So, hiking update! I’ve temporarily relocated to Katherine, NT Australia because why not move somewhere where the weather is basically a sauna with bonus wildlife! Since I’m here for a bit, I’m adding some local hikes to the list before I head back to NZ to finish the great walks off.The upside? This area is ridiculously beautiful. Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is practically around the corner, waving at me like, “Come get sweaty in nature!”What’s Katherine like, you ask? Well… imagine standing under a hairdryer set to tropical storm. This time of year, it’s hot, humid, and somewhere between 30–38 degrees on a polite day. I even went out to Timber Creek 2.5 hours toward the WA border, where it casually hit 45 degrees. Forty. Five. That’s not weather; that’s a slow roast setting. A tad warm, indeed.

One of the perks of living in New Zealand is that adventure is never far away. No matter where you are, you’re usually only a few minutes from a great walk and on the Kāpiti Coast, I’m completely spoiled for choice. One of them is the Mangaone Walkway, a track that connects Mangaone South Road with Mangaone North Road. The southern access runs off Ngātiawa Road, about 8 km south-east of Waikanae, while the northern entrance comes off Te Horo Hautere Cross Road in Te Horo, roughly 9 km north of Waikanae.

Review: Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay Escarpment Track

The first week of November marks the start of my Great Walks journey — beginning with Lake Waikaremoana (weather permitting!). I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be my first time on this track, a 46km one-way adventure starting from Onepoto in the south, which I’m aiming to complete over three days.

I am lucky where I live on the Kapiti Coast there are some good hills to strengthen the legs. Nearby is the Barry Hadfield Nīkau Reserve. It is a shaded bush walk through large clusters of nikau palms along a gravel/muddy track. It leads up a steep but short staircase climb, only takes about 15 mins up but great to do before work. Checkout the Tiktok of it https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSDw552jc/

The first thing I knew I had to do to prepare for The Walk was obvious: get moving. Luckily, I live on the Kāpiti Coast, where the trails are so good it almost feels rude not to use them. Training here is less “grind” and more “stroll with benefits.”