Follow me on my journey as I explore the amazing scenic parks and reserves around the Auckland region and hike through and camp in some of New Zealand's most spectacular forests and wilderness areas... And don't miss some iconic international destinations and my adventures abroad. My videos are a reflection of my deep love of the land, the coast, the forests and sea, and my affinity with creating laid back, fun and informative content.
From "Mum, Dad and the kids" parks and trails to wilderness overnight camp ' n' cook adventures in beautiful locations... from Rome to Athens, from Auckland to Amalfi...there's something here for everyone.
The "Tech" section is where I will review the myriad of photographic and outdoor equipment I use along the way. I hope you enjoy the videos and thanks for watching. Rick
To subscribe hit the link: ru-vid.com/show-UC2_c6d7xS2eiLUZHyLStLkQ
I got lucky. my first visit to Malta was a tour of duty in the RAF in 1969. Yes I was being paid to be there. Been back many times since and each time it gets better. For snowbirds from whatever country I recommend it for some winter sun. Just avoid the Christmas and Easter holidays where prices rise significantly.
@@JamesWilliamson-w8y Hi mate,great to hear of your experiences there...and good advice too re:crowds etc. My next video is only a day or two away and it"s the next stop, Santorini, which was stunning but we had our only REALLY bad experience of the whole cruise when it came to the queues for the cable car. School holidays, 5 cruise ship...you get the picture! Valletta was just gorgeous, the amazing colours of the stone and geography and buildings is something to see. We only had a day there so didnt get to explore the city proper but we loved Malta, or what we saw of it. Cruising slowly into Grand Harbour and seeing the city walls is a picture i will never forget. Cheers. Rick
@@jacquolinemngatai129 Thanks Jaq👍 If you think that scenery was good...then the next one, which im editing now, will blow your mind. Its Santorini...you'll love it! Be up in a day or 3.
@@BingBongBingBong-hk7kz Hi Allan, yes it was a beautiful place to be for sure. I could quite happily stay for weeks and explore, a day is too short but it was still a great day.👍
Just subscribed to your channel,You just don’t have the personality for RU-vid , and that’s why I like you and your channel. All the right review information and no gimmicks! Great job keep them coming
@@fairwind8222 Thanks, I will take that as a compliment...lol I try and just present myself and my gear reviews and adventures in the same vein as my personality...laid back, hard case and straight up...Im a Kiwi after all! So many channels are just about the views now...I know what you mean. Got a few reviews coming up so stay tuned. Thanks for watching and subscribing. Cheers Rick
Thanks. Glad you liked it and got something out of it. I'm close to going on my next Wild camp and could be taking the Retreat40, so stay tuned for a post-review update. Thanks for watching. Rick
@@003roodygog Thanks. Yes, she is a lovely ship and we really enjoyed our time onboard. Oceania isnt cheap by any means but what you get for your money makes their cruises pretty good value. We are already looking to go on another Oceania cruise in 2026. Where are you going? You must be getting so excited!👍
Truly informative and thorough. Good enough to be a promotional video made by the cruise company itself, maybe you should let them look at it. What an amazing vessel with so much to do
@@BingBongBingBong-hk7kz Thanks Allan. I tried to present the ship without using all the footage, that i need for the videos to come- was quite hard to do actually. Yes she is a lovely ship for sure. Im sure Oceania loves every positive video about their cruises ay...free promo for sure...
If you add the matress it pulls the end too and then you have much more clearance to the lower body:) its not that bad on my mind. However, I like the new version more which’s has the entrance on top.
@@kayliman Good to hear a positive comment, thanks. I haven't seen or tried the new version so great to get your input. Mine has become a rather expensive sleeping bag cover...lol
Glad you enjoyed it. Was really difficult trying to get clear shots without 50 heads in the way...lol. Yes, that was the hottest day of the whole trip I reckon. But i love the heat...so all good.
