Tramping takes living to new level

OPINION: As any good millennial/Gen Z (I’m on the cusp and can’t commit to either side), buying a house is a feat so great I’ve pretty much given up on it.

Instead of touring homes for sale, I’ve decided to focus on a whole other type of accommodation: DOC huts.

Yes, you’ve read me right – I spend somuch time in the tramping shelters I might aswell call themmy second homes.

Let me count down all the reasons tramping should be your new hobby.

First of all, hiking through Aotearoa’s wild spaces is a literal breath of fresh air.

Unlike the European sights I’m used to (where even the most isolated waterfall has a nearby cafe), Kiwi tramps are secluded from everything.

When you finally get up that mountain, you get to reap the benefits through sights of untouched, virgin forest.

In aworldwherewe tend to look at land as ‘‘something I could buildmy house on’’, it feels good to rein it back to the basics: just nature, brimming with native species and biodiversity.

Though the prospect of being stripped of phone servicemight be terrifying to many (how does one fall asleepwithout a couple cheeky scrolls these days, eh?),

Lila Pitcher counts down all the reasons tramping should be your new hobby.

being physically disconnected can do a lot of good.

Tramping is a form of forced mindfulness where nothing matters but walking and what surrounds you.

You don’t have to decide which road to take, you just have to follow it.

And, equally, all the objects thatmatter so much at home don’t mean anything in the wopwops.

Your phone? Useless. Netflix? No need. Your expensive clothes? Not likely tomake it through five river crossings.

Tramping brings you right back to the basics and makes space for the thoughts that matter.

Of course, hiking is also a fantastic way to stay fit.

Walking for a day or two will get your blood pumping, strengthen the lower body and release a ton of sweet, sexy

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After any public holiday with whānau, I usually need to reset my relationship with food.

Well, there’s nothing like eight hours of walking to get you ravenous; nothing like four days eating dehydrated foods to make you excited for a home cooked meal.

I could keep listing the benefits of walking in nature for years, but let me top it off with this: tramping is a generally inexpensive hobby.

Once you have your basic equipment (good shoes, backpack and sleeping bag), it’s easy to throw everything in the back of the car and head off for theweekend.

Go on, give it a go one of these weekends and let us know how you get on.

Do you have a favourite walk? Share it with your Neighbourly community.