Into the wild
In the jungle, the Kiwi jungle, Brook Sabin finds adventure, hot pools, and even a bit of luxury beneath a starry sky.
With around 15 per cent of Aotearoa covered in native bush, you’ll find some of the country’s best adventures among our lush forests. Due to Covid19 and border restrictions, it will be a while before Kiwis can explore the world’s great jungles again.
Luckily, you can try these jungle-like adventures closer to home.
The Squeeze – Rotorua
This guided adventure is through a geothermal wonderland that’s so remote the only way to get there is by boat.
The Squeeze is a jet boat trip that takes you deep along the Waikato River between Rotorua and Taupo¯ . The captain then anchors the boat, and you walk up a geothermal river until you reach a narrow gorge known as The Squeeze.
The water will reach between your waist and neck, depending on the time of year, and you’ll squeeze through narrow rock for five minutes or so. On the other side of the gorge, continue up a steaming river, which gets warmer the further up you get, until you reach an almost mystical hot waterfall deep in the bush.
The Lost Spring – Coromandel
The Lost Spring is an adults only, jungle-themed hot spring found in the Coromandel township of Whitianga. The moment you step inside, you’re transported to a Jurassic paradise: the water bubbling up into the pools is thought to be 16,000 years old.
The rock pools weave through the forest, designed to look like a tropical jungle, with walking tracks, swing bridges, and even a hot spring cave. And as it’s adults only, you can take your cocktail or wine into the pool with you.
Korimako PurePod – Canterbury
PurePods are the perfect option if you want a hefty dose of luxury with your ‘‘jungle’’ escape. Six isolated pods are scattered around Canterbury, and I tried the Korimako Purepod, 90 minutes’ north of Christchurch near Greta Valley.
The pod is located on a large sheep farm, and once you’ve parked your car you’ll go on a 10-minute bush walk to reach your hut.
The best thing about the pod is that, despite it being off-grid, it is still luxuriously comfortable. It has hot water, a flush toilet, underfloor heating and, if you desire (and pay extra), a fridge full of ingredients such as locally sourced ribeye and salmon.
By night, all that’s left to do is look up through the glass ceiling to enjoy the stars.
Totara Tree Tent – Auckland
Just an hour south of Auckland, on Karioitahi Beach, you’ll find Castaways Resort.
The main accommodation is up on the windswept coastal cliffs, but they do have a secret bush escape if you fancy something a little more back to basics.
To reach the Totara Tree Tent you’ll be given a map and ebike for the 40-minute cycle journey (or take a short drive).
The heated tent is cocooned in native bush, and it even has a bathtub suspended from trees. The fridge is stocked with food, including steak and salmon; the barbecue is ready to go; and wine and chocolates sit next to the bed.
A night in the bush has never looked so good.
Pelorus Sound – Marlborough
The Nydia Track is one of the best hidden gems in the Marlborough Sounds – even some locals I spoke to hadn’t heard of it.
The walk takes two days (one-way), so the easiest way to complete the track is to leave your car at Kaiuma Bay, and take a shuttle van to the other end of the trail at Duncan Bay.
From there, you’ll head deep into some of the most untouched bush in the Marlborough Sounds.
After five hours’ tramping, you will reach Nydia Bay where you can stay at On the Track Lodge.
The accommodation has a few unusual options, such as a yurt and an old train carriage – retrofitted to a luxury standard – that you can stay the night in.
The tramp is considered an ‘‘advanced walk’’ by Department of Conservation standards, so be prepared for challenging terrain. For extra safety, you can take a professional guide from Walk Pelorus to do the track with you.