3 Days Alone in New Zealand

Nothing goes to plan when I improvise a packraft to access a remote survival area on the west coast of New Zealand. I have a bow, limited fishing gear and no food.
⬇️ Overnight survival challenge I refer to in this video (Thank you icebreaker for the great merino clothing) ;
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Thanks for watching!

[@WeirdOneOz]

You made the right call, don’t question your judgement. When everything doesn’t go to plan sometimes they make the best memories …….later when your warm at the pub eating a hot meal 🤣 because while your in it you just keep thinking of the worst.

[@ValkyrieSkyz]

That really big eel was a female, probably about 80-100 plus years old. She will reproduce only once in her life, at the very end of her life, near Tonga. So it’s kinda good that you didn’t catch her 😊 Really enjoyed your video

[@OutbackMike]

Yeah. I probably would have let that one go if I’d got it in. I was trying to catch a medium sized to cook.

[@EzeAdventurer]

I love this video mate, love how REAL you keep it, also love hearing all the thinking out loud, rationalising options, decision-making process etc. Feels like I'm there with you. They don't all work out, but everything happens for a reason.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks heaps. Glad you liked it.

[@JB-eg1tb]

Your maturity and how you adapt your approach is why I subscribed. Too many prioritize sensationalized click baits to gain viewers without considering the safety of everyone involved and lacking the respect to their environment. Appreciate you sharing lessons learned!

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@AudzATK]

She beautiful but deadly. Where we lack deadly animals and insects, she makes up for it with terrain. Awesome video, hope you enjoyed your time. Hope your spirit is lifted with all your experiences. All the best mate

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 👍

[@cuocsonglangnoigogang]

Your journey spending 3 days alone in New Zealand is a testament to your adventurous spirit and resilience. Navigating through unfamiliar terrain and embracing solitude showcases your strength and determination. Keep exploring and inspiring others with your remarkable experiences! And I am Floating Village Life.

[@somegenXdude]

Mate winter survival in NZ hinterland is pretty tough even for experienced kiwis good on you for giving it a crack the coast is usually the easier option but again well done give it another go would love to see you grill a possum haha

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@huntnheads7945]

This is a classic, I found myself chuckling at the failures. Hard case ,I enjoyed it. Onya

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks heaps.

[@nedmelvin2224]

Mate you just captured beutiful what we have all been through, loved the real sides, your bad luck days are gold, is something we all need to see and think of during ours

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@kotieboatz6042]

😂 as soon as you got in the water I was like " oh no you don't want to do that cool attempt though, heaps of people die out in the kiwi bush yearly yeah 1080 we protested to stop it they didn't listen

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. Yeah it was sketchy and risky.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

I felt for you re the laptop. Last fortnight, searching for a secret hut in the Kaimai’s of NZ, my GoPro, the external mic which was plugged in & all my video footage on its 128gb card died by water damage. It’s a real expensive thing to be providing video footage of our adventures, hope people appreciate it. Love that rod ❤ & thanks

[@OutbackMike]

Bummer. I’ve just switched from the media mod to a foam wind stopper that wraps around the while outside and GoPro stays water proof. It cuts out the wind noise better too. Yeah. Water sucks.

[@welberalvesdeoliveiraolive8586]

Hello, your videos are very good about the adventures you make of subsistence from the sources and resources you have in nature Brazil

[@OutbackMike]

Thank you very much!

[@Overourland]

Those eels are easier to catch with a treble hook. I get them around my local are. That mildford area is ridiculous for wind and rain. Would have been an epic alpine crossing. Curious which river you attempted to raft down?

[@OutbackMike]

Hollyford.

[@Overourland]

@@OutbackMike Oh nice. I see your intended route now. Awesome country down those ways. Hope to see you come back these ways

[@tonyosborne4909]

I just love your videos…..Lovely scenery.I live in NZ and just love the bush….For 60 years!! Onya cobber,you beaut!❤❤😊😊😊

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏 🙏🙏

[@jzjzjzj]

It's such a beautiful location, i hope you can do this again at a better time and have more success.

[@OutbackMike]

I hope so too!

[@Alekcei-c-Yrala]

*Hello Mike! Great respect and greetings to you from the banks of the Ural River! The Urals are watching!*

[@OutbackMike]

Many thanks! I’d love to go there one day

[@steven4783]

I’d love to see you on another Alone series Mike.

[@AngusBeath]

Unlucky on that trip, but it makes for a good story! Thanks for sharing it.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks for watching!

[@kiaoraable]

Yeah it’s rough when you can’t control the weather, you made the right call and not try going down that river. It’s beautiful area all down around Te Anau .

[@swallis1236]

Great to see you out there giving it a go in a real and raw way

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@ChrisVards]

Worlds dodgiest river raft! awesome

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Sitting on your raft at the start "It is a bit dodgy, but I think it will do" .. famous last words haha This was a great watch but sure did look like a tough trip. Actually enjoyed watching it and the reality side of sometimes these grand ideas for adventures don't go to plan! Well done, most of been bloody tought out there.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. Glad I could still salvage a video from it.

[@wingitmissionfishingoutdoo6647]

Great adventure mate, love that little fishing rod 👍

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 👍

[@Staroy]

