Innholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2026 i Adventure Magazine

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking at the Adventure Travel Trade Association World Summit in Patagonia, a gathering that brings together operators, storytellers, and decision-makers shaping the next era of adventure travel. The ATTA community is united by a belief that responsible tourism, clear purpose and genuine human connection still matter in a world that moves faster every year. As editor of Adventure Magazine, the panel I worked with looked at why storytelling remains one of the most powerful tools in the industry. We looked at where journalism and marketing meet, why truth always outperforms spin, and how authentic narratives have become more valuable than any spike in automated reach. In an age of predictive feeds and endless noise, people still respond to honesty. Our discussion dug…

Syme Hut, Taranaki Syme Hut is a vulnerable, isolated, and fragile refuge, constantly reminding its temporary tenants of how out of place we are in the wilderness. Sitting at around 2,000 metres atop Panitahi/Fantham Peak—a side-cone of the mighty Mt Taranaki— the hut is dwarfed by the massive cylindrical cone of Panitahi’s famous parent. It appears almost alien in the volcanic landscape, clinging to the scoria like a bug on the shoulder of a giant, seemingly waiting to be swept away. Despite being secured with thick steel cables over the roof and heavy steel pegs anchored deep into the scoria, Syme Hut manages to look impermanent and otherworldly. Even the toilet, an upright reinforced concrete pipe held down by cables, seems more enduring. Saying the hut is quite exposed to…

Ten years ago, the media landscape was different. Every third page in a magazine carried an advert, every third song on the radio had an advert, and every ten minutes on TV another one dropped into the programme. In marketing terms that was called a disruptive advert. It made you stop, look, and engage. Now the world throws “disruption” at us all day long. Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, every website, every news feed, everything competes for the same few seconds of attention. The noise has overtaken the message, and the crowd has learned to ignore it. So the uncomfortable question becomes simple: how do marketers make you stop in a world where nobody stops anymore? How do they make you view and engage? A new and unsettling trend has arrived, live-streaming…

The last days of winter still lingered in the air as we headed up to Whakapapa Village. There was plenty of snow left on the mountain, but several days of rain and sleet had dampened the conditions with only a few die-hard skiers were making the trip up Bruce Road. With skiing no longer looking promising, we pivoted to our backup plan, an overnight hike. At the last minute, we swapped out our ski gear for tramping packs and set our sights on Whakapapaiti Hut. Although all of us had done plenty of overnighters before, a hectic year had kept us mostly city-bound, and it had been a while since the camping gear had seen the light of day. Meals had been pre-cooked, snacks and drinks organised, but a final…

Byran Niven has spent more than three decades creating art across a wide sweep of mediums, from illustration to photography to mixed media. His work has travelled far beyond the studio, appearing on book and magazine covers, billboards, bus and building banners, websites, newspapers, and in feature stories. He is drawn to the quiet mystery of a single frame. He likes the way a still image can leave just enough unsaid to spark imagination, inviting the viewer to wonder what came before and what unfolded afterward. - Red Bull Illume 2023…

The west coast of New Zealand - filled with wild seas, lush tropical forests, epic gorges and untouched beauty. I have been desperate to paddleboard here and go exploring on my SUP. If you read my article in the last edition, you will know that for me, paddleboarding is all about adventure. It’s all about the journey, the different perspectives, soaking up nature, pushing your body and calming your mind. I am often torn between lacing up my hiking boots or sliding on my water shoes. When the sun comes out, I feel like a headless chicken running around trying to pick what form of Type 2 fun I want to put myself through, is it on the water or on the trails? So why not blend both together, my…

“HIDDEN BENEATH THE LUSH NORTHLAND HILLS NEAR WAIPU LIES A GLOWING UNDERWORLD BORN FROM PASSION, PERSISTENCE, AND RESPECT FOR THE LAND.” Hidden beneath the lush Northland hills near Waipu lies a glowing underworld born from passion, persistence, and respect for the land. Ian and Cindy Fox, the couple behind Waipu Caves Farm Park and the Milky Way Glowworm Cave, have spent years transforming a rugged 300-acre property into a sanctuary where conservation, adventure, and education intertwine. Adventure is woven into Ian’s DNA. After decades guiding people through caves, cliffs, and rivers, he turned his skills to running a native plant nursery focused on reforestation and landscape restoration. Today, he oversees business development and construction at Waipu Caves Farm Park, though he still pulls on his helmet to guide caving and…

There was no escaping those harrowing images of the Tongariro National Park fire. Our hearts went out to all who have suffered and worked so hard in the region. But this is not the Plateau’s first rodeo, the region is based around active volcanoes, exposed to wind, snow, rain and storms… predictability and settled weather are not what make the region such a magnet for adventure and tourism alike. The fires started on Saturday, 8 November and consumed an estimated 2,935 hectares of Tongariro National Park. In what seems the blink of an eye, 2,935 hectares of Tongariro National Park went up in flames, (to give you a comparison that is the same size as 3,000 rugby pitches). Fire moves fast, and its shadow lingers long after the smoke clears.…

