Avoiding potential Christmas Day family feuds, I went tramping on Christmas Day and was lucky enough to have have had a ‘white’ Xmas here in New Zealand, with snow falling on Christmas Day night and Boxing Day morning. It was fantastic sight to wake up to, snow-covered mountain tops in Lewis Pass, along the St James Walkway.

It made me dream up lists of other places to escape to throughout New Zealand, tramping far enough in to get away from the hum-drum of every day life, and I have found several books to keep me inspired, including:Rakiura book cover

Rakiura by Rob Brown, with luscious photos of windswept beaches, wild forests, and wildlife not usually seen;

New boots in New Zealand: nine great walks, three islands and one tramping virgin by Gilllian Orrell;

Classic tramping in New Zealand by Shaun Barnett & Rob Brown.

For anyone who thinks that this whole tramping lark is a tad out of their league, then I’d recommend Don’t forget your scroggin : a how-to handbook for New Zealand tramping by Sarah Bennett & Lee Slater. And for anyone taking kids tramping, check out Pick up a pack: a guide to tramping and camping the New Zealand way by Keith Olsen.

Also, don’t forget to have a look at the Department of Conservation website too, to find out about parks and campsites throughout New Zealand.