@@jacquolinemngatai129 Thanks Jaq. It was quite surreal walking through it. With so many people it was hard getting nice shots without 50 heads in the way...but a few nice views in there.👍
Absolutely awesome, a great view of the fountain and so many people so early in the morning. The money they collect from the fountain seems huge, but then with probably millions of tourist visiting it is to be expected and at least the money seems to go to worthwhile use
Hi Allan, I had some nice street shots of us walking to the Fountain from the hotel, but they were lost in a data transfer...annoying but still giot some nice minutes of this iconic spot. yes, 6am we arrived...and it was sparse, but soon began to fill. Early morning is a great time to go though...much cooler! Glad you liked it. FYI-I have just posted the Colosseum video...lots of nice shots in that one. And it's longer too. Rick
Brilliant. Really great start to your holiday. It's only when you fly over Australia that you realise how huge a country it is. 'Jewel' really does look enchanting. Looking forward to seeing more of your holiday adventures. Great photography. I remember taking video in an airport some years back and the security guys weren't too happy. Times must have changed and things become more relaxed
Hi Uncle, thanks for the nice comments. I actually lost my Jewel footage when transferring files and had to use some cellphone footage...but still looks ok. I had a lot more footage of Changi Airport and how huge it is, but alas it was part of the stuff I lost during file transfer. I have over 200gigs of footage from the rest of the vacation, and most is truly stunning. Have just posted up a quick Day1 arrival video...so stay tuned, as they only get better from here...
It really is just a sleeping bag cover. I have kept my sleeping pad and bag in the inside then roll the whole package up and throw in my pack. When I’m ready to sleep simply unroll and use my pump to air up the pad which helps keep the shape and prevents the twisting issue that you had. $400 is outrageous, in the US this bivy often can be found for about $120. I would only recommend for when it’s mild to cold temperatures and not feasible to set up a tent
I have to agree with you on all your comments. I think of it as a cover too, rather than a sleeping bivvy as such. And yes, it's ridiculously expensive for what it is. I never thought of pumping it up a bit to help prevent twisting so thanks for that tip. Rick
@@jacquolinemngatai129 Hi Jaq, this is just a wee taste of the whole laser show. Ill show the extended show in the first vacation video, hopefully be up in a day or two..hope you well. Rick and Elaine
Hi mate, sorry for late reply. Been on a long overdue holiday, and making content for the cha nnel at same time...I would say a double would fit nicely in the Retreat 40...but i will check dimensions. Its good to have a little room betwern the mattress and the tub sides/tent walls in my opinion, as you always have somewhere to sit you lamp, drink bottle or cooker etc..👍 ( I like having my small jetboil actually in my bivvy to make s cuppa just before turning in...lol
@@richardthomas3382 Thank you. Glad you liked it. Been a bit of a lull in content last few weeks while on vacation...but watch the next fortnight for some great stuff coming up! Hint: bit of zn intefnational flavour.👍
Woow these views look amazing, especially the drone shots! I wish I had a drone 😍 We will have a few days in Auckland in August, what's the number one hike you would recommend? Ideally it would be on the shorter side (1-2 hours) so my partner also enjoys it 😁
@@Anna_ForFutureAdventures Hi Anna? Thanks for lovely comments. And yes a wee drone does add some epic type shots, but I only really use it on the more coastal and "open" area type places I hike. You also need a permit to use it in DOC forests etc...(which is most of NZ's big conservation areas). And there are no-fly rules in a lot of Regional parks too,mainly because they tend to be low fly zones for little wee planes like Cessna's etc. And if you are in beaut areas like in your videos, or high summit tramps, you already get awesome views. I have almost lost mine a couple of times now, so definitely need to get use to flying them..lol As for hikes in Auckland, that are a couple of hours, then my "day" hike videos to Auckland Regional parks might help you decide. Definitely vist Hunua Ranges, or Auckland west coast parks...and a gorgeous north shore place to spend a day is the Okura/Dacre Cottage reserve. There's so many gorgeous free places within an hour or so of Auckland CBD, - perfect day hikes. Look forward to your next one! Rick
It seems that the Patupaiarehe or Turehu (fair skinned, blue or green eyed) people were mystified and spoken of as the fairy people, made into folk law rather than speak of them as an actual people group. Pirongia apparently being one of the last places they hid before being completely dispatched, or so the story goes 😢
@@OutdoorsmanDave Hi Dave, great comments. And you are right, there are many variations of the stories depending on which Iwi you talk to. Some refute them to be "giants", and not small child like people at all. Its great exploring these legends though, as most of the older more knowledgeable elders are no longer with us to share their knowledge. 👍
@@LifestyleandTechNZ thanks for your openness, as a 4th generation kiwi, I just want the truth. I’ve done many videos on Pirongia, you’ll relate to “dying of thirst” from base, hut, secret track off bell track to base, full pack 30km, yes she’s a tough Maunga 😆
@OutdoorsmanDave I always enjoy hearing from people like yourself who have walked the walk so to speak. And hell yes,it was a tough tramp but I enjoyed it immensely. Funny thing is, when i was a kid, I was around the mountain a bit, having cuzzies who farmed bordering Pirongia itself. But we rarely ventured right up, as tracks were not established as well back then...and it was a lot denser than today. I intend to go up the Bell track in summer and just do a nice overnight camp along the way. How do you find the tracks from the western side? Keen to try them all over time.
