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Turning passion into business: A little bit about us

My earliest hiking memory is of a nine-year-old me, climbing Mt Kaitarakihi on the Coromandel peninsula with my Dad and younger brother. At 6.6km return, an 852m summit and elevation of around 400m, this track is an advanced hike for most adults by any standards! I’ll never forget the scramble over the boulders and chains to the top. To this day, a good scramble brings out the inner mountain goat in me.  That walk kicked off what was to be many family adventures (despite my brother's lack...

Qualmark silver sustainability award for Nature and Nosh

We leave a light footprint. You will be safe and sound. We offer a warm welcome.  These are the assurances we offer you as a Qualmark Silver rated business. Qualmark is the New Zealand tourism industry's 100% Pure New Zealand official quality assurance. Only those businesses that are delivering a quality sustainable experience, have safe principles and practices, and showcase true kiwi hospitality, are recognised through this endorsement. We were awarded the silver rating in Febru...

Getting trail fit: Training tips for your New Zealand hiking holiday

Winding coastal tracks, lush native rainforests, craggy ranges and tumbling waterfalls. The diverse and beautiful terrain in New Zealand can be incredibly alluring but a challenge for even the most experienced hiker.  If you're new to hiking, haven't hiked in New Zealand before, or just wondering how you can prepare to get the best out of your hiking trip, we have a few training tips that will ensure that you can really enjoy your experience here....

Our commitment to sustainable tourism

We are excited to announce that we have recently joined the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment programme. We are so lucky to have so many beautiful tracks, mountains, waterfalls and coastlines across the Waikato and Coromandel regions. When we host visitors from around the world on our tours, it's so important to us that we contribute to our environments positively and practice sustainable business in whatever ways we can.  New Zealand is renown for it's pristine natural env...

Meet the team: James Corban

Where did you grow up?I was born and raised in Tauranga in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. My parents have a three acre property that was semi-rural, surrounded back then by orchards, market gardens and poultry farms. The highlight of the year was packing up the car and going camping at Christmas with the family in the King Country at Dad's favourite trout fishing spot.  What's your favourite track or hike?In 2003 I walked a route from Torere (just past Opotiki on the East Coast of the North I...

10 great Christmas gift ideas for hikers and outdoor lovers

Do you have a hard time buying practical and quality gifts for that outdoor enthusiast or avid hiker in your family? We are pretty sure our suggestions will put a smile on their faces as they head out the door on their next adventure......

Everything you need to know about summer hiking in New Zealand

We are extremely lucky in New Zealand to be blessed with a largely temperate climate compared to many other countries. In the North Island particularly, our tracks and trails can mostly be walked all year, with the exception of the central plateaux in winter where you'll definitely need crampons for alpine treks. While the far north and Coromandel have subtropical weather during summer, for the most part our summers are very mild. Daytime temperatures range between 21 and 27 degrees celcius in t...

18 must try New Zealand food experiences

The best way to immerse yourself in a new country or culture? Sampling the local food and wine of course. Now, there are far more delicious dishes and tasty treats to try that the 18 we've picked for this list, but this is a good start for your trip.  We have some of the best wine in the world and our coastlines offer an abundance of fresh seafood. It's all about fresh, and the flavours of this country will give you a taste for what we are all about and a hunger for more!...

Why local cuisine and landscapes are the perfect recipe for active travellers

For today's traveller, it's no longer enough to visit new places and 'see' the sights.  Tick. Seen that. Click. Look at my picture - proof I've seen that. Your travel checklist is satisfyingly neat and complete, but somehow you're left feeling like it was all a race to see as many sights and visit as many attractions as possible.  Visiting the 'must see' places in a new country or region is just the way travel is done, right? You're spending hard earned income on this trip, so you want...

New EXPERIENCES: The best of Nature and Nosh in one day

Do you love exploring nature and keeping active while on holiday? Do you enjoy sampling food and wine and meeting some of the local people behind the delicious offerings?...

Tramping: Walking with purpose in New Zealand

Tramping/Noun/ ...the recreational activity of going for long-distance walks in rough country....walking with purpose. Hiking, trekking, rambling, bush walking. Every country seems to have a different word for it. Tramping must seem like an odd word to those who have never been walking in the New Zealand bush, but to those who have, it’s the only word for it. It’s almost as if the equivalent word for tramping in each country directly reflects the terrain and conditions of that country and th...

New Zealand hiking etiquette: Unspoken laws of the trail

When it comes to bush law, there is no sheriff here in New Zealand.  While we actively select lesser known back country tracks for our Nature and Nosh tours, we also take clients on more popular hikes where we share tracks and cross paths with other walkers.  The beauty of hiking is that it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, you can always count on the people you cross on any trail to be like-minded in their love for the outdoors.  Following simple hiking etiquette e...

Eat. Hike. Eat. Repeat! What should I eat before, during and after long hikes?

Food is the fuel that pushes you up that mountain, around the lake or through that valley. So, it seems obvious to us that your food preparation for a long hike should be taken as seriously as your health and safety, route planning and your Instagram photos (it can be hard to hold your camera phone still if you’ve got the hunger shakes!). What TYPES of food you should be packing for a day hike and ensuring you take PLENTY of food should be carefully considered. Nobody likes keeping company wit...

10 reasons hiking is good for your soul (and why you should start hiking today!)

View from the Pinnacles Track, Coromandel, on our Coastal Charm Classic Tour....