Tales from the Trails

Trips & Tramps owner (and superwoman!) Kate Norris on Kepler Heli Hike

If you're like me and love to travel, explore and adventure then maybe you've had the same experience when planning your travels - "I just don't get how it all works!". I've always found blogs helpful in my planning and so hopefully these will help you too - they've been written from our own experiences and from some of the interest areas and frustrations that other travellers have expressed to us in the past. Grab a cuppa and take a look!

Cheers

Kate Norris

Co-owner, Author, and Mother of four

Our latest tales

Fiordland Lodge serves locally acquired cuisine

Dining Hotspots around Fiordland

Experience Fiordland and Te Anau with different senses and take your tastebuds on a unique and once in a lifetime adventure. Read more >>

Hot tub time looking across Lake Te Anau

5 Places to Stay in Fiordland That You Haven’t Discovered Yet!

The soaring waterfalls, granite peaks, and the famous Great Walks may initially be what inspires you to visit this jaw-dropping region, but Fiordland is also home to a number of unique and very special places… Read more >>

Photographer capturing Giant Gate Fall on Milford Track

The Ultimate ‘Bottom of the South’ Itinerary

Like many Kiwis, we’ve turned the current international border closures into an opportunity: to tick things off our domestic travel bucket list. Read more >>

Views on the Kepler Heli Hike Guided Walk, Fiordland

5 reasons to choose a guide vs. going it alone on your next Fiordland walk

Wandering aimlessly through the tranquil native forest of Greenstone Valley or along the banks of Lake Marian with neither stress nor schedule sounds like a beautiful way of connecting with… Read more >>

People enjoy a guided walk at Giant Gate Falls on the Milford Track, Fiordland

Taste multiple Great Walks in one holiday: The Fiordland Sampler

If you’re anything like us, you’ve got a travel list as long as your arm that’s packed full of dreamy walking holidays in every pocket of the globe. Read more >>

Toutouwai South Island Robin Petroica australis australis

Hiking boots vs hiking shoes

Gone are the days when you need to strap on stiff, heavy boots to hike in New Zealand’s wilderness – while there is still a place for these boots in… Read more >>

Finding Pounamu on a Fiordland Walk

Did you know there are reserves of pounamu or greenstone deep in Fiordland? Māori have treasured and traded this beautiful stone for centuries, and ancient pounamu trails once wound through… Read more >>

Ghost from the Past - Fiordland's Resolution Island

The wilderness that defines our Fiordland walks holds a story that has guided conservation globally. Read more >>

Group of people enjoying a guided walk on the Kepler Track, Fiordland National Park

Packing for a day tramp in the rain

When you have booked a day walk around Te Anau, Fiordland – keep in mind it is the wettest corner of New Zealand – so do not be surprised if… Read more >>

Weka bird Southland New Zealand Credit Liz Carlson 13

Bringing the birds back to Piopiotahi

Milford Sound, Piopiotahi, a jewel in the crown of Fiordland National Park, is not only renowned for its breathtaking fiords and waterfalls but also for its rich biodiversity. Read more >>

Fiordland Bucket List – 5 Top things to do!

Deep in the southwest corner of New Zealand is our home, Te Anau and in our backyard is Fiordland National Park. Read more >>

Bluebird day on the Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park, photo by Stewart Nimmo

Tramping a Fiordland Great Walk Post Lock-down

Post lockdown, New Zealanders have an amazing opportunity to see their own country. Read more >>

Geoff and his daughter at Giant Gate Falls on the Milford Track, Fiordland National Park

Life as a Milford Track Guide

This blog post is presented by local guide Geoff Barnes. Read more >>

Guiding in Te Rua-o-te-Moko

This blog post is presented by Tara MacDonald, as a Maori guide in Fiordland. Read more >>

Milford Sound Photographic Journey

This blog post is presented by guide and photographer Douglas Thorne. Fiordland National Park is a truly magical place. Read more >>

A foodie’s guide to Te Anau

Fiordland may be known as the walking capital of the world but it’s also home to fantastic cafes, restaurants and food trucks to fuel your adventures. Read more >>

Family enjoys a guided walk on the Kepler Track, Fiordland National Park

The best things about hiking in Fiordland in Autumn

One of the first things you’ll notice about hiking in Fiordland during the autumn season (March – May) is that there’s even less people around. Read more >>

Wonderfully wet day in Milford Sound with cascading waterfalls, Fiordland National Park

6 Facts to know about Fiordland

Fiordland National Park is an area of lush natural landscapes, wild waterfalls and has been a tempting destination for explorers since the beginning of time. Read more >>

Two photographers capture the moment, Fiordland National Park

5 summer must-dos in Fiordland (things to do, places to go, and where to eat)

Summer in Fiordland is a beautiful thing. The sun is shining (well, some days), the birds are singing, and the flora and fauna are flourishing. Read more >>