I used to go up there 25 years ago when i lived in NZ. Always loved it. NZ has changed so such, I often forget I was there a quarter of a century ago 😂😂😂😂
Thats awesome. It must have brought back a few memories watching? Its still a beautiful spot out there. But you are right,ithas changed a lot. I used to visit my Aunty's farm in Pirongia at the base of the mountain when I was a boy, and there was barely a house for miles. And no stupid boyracers tearing up the peaceful quiet country roads like they do now. Hope you enjoyed the video.👍 Rick
Thanks for a truly beautiful experience. Great music that accompanies the video and you did your mum proud in your words. Looking forward to your next adventurous camp, makes me quite envious.
Thanks Allan. Glad you enjoyed it. A lot to try to do justice to in 53 min video but it came out ok. Im rapt that ppl like the music tracks too, i try and find music to match the mood and scenery, so pretty happy. The song "Fairies" was just so right for the hut scene where i yak about thd Fairies of the Mountain. Did you like my wee tribute to you with th Barry Crump excerp? Thought of you when I did that segment and had a wee chuckle.👍
Thanks for your video and for sharing your experiences. Unlucky with the weather but in winter I guess you take a chance. In February I left from the other side of Pirongia at Kiriwhakapapa car park and camped in the very good little campsite a few km in. Left the tent there and overnighted at Pahautea hut via Bells track. Fantastic bush with giant kahikatea trees. Not too difficult and there’s a clearing a few hours in, very suitable for camping. The difficulty though was the mud approaching The Cone, not far from the hut. I’ve never experienced anything like it - and that was after a long spell of good weather! Good hut though and you were lucky having it to yourself. I guess there are fewer TA people around at the moment. You were brave camping but it goes to show that with good gear it is perfectly possible. Looking forward to more videos!
Gidday Jeff. Thanks for the nice comments. Glad you enjoyed the video. I enjoyed the tramp immensely and even though it was pretty hard at times, as you alluded to, winter made it a bit harsher. It would be awesome in summer I reckon. I hope I havent put anyone off doing that trail to the hut, I probably made it sound more difficult than it is, but it definitely deserves its "difficult" rating. I was very interested in your comments doing other tracks to the hut too. I would like to do Bell track and camp in spring/summer. Sounds like its a bit easier, although longer. And to top it all off...I left my wallet in the hut! Was very lucky someone trekked to the hut a couple of days later and found it. I just picked it up at Hamilton Police Station yesterday. I would never have managed another 6 hrs plus going up and down again to get it...hard case. I'm keen to learn more about those tracks you have done for future videos too. Rick👍
At about the 7.59 minute mark, where I'm standing listening to a Tui, the haunting beautiful sound echoing through the bush around me is actually a Kokako- a rare and and even more rarely-seen indigenous NZ bird, that was released into the Park, in the hope of re-establishing a population of this beautiful bird. Thanks Kate for pointing this out to me.😊
Thanks John. Yes, a wee fireplace would be great, it's cold up there. I understand why though-wooden hut, wooden bunks, lack of firewood around camp etc...I think solar lighting would be the cheapest,easiest and most beneficial improvement DOC could do. Great hut though-has that real "kiwi" homecoming feel about it. Well done DOC.
