Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2025 i Adventure Magazine

Delays are inevitable if you travel—by car, bus, train, or (infamously) by plane. Nobody wants to get delayed, and nobody is actively plotting to delay you. Yet here we are, playing the domino game of disrupted plans, where one toppled tile can send your entire itinerary crashing down. Take my recent trip to Fiji, for instance. Departure time? 8 a.m. Translation: a 4 a.m. wake-up, ensuring you arrive at the airport bleary-eyed but hopeful. Everything's going as planned, right up until the dreaded announcement: “Flight FJ104 to Nadi has been delayed due to a mechanical issue.” Now, if they'd told us it was because the pilot slept in, or there weren't enough chicken-or-beef options to go around, or, God forbid, the in-flight entertainment hadn't been updated since 2012, I could've…

Mountain Bike Rotorua is continuing its celebrated community initiative, Share the Ride for Xmas, by gifting brandnew Giant mountain bikes to ten local whānau. The programme invites the community to nominate deserving individuals and families who would benefit greatly from having a brand-new mountain bike. Dozens of heartfelt nominations have been submitted, sharing stories of individuals facing mobility challenges, enduring chronic pain, or dedicating their time to voluntary work for the community. Despite their efforts and contributions, many nominees share a common struggle: the inability to afford their own bicycles. In response, Mountain Bike Rotorua's owners—Takurua Mutu, Tuhua Mutu, Jayne Hendrikse, and Janine Kavanagh—have selected ten deserving recipients to receive brand-new Giant bikes this Christmas, with a total value of over $10,000. Since its inception, Share the Ride has delivered…

The blackness of the Fijian night is held at bay by a soft yellow light of some low-voltage illumination hanging somewhere close by. The sulu curtain is slowly, even meekly, drawn back, and through the haze that is the bright pink mosquito net, I see Maria move slowly towards the bed. As I continue to feign sleep, she gently rearranges the mosquito netting away from the bed, so it falls neatly. To make sure the night's little creatures do not plague those in her care. It is 3 am, and this is the second nocturnal investigation, ensuring the mosquito netting is still in place. An hour or so later, it is still hot and dark; now not even the bugs are awake. You can hear her stirring a tin pot,…

Climbing has exploded in popularity across New Zealand and the globe, attracting enthusiasts eager to push their limits on vertical walls, crags, and boulders. To uncover the next generation of climbing talent, we turned to one of the country's most respected figures, Sarah Hay. As a top climber and a cornerstone of Northern Rocks—a premier bouldering gym on Auckland's North Shore—Sarah is perfectly placed to spotlight the names shaping New Zealand's climbing future. Here are her picks for the climbers making waves and setting the bar higher in the local climbing scene: Finlay Cate, Rebecca Hounsell, Luka Sugimoto-Faulkner, Lucy Sinclair, Oskar Wolff and Henry Booker. This issue we shine the light on Finlay, Rebecca and Luka. Stay tuned for more on Lucy, Oskar and Henry in the coming issues as…

This issue's travel cover holds a unique significance for me particularly. Each year, Adventure Magazine has the privilege of covering the world-famous va'a race in Tahiti—the Hawaiki Nui. This legendary four-day outrigger canoe race stretches from the island of Huahine to Bora Bora, navigating through breathtaking but often challenging waters. The race itself is a spectacle of endurance, precision, and cultural pride. As part of the media contingent, we spend our days on small chase boats, skimming across choppy seas alongside hundreds of other vessels, hopping between islands to keep up with the action. In the evenings, we're usually accommodated in some of Tahiti's most stunning hotels. But this year, things took a different turn—we were assigned to a yacht. Initially, visions of a cramped, stuffy cabin on a modest…

From the start of his journey, Adventure magazine has followed Jonny Huntington, a stroke survivor from Devon. Today, we mark his history-making achievement as the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. A Record-Breaking Feat Jonny skied 911 kilometres across Antarctica, completing the trek in 45 days, 14 hours, and 15 minutes. Starting at the Fuchs-Messner Ice Shelf on 21st November, he reached the South Pole on 6th January. He is now one of just 52 people in history to ski to the South Pole without support— and the first with a disability to do so. “This was harder than anything I've ever done,” Jonny said from the South Pole. “I'm exhausted, but I'm proud to prove that even with a disability, such challenges are…

