magnificent rivers, seemingly limitless mountain ranges, remarkable valleys and tranquil lowland plains.

In this article, I share with you my favourite New Zealand Hiking Essential Gear List, these are my go to items that I reach for when planning any hiking trip in our beautiful outdoors.