Wanna put your gear to the test on an overnighter? Tongariro National Park is one of Aotearoa’s most dramatic volcanic landscapes, and it’s packed with short, rewarding overnight tramps. Whether you're approaching from the north, south, east or west, these huts offer classic backcountry experiences without committing to a multi-day mission. All huts listed are on Department of Conservation (DOC) land. Check weather conditions, volcanic alerts, and hut status before setting out. FROM THE NORTH - WHAKAPAPAITI HUT – First Come, First Served Track time: 2–3 hours one way from Whakapapa Village Bunks: 18 Style: Serviced hut A great introduction to Tongariro’s western flanks, Whakapapaiti Hut sits in open tussock country with impressive views across the valley and toward Mt Ruapehu. The track starts from Whakapapa Village and follows a mix of forest,…

Read the full story on our website. A BEAR OF A PROBLEM: JAPAN’S RISING URSINE THREAT Japan’s wild side is turning uneasy. In the foothills of northern Honshu, where cedar forests and quiet villages meet, people are now stepping out the door with bear bells and a hint of dread. Thirteen people have been killed since April and more than one hundred injured, making this the most dangerous year on record for bear encounters. Rising bear populations, emptying rural towns, poor acorn harvests and a shrinking pool of hunters have pushed bears deeper into human spaces. Homes, schools and even supermarkets have seen confrontations that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Troops are now assisting with trapping and authorities are expanding fencing and control programmes across multiple prefectures. It…

On September 22, 2025, high on the summit of Mount Everest, Andrzej Bargiel clipped into his skis and pointed them downwards. Sixteen hours of climbing without bottled oxygen had already pushed him into the limits of human physiology. Now he was about to attempt what no one else had dared: a continuous ski descent from the highest point on Earth all the way back to Base Camp, lungs starving in the thin air of the death zone. The 37-year-old Polish mountaineer had spent days carefully rotating between Everest’s camps, building just enough acclimatisation to stand a chance. From the South Col he pushed off into a mountain transformed by fresh snow, trail-breaking through the night. By midafternoon he was on top of the world, but he didn’t linger. Within minutes…

Perched above the turquoise waters of the Kawarau River, Queenstown’s newest adventure is redefining what it means to take the leap. The Kawarau Swing is the latest experience from AJ Hackett Bungy NZ. It invites friends, and families to ditch the solo dare and discover the pure fun of shared joy and courage. Born from the same pioneering spirit that launched the world’s first commercial bungy jump 37 years ago, the Kawarau Swing takes everything people love about adrenaline and makes it more social, more laughter-filled, and dare we say, more fun than fear. From Solo to Shared Thrills The Kawarau Swing lets adventurers choose their experience: go solo, tandem, or even triple. Whether it’s you and your best mate screaming laughing in sync, or a family of three swinging…

When the World Surf League (WSL) returned to Fiji, it arrived with all the fanfare of a global sporting circus. Politicians beamed about international exposure, government press releases celebrate “millions in brand value,” and Tourism Fiji counted social media impressions as if they were gold bars. On paper, it looked like a win. Yet beneath the glossy marketing is a question the Fijian people have been asking for years: why is a debt-stricken nation subsidising a billionaire-owned company to surf waves that locals have protected for centuries? This isn’t an isolated complaint. Tour operator Fiji Surf Co. and local sunscreen brand Bati Protector have reignited the protest, calling the government’s partnership with WSL “surf injustice” and a “pay to play” sham. Their frustration isn’t new. For close to 25 years,…

From the iconic peaks of Tongariro National Park and rising from the slopes of Mounts Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe and Ruapehu, the Whanganui River flows for 290 km to the Tasman Sea. With the summer season upon us, New Zealand’s longest navigable river brings a full range of water activities to light – immersive, rejuvenating and every bit extraordinary. Between Taumarunui and Pipiriki, journey through remote wilderness areas and the sacred waters of the Whanganui River - Te Awa Tupua, the first river in the world to be recognised as a living entity and granted personhood. A privilege to behold, a passage to remember. World-class fishing Open season runs from October to April with many anglers exploring the Whanganui River for world-renowned fishing for rainbow and brown trout. During the hot summer…

There’s something fitting about marking half a century of global exploration with a return to Nepal – the very landscape where World Expeditions first planted its flag back in 1975. The Himalaya became the stage for the brand’s anniversary journeys this year, with specially curated departures threading through some of its most culturally rich and remote regions. These treks attracted both new and long-term clients of the brand, including some who had travelled with World Expeditions with their parents, as children, and now returned with their own children. Its 50th anniversary celebrations now ending, World Expeditions is shifting attention forward to a new year and new travel experiences. As 2026 looms, where should adventurous travellers be looking to invest their time and money? What are the destinations calling to the…

It was one of those moments that etches itself into your memory. The kind you return to when you’re stuck at work and need reminding that beauty and adventure are still out there, waiting for you. Simone and I stared in silence at the valley in front of us. It was a painter’s delight - a palette of powder blue sky contrasted with the white and grey of hanging glaciers, the dark grey/blue of imposing cliffs, and the golden tussocks on the valley floor glowing in the morning sun rays. Around each corner of the valley more wonderful surprises were revealed; cascading waterfalls, quicksand, raging streams to cross, more glaciers than I could see at once. And the day’s destination; a view of the Dart Glacier worthy of a painting.…