In 2016, I set out to cross New Zealand’s South Island under my own power over, linking sections of hiking and packrafting lakes and rivers. I had been craving an authentic solo “walkabout” that would test me physically and mentally and put my backpacking and paddling skills to the test. I chose the New Zealand’s South Island for its beauty, difficult and interesting terrain, and network of waterways that makes a hybrid hike-and-paddle traverse possible.