Meet Jane: A Six-Time Ultimate Hikes Walker

Some guests return for a second walk. A few come back so often they begin to feel like part of the Ultimate Hikes family. Jane is one of those people.

Having walked with us six times across the Milford and Routeburn Tracks, Jane is a familiar face on track. Over the years, she has shared milestones, challenges, laughter and some deeply emotional moments with family, friends and our guiding teams. Her story reflects what keeps people coming back, not just the landscapes, but the shared experience and the connections formed along the way.

We invite you to enjoy Jane's story in her own words, reflecting on life, walking, and the moments that have shaped her journeys with Ultimate Hikes.

‍

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you're from?

Kia ora. I was born in Raglan and grew up as a country kid, so we had the privilege of roaming the great outdoors every day.

In 1973 I moved to Auckland to study journalism and got a job as a reporter, working in television here in New Zealand, but also in the UK and Australia, until 1996. I specialised in sports reporting, covering three America’s Cups and five Olympics, before moving into communications roles with the All Blacks and later Tourism New Zealand.

2. Outside of hiking, what are some of your interests or passions?
Golf, gym classes, gardening, and caring for family and friends are my main passions now. I’ve also spent a lot of time in recent years fighting bureaucracy to help protect land use for future generations. Sadly, but not surprisingly, like many others I’ve had little success. But we must keep fighting to preserve our precious green spaces.

3. Where did your love of hiking and the outdoors begin?
Being outside is in my DNA. I’ve always loved bush walking, but I only started multi-day hiking in my 40s, when I discovered the joy of guided walks and how much you can learn and enjoy by sharing the experience with others.

4. What does hiking mean to you personally?
Hiking means enjoying what nature has created, far from the negative impacts of the concrete jungle. It means freedom, breathing fresh air, seeing awe-inspiring natural beauty, challenging yourself physically as you age, being with those you love, and sharing the triumphs of overcoming fears and limitations

5. How many times have you walked with Ultimate Hikes?
We’ve walked with Ultimate Hikes six times, four times on the Milford Track and twice on the Routeburn Track.

6. Why have you chosen to walk the tracks guided?
We choose guided walks for the support, advice and interesting information along the way. And after a full day on the move, we love the home comforts, hot showers, cosy beds, a drink, wonderful meals cooked for us, and the company of fellow hikers.

7. What keeps bringing you back to walk the tracks again and again?
It’s always good to have a goal, and the physical preparation gives me something to work towards as I age. But more importantly at this stage of life is spending quality time with family and friends. As a bossy person, I enjoy pulling a group together to train and then do the hikes together.

8. Do you have a favourite memory from your time on the Milford or Routeburn?
My favourite track is always the one we’re walking at the time, but there are two memories that really stand out.

Early in 2025, my husband Peter and I walked the Milford Track for the fourth time. We persuaded a big group to join us, including Peter’s Melbourne-based brother Chris and my sister-in-law Jen, who had never done a multi-day hike before. It took a huge effort for them to get fit enough, and I was worried Jen would find the McKinnon Pass especially tough.

For the first time, instead of striding out near the front, I stayed at the back with Jen, Chris and our wonderful Ultimate Hikes guide, Sophie. When the four of us reached the top of the Pass, we had the whole place to ourselves. It felt like we were on top of the world, just us, the kea, the views, and that unbeatable sense of achievement. Magic.

The descent was long and slow, and we arrived at the lodge hours after everyone else. Sophie was incredibly patient, helping every step of the way and staying in radio contact with the rest of the guiding team. We always felt safe and confident, and when we finally arrived, the sense of achievement was overwhelming. It’s a shared experience we will treasure forever. Thank you again, Ultimate Hikes.

Another poignant memory was on the Routeburn in 2021. On our first night at the lodge, we received the news that my brother Kim was critically ill in Waikato Hospital, undergoing surgery with a 50/50 chance of survival. We were hiking with his son, my nephew Nick. Staff were incredible and offered to helicopter us out the next morning so we could return to Hamilton.

Nick and I decided there was nothing we could do at that moment, and my brother would not have wanted us to give up on the walk. We continued to the end with Kim very much in our thoughts. Staff gave us access to a satellite phone so we could stay in touch with the hospital and family. My brother survived, and we saw him soon after.

Ultimate Hikes has been part of some emotional moments for us. In 2013, when we finished the Routeburn, we received news in Glenorchy that Peter’s father had died. Each time, staff were incredibly supportive and helped us through.

9. Has each walk felt different, even when returning to the same track?
With the dramas we seem to bring to our track experiences, every hike has been different and rewarding.

10. Is there a particular moment across all your trips that stands out?
One of the most emotional moments was at the end of the Milford Track in 2025. I looked at the faces of two cancer survivors in our family group of nine, my 25-year-old great-nephew and my 73-year-old brother-in-law. Both had been very ill the year before, and we didn’t know if they would make it. Having the hike as a goal helped them through recovery, and seeing them finish was pure joy, tears and laughter all at once. A precious moment.

11. What part of the walk do you find most rewarding?
As we get older, the sense of achievement becomes even sweeter. But for me, the most rewarding part is the family bonding.

12. Have you made any lasting friendships on these hikes?
New friends each time.

13. Do you have any tips for preparation?
I’ve learnt to keep my pack to the essentials. The drying rooms are amazing, so you really only need one set of walking clothes that you can wash and dry in a couple of hours, plus one set for the lodge. No one cares how you look, so keep it light and simple.

I always use see-through ziplock bags to organise my gear. They keep things dry and make everything easy to find.

‍

14. If you had to describe the experience in just a few words, what would they be?
Being in glorious nature, challenging yourself physically and mentally, sharing the experience. Nothing beats it. Ultimate Hikes has provided some of the happiest and most memorable moments of my life.

15. Do you have plans to return for another walk?
Yes. I want to walk the Milford Track for a fifth time in my seventies, with family and friends.

16. If you could try another Great Walk or hiking adventure anywhere in the world, what’s on your list?
Maybe a hike in Japan, although I hear they’re not as good as Ultimate Hikes.

17. What advice would you give to someone considering their first walk with Ultimate Hikes?
Climb proper hills to get fit. Make sure your boots are comfortable. Train with a pack on.

Use the Ultimate Hikes packs if you don’t want to buy your own, they’re excellent. And merino, merino, merino. I swear by layers of merino clothing. It doesn’t get sweaty, washes and dries easily, even merino underwear.

After six walks, it’s clear that the landscapes are only part of the story. What stays with Jane are the shared challenges, the quiet support of guides and staff, and the deep connections formed with family, friends and fellow hikers along the way. It’s a reminder that every walk is different, and that the most meaningful journeys are often about the people you walk beside.