Cate Foster follows Oakley Creek's winding paths.

The hectic pace of Auckland seems a million miles away as I idly watch a lone duck disappear around a bend in the river.

Karangahape Rd, on a sunny Sunday morning, has the look of a good time girl who's gone to bed in her makeup.

If you ever had any fear that birds dislike an urban environment, a walk through Epsom will dispel that notion.

Great scenery and a dollop of sugary history; Liz Light takes an autumn walk in Chelsea Heritage Park.

My friend wanted to go for a walk but stipulated it had to be near her house and somewhere her large pup Mo could run off-lead for a while.

Donna McIntyre discovers the lesser-known charms of Manukau Harbour.

He may not have reached the peak of Mt Ruapehu but Winston Aldworth had fun trying.

Glendowie rates another visit with Cate Foster.

Beauty abounds where once there was sewage and sludge, finds Liz Light.

Vicki Virtue gets high on the beauty of the first mountain in NZ to see the sun.

No good at skiing? No problem. Danielle Wright sets out in snowshoes through Queenstown's backcountry.

Donna McIntyre puts her best foot forward and takes the scenic route through Auckland on a Coast to Coast walk.

There's more to Karangahake Gorge than the view from SH2, as Danielle Wright discovers on a weekend break from Auckland.

From half-hour family rambles to full-day tramps, explore Auckland's finest green space.

Novice canoeist Diana Clement satisfies a long-held ambition to paddle the mighty Whanganui River - and all in one easy weekend.

Safety in the wild comes down to a few simple rules, writes Mountain Safety Council chief executive Darryl Carpenter.

A new enterprise at Kaipara gives city folk the chance to reconnect with the countryside during a three-day walk, writes Catherine Smith.

The Tongariro Crossing seems to agree with energetic children a lot more than weary adults, finds Helen van Berkel.

Herald reporter Beck Vass explores Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage site.

Paul Rush finds Fiordland's alpine Kepler Track a challenge, while others dash over it in record time.

Waiting for summer means missing out on so much, writes Victoria Bartle.

The 30km latest addition to Te Araroa - the nation's 3000km north-south hiking trail - over country music star Shania Twain's Central Otago high country property - is no walk in the park.

A trek in the remote Ruahine Range turns into a religious experience for Tess Redgrave.

A dream to open up rural New Zealand to travellers on foot is coming closer step by step, writes John Yeld.