Trails of AWE
We have final proof! New Zealand/Aotearoa is a paradise for cyclists, bikepackers and hikers. We just love the convenient and dense infrastructure of well-maintained yet still “wild” and rural trails, with simple and easy-to-access campsites all along.
In the last few weeks, we cycled some of the most stunning trails on the two islands, including the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds of the South Island, the Mangapurua Trail in Whanganui National Park, and the Timber Trail in the Pureora Forest. Riding the ups and downhills with the sun shimmering between the jungle ferns and rolling over hundred-metre-long suspension bridges above the treetops made us feel high on life!
Though these places and trails attract hundreds of tourists and locals, you can feel that nature is treated with care. Luckily, locals and the Department of Conservation (DOC) put a lot of effort into maintaining and protecting nature and its ecosystems, ensuring they are not too harmed by humans. The DOC plays a key role in preserving the unique landscapes and wildlife of Aotearoa, managing an extensive network of national parks, reserves, and walking tracks.
From regular trail maintenance to pest control and public education, their work helps keep these natural spaces clean, safe, and thriving for future generations. Signs along the paths often remind visitors to respect the environment, and you'll frequently come across well-maintained facilities that show how seriously conservation is taken here. It's a collective effort that reflects a deep respect for the land.
In 2017, thanks to an initiative by a local Māori iwi (tribe), the Whanganui River was granted the same legal rights as a human being – a globally unique and incredibly wise decision! Māori see the river as an ancestor and fought a long legal battle for this final triumph.
“(…) treating the river as a living entity is the correct way to approach it, as an indivisible whole, instead of (…) treating it from a perspective of ownership and management,”
said Gerrard Albert, the lead negotiator
for the Whanganui iwi.
That perspective on nature changes everything, yet it’s so different from our usual way of thinking. Seeing trees, rivers and oceans as subjects with their own rights, rather than objects for human use, is a radical shift.
That impressive case made us reflect on our own relationship with nature once again and inspired us to cultivate humility and gratitude towards it even more!
