A zipline tour in Rotorua became an unexpected reminder that great adventure tourism has very little to do with adrenaline alone.

From safety culture and guest experience to trust, storytelling and operational leadership, the parallels between guiding trekkers in the Himalayas and running high quality adventure experiences in New Zealand are surprisingly similar.

Every idea has a beginning. This one had four women, a Coromandel valley, and a very cold river.

Sharon, Lietta, Karen and Irene gathered from across the North Island for the very first Freewheeling Kiwi Reset and Recharge Walk.

They walked without hurry through ancient native forest, stood beneath a 900 year old Kauri tree, and finished with a freezing swim in the Kauaeranga River and hot tea on the bank.

They arrived as strangers. They left as friends. This is the story of that day.

Living in a tent at Shambhala brings an intimate connection with the Coromandel bush. Every day is shaped by the rhythms of the forest, from the dawn calls of kākā to the night-time rustle of possums or pigs nearby. Tent life teaches patience, observation, and a quiet awareness that comes only from being fully immersed in nature.

In this post, I share the realities of off-grid tent living, from simple daily routines to the joys and challenges of being so close to wildlife. It is a story of adaptation, reflection, and the small but profound lessons learned when life is stripped back to essentials in the heart of New Zealand’s native bush.

Living at Shambhala brings daily encounters with New Zealand’s remarkable native wildlife. From the calls of ruru at dusk to the kākā heard at dawn, the bush is alive with movement and sound. Even kiwi make their presence known here, reminding me that life in this forested paradise runs to its own rhythms and requires a quiet, respectful presence to fully appreciate it.

In this post, I share some of the most memorable wildlife moments at Shambhala. You will find stories about the ruru and kākā, glimpses of kiwi in their natural habitat, and observations of other native birds. It is a mix of practical advice for noticing wildlife and reflections on the extraordinary connection that comes from living so closely with the untamed bush.

Living in the Coromandel bush off-grid gives a close-up view of the natural world, and sometimes the introduced wildlife that challenges it. From possums that sneak around at night to semi-grown pigs moving through the undergrowth, life in the bush requires constant awareness and a little courage. Trapping pests is part of the reality of living closely with nature, and it is a reminder of how delicate the balance of this environment truly is.

In this post, I share my experiences managing the introduced species on Shambhala, including possums, pigs, and the ongoing effort to protect the native bush. It includes practical tips, wildlife observations, and reflections on living so closely with the untamed side of New Zealand’s environment.

Living off-grid in the New Zealand bush is both beautiful and slightly unnerving. At Shambhala, the forest hums with life, from the soft calls of ruru at dusk to the sudden rustle of pigs moving through the undergrowth. Each day brings a deeper awareness of the land and its rhythms, where moments of serenity are balanced by reminders that the bush is wild, unpredictable, and very much alive.

In this article, I share the reality of life off-grid in the Coromandel bush including the wildlife encounters, the challenges of tent living while building a cabin, and the lessons learned from living so closely with nature. It’s a story of connection, resilience, and the quiet beauty found in the untamed corners of New Zealand.