Sage's First Big Adventure

The Story behind Come Hike With Us

A three-day mission on the Rakiura Track with a newborn... Raw, challenging at times and unforgettable.

Location

Rakiura Track, Stewart Island

Length

3 days / 32km

Route

Oban → Port William → North Arm → Oban (loop track)

The Plan

We headed south in our campervan to Bluff, crossed Foveaux Strait, and arrived on Stewart Island ready to begin the Rakiura Great Walk.

Josh had rigged a front pack to attach to his 40L pack to carry Sage, while I carried a 50L pack with our camping gear. Merino layers, puffy onesies, nappies and a dry bag for waste, mosquito patches and all the essentials for a newborn in the outdoors.

We felt well prepared, ready for whatever the track might throw at us.

On the Track

We started the hike feeling confident, ready to experience the outdoors as a family.

We walked along the coastline in warm weather, native birds all around us. Sage settled in straight away, calm, comfortable and content in the front pack. Sleeping for the first few hours, waking briefly for a feed before drifting off again.

Four hours and 8km later, we reached Port William Campsite. Calm bay, no one else around, the perfect spot for Sage’s first night.

We set up overlooking the water, while the fallow deer grazed all around. A perfect end to a great day on the track.

That night, the three of us squeezed into our ultralight tent for the first time.

Cozied up to sleep and then the wind came.

Unforecasted and relentless. We took turns holding Sage inside our sleeping bags to keep him protected and warm, feeding him through the night as best I could.

The next day the track lived up to its reputation, slippery, wet and boggy.

Everything took longer. Feeding breaks, improvised nappy changes, adjusting constantly. What would normally be a shorter day turned into 7 hours for 13km.

Sage, however had the best day. Warm, fed and content watching the trees and light flicker through them. We were suprised how easy he was to entertain on the trail.

That night, at North Arm Campsite pushed us again.

The temperature plummeted, heavy rain set in and our little tent was saturated.

Sage, layered in merino and tucked into our sleeping bags, woke often. Wanting to be fed and settled back to sleep. I hadn’t realised how much the physical strain would affect my milk supply and he was trying to bring it back in.

The only way I could feed him was sitting upright in the middle of the tent leaning against Josh. Possums scratched at the fly, rain hammered down, and we waited for daylight.

It was a long night, but one we were able to manage through together.

By the third day, we got into a rhythm again. Enjoying our final day walking through the bush. We even spotted a Kiwi running across the track!

What We're Learning

• Patience and a slower pace

• Your body (and limits) change postpartum. Exertion can alter milk supply.

• Babies are more resilient and adaptable than we expect.

Takeaway

It may challenge you, but its more manageable than you think and more meaningful because of it.

Why It Matters

We had done it - Sage's first big Adventure!!

What stood out most was how well Sage handled it. He was calm, settled and content the entire trip. Sleeping well, feeding regularly and completely at ease in the environment.

It reminded us that these expereinces aren't something you have to wait for.

They can be part of life right from the beginning.

It pushed us, but never beyond what we were prepared for.

More than anything, it confirmed that this is exactly how we want to spend these early years as a family.

Part of a Bigger Story

We made it back to Oban just before a major storm hit, later delayed by rough seas before returning to our campervan.

Looking back, the only thing I would have changed would be a bigger tent, 8 weeks post c-section made it seem harder than it was and its nice that I now know that exerting myself affects my milk supply for future missions.

This is what adventure really looks like.

Not the highlight reel but the full experience. Despite everything, it felt like one of the best decission we've made as a family.

This journey became the foundation for Come Hike With Us, a story grounded in real experiences, real challenges, and the reality of exploring the outdoors as a family.

For Other Families

It can be challenging at times, but with the right preperation, its absolutely doable.

If you can safely bring your child into the places you love, you’re not just creating memories, you’re building a way of life.