Ryan Lucas (33) is a New Zealand-born adventurer and whitewater kayaker who has gained recognition for his daring feats exploring the world's most challenging rivers and remote wilderness areas. With a past passion for pushing the limits of his sport, Ryan has made a name for himself through paddling the world with numerous first descents including breaking the 100-foot mark. Recently, Ryan has expanded his horizons by venturing into packrafting, combining the thrills of round venture with the challenges of remote wilderness travel. Whether paddling a kayak or packraft, Ryan's pursuit of adventure continues to take him into the heart of nature's wildest places. At 21, George Snook has built his life around New Zealand's rivers. As a whitewater kayaker and athlete, he's spent countless hours honing his skills, competing…

There's a unique rhythm to life on the water, where the rising sun pulls you from your cabin, the morning mist kisses the ocean, and the promise of adventure lies just beyond the horizon. SSV, a pioneer in liveaboard kayaking expeditions, has transformed this rhythm into an unforgettable experience for adventurers seeking to explore the world's most stunning marine environments. From the majestic fjords of Greenland to the vibrant reefs of Sulawesi, SSV's liveaboard journeys seamlessly blend kayaking, exploration, and cultural immersion. Here, we dive into the magic of these multi-day adventures, sharing a glimpse of the destinations, the people, and the stories that make them extraordinary. West Greenland: A Polar Adventure The rugged beauty of West Greenland's Disko Bay awaits intrepid paddlers aboard the Elsi, a nimble 16-person schooner.…

When you think of Tahiti, visions of swaying palms, white sand beaches, and idyllic overwater bungalows likely come to mind. But the true heart of Tahiti lies beyond the postcard-perfect shores—in the lagoons. Once you've experienced life from the water, being landbound feels like a compromise. Sailing reveals a side of Tahiti that most visitors never see, yet in so many ways that we will outline here, it is the ideal way to visit. Recently, we spent a week with Tahiti Yacht Charters, based in Raiatea, and even the word “stunning” doesn't do it justice. From the service to the scenery, every aspect of the trip delivered a level of luxury and authenticity that's hard to find anywhere else. More Than a Yacht: A Gateway to Adventure Sailing in Tahiti…

Over the last ten years, “overtourism” has become a buzzword in global travel discussions. The issue gained momentum as international tourism doubled between 2000 and 2019. By 2024, tourist arrivals are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels, reigniting concerns over overcrowded destinations, strained resources, and environmental degradation. Overtourism, at its core, occurs when destinations face more visitors than they can sustainably manage. This issue isn't limited to sprawling cities like Venice or ancient landmarks like Cambodia's Angkor Wat—it extends to remote beaches, islands, and natural parks. As the global tourism industry surges back post-COVID, we're left with a pressing challenge: how can we continue exploring the world without destroying the places we love? Defining the Problem Overtourism doesn't have a universal threshold—it varies based on a destination's capacity to handle visitors…

Deep in Gabon's uncharted rainforest lies the Ivindo River—a place where wild beauty unbothered by the modern world. For years, its untamed rapids, thundering waterfalls, and labyrinthine channels have remained untouched by paddles. But four world-class kayakers—Adrian Mattern, Dane Jackson, Kalob Grady, and Bren Orton—just rewrote history. Their pioneering descent of this enigmatic river wasn't just an expedition; it was a full-throttle exploration of one of Earth's last untouched waterways. This wasn't a casual float downriver. The team tackled 145 kilometers of pure wilderness over 12 days, navigating rapids so wild they'd defied exploration for decades. Kongou Falls, the river's roaring crown jewel, stretched out as a 3-kilometer gauntlet of slides, torrents, and surging power. At Mingouli, the team met towering waterfalls with relentless force. Kouata Mango's 20-meter drop came…

For years I thought those grubby unkempt glorified trampers that did trail running were mad. I had after all completed 25 marathons and knew all that there was to know about training and running events. I can remember seeing friends posting about particular off road, or as I thought “dirty” runs and looking at the slow times and wondering why did they bother? One thing about road running that I didn't put together was that it is a constant, very similar foot strike and this as I aged opened me up for injury. The lack of variation was nailing my knees, calves, hamstrings and Achilles tendons. I had come to accept that part of lacing on the running shoes was to manage injuries. I would push my limits, get injured,…

Whether you're tramping deep into the bush, exploring the open road in a campervan, or paddling along rugged coastlines, nature offers an escape from the digital demands of modern life. Yet, even in the wild, we increasingly rely on electronic devices—smartphones, cameras, GPS units, and satellite messengers—to navigate, capture memories, and ensure safety. This growing reliance has made portable power solutions an essential tool. From compact power banks to solar-powered stations, these devices ensure your gadgets stay charged, even when you're miles from the nearest outlet. Here's your guide to understanding portable power and choosing the right gear for your next adventure. THE POWER SUPPLY CHAIN In simple terms portable power devices store energy in rechargeable batteries, which can then be used to charge your electronics. The process involves three…