Untamed Aotearoa

#12 Solo bush journeys in Te Urewera and Fiordland - Mark Jones

Episode Summary

Mark is an outdoor education lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, who has been on some epic journeys over the years. We focus on two of his most memorable solo bush trips in New Zealand. ‘Salt and Pepper Hikoi’ was a 17 day traverse of Te Urewera. His kaupapa was to get all of his calories from the forest, while travelling a long distance through some of the most rugged bush in New Zealand. His most recent adventure was an impressive 40 day traverse of Fiordland.

Episode Notes

Mark is an outdoor education lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, who has been on some epic journeys over the years. We focus on two of his most memorable solo bush trips in New Zealand. ‘Salt and Pepper Hikoi’ was a 17 day traverse of Te Urewera. His kaupapa was to get all of his calories from the forest, while travelling a long distance through some of the most rugged bush in New Zealand. His most recent adventure was an impressive 40 day traverse of Fiordland.

This episode is sponsored by Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand

Podcast music: Wild and Free by Hope Social Club and other pieces by Evan Phillips

Episode links:

• Mark's Facebook page 'One in the Wilderness' (for more stories from Fiordland)
• Adventurer Mark Jones to traverse rugged Fiordland National Park (Stuff article)
• Adventurer Mark Jones finishes solo trek of Fiordland in 39 days (Stuff article)

Te Uruwera traverse

• Salt and Pepper Hikoi film (36 mins)
• Talking with the forest  (Wilderness Magazine article)

Antarctic sea kayak expeditions

• South by Kayak - Mark's Antarctic circle expedition (New Zealand Geographic article)
• South Georgia - Mark's second Antarctic sea kayak expedition (New Zealand Geographic article)

FMC Wilderness Areas

• For more info on Wilderness Areas in NZ (and the new Wilderness Areas mapping tool)