Awesome video ...and you are truly an inspiration to many. ..takes guts and determination to do this stuff...pretty dangerous in parts and the tribute to yiur mum brought a tear to the eye. ..I look forward to the next one...hope you recover well. ❤
Hey cous! Glad you like it. I just got back yesterday from a Mt Pirongia 3 day tramp to Pahautea hut. Tramp from hell! Video be up by sunday avo hopefully. I think you might like this one!
@@Specternzbb Hi mate, thats great to hear...i always worry a little about "attached fly" type tents. Im sending this reply literally from the bush 5kms up Mt Pirongia. And ive had to bivy up in the Orson Ranger 1, as its pouring down! And like you said, its very waterproof. Very happy with it. Watch out fri or werkend for the finished "Pirongia Mountain" winter video. I tramp out tomorrow after 3 days in wet muddy freezing conditions...1 night in bivy, 1 night at hut. So fo you kayak and camp around Northland?
I'm based in n Gisborne, so I do excursions up the East Coast out of Tokomaru Bay and hug the coastline. Im looking at doing 4 day Lake Waikaramoana Tramp next week, so will grab some footage of the Ranger 1 set up if the weather isn't too bad.
@Specternzbb keen to hear how you found the ranger aswell. I'm looking for a decent tent to see me right for south island hunting/fishing missions, not up in the alps, but often times high up in potentially windy/snowy places!
It gets lots of excellent reviews by influencers on RU-vid, mainly about the quality and its light weight. That obviously is not enough given the deficiencies deficiencies highlighted here. The major flaw i get is that it flops down on your sleeping bag, and that would lead to condensation, which would be aggravated by rainwater pooling on the bag. Its too bad as i was seriously thinking about one of these. I wonder how feasible it would be if the top section was layered and inflatable?
Hi mate, yes you hit the nail on the head with your comments re: bag flopping down on your sleeping bag etc. And in fine dry calm conditions thats probably all you need, But I think those conditions are more the exception than the rule. The thing that I also find a wee bit misleading is the advertising pics which always show this bivy fully lofted and looking great, I have put my thickest air mat inside, and my winter weight (-05 rated) sleeping bag inside and it still wont even half fill this bivy. Be good to hear from somebody who has one and is happy with it, for a balanced perspective.👍
Nice review i almost bought one of those bags but decided just to push the boat out and all out i ended up with the Carinthia xp2 plus which has never let me down but will admit its heavy compared to a tent but when after a really hard day hitchhiking and getting soaked it was allways great knowing that i was allways going to be warm and dry and could be in my bag in a very short time any doubts i had about the money paid evaporated when snug inside hearing the rain chucking it down outside ,i also own a Terra nova jupiter the full gortex bag which has only been put up twice but never slept in i find it way too small im six feet .
Thanks mate, glad it sparked your interest and I was really intrigued by your comments re: Carinthia xp2- as I know nothing at all about this bag but it looks great, and yes a bit heavier-but like you say, that comfort and dryness and ease of set up is such a joy when having to set up in crap weather especially. Looks great. It reminds me of my Trekmates Squall bivy, but looks superior for sure and more weatherproof and cosy. And that wee vestible out front is so valuable if you don't use a tarp overhead. Great comments.
OR usual make quality stuff. However I am not convinced that this represents value for money. Selling a label not premium product. There are quality tents for a little bit more. Trekmates Squall is better
Thanks. Yes, I have seen a lot of good ratings on various outdoor retailer sites for this bivy, so it definitely has it's supporters. I am a bit dubious of reseller websites that have high numbers of 4 and 5 star ratings for a product thas has some big issues. But maybe most people just use it as a quick sleeping bag cover in good conditions. 👍
Hi Richard, another great gear review. I guess you would have liked to have found some of the bags not so good points before you forked out the cash for it. I wouldn't imagine that it would be any good in heavy rain as rain would probably pool in the hollows that form near the foot of the bag. Allan
Hi Allan, yeah I did a bit of checking before I bought it, but the review i watched was from the UK and the merchant packed pegs and guy rope with it, so I mistakenly assumed they were all like that- not even! lol. It's right on the end of it's "return" period too, so i needed to get this review done asap...lesson learned.
Thanks mate. Glad you liked the video. Yeah, spectacular area for sure. Id like to go back and do some trout fishing along there- its easier on the old knees...lol
