Off the Beaten Track

by Colin Moore

Published 1 June 2009
Off the Beaten Track is a tantalising guide to 20 multi-day walks across New Zealand farmland, through forest sanctuaries and along stretches of coastline - from the kauri-fringed bays of Great Barrier Island to the alpine tarns of Southland. While not all the walks featured here are over private land, what they do have in common is that in exchange for a modest payment, enthusiastic walkers can tramp or amble through New Zealand's hills and backcountry without a heavy pack, with a comfortable bed at the end of the day and fine dining if they wish. Suitable for people of all ages, these walks are proving popular with family groups, work groups and, particularly, baby-boomers who want to get out in the hills but do it in comfort and with minimal hassle. Each walk has its own distinctive character, whether it's coastal views, subalpine high country or rolling tussockland. Well illustrated with evocative photographs, each chapter also includes an informative bird's eye map, an ideal way to view the route and terrain in three dimensions. Off the Beaten Track is a must-have guide to an increasingly popular form of recreation and an attractive souvenir of a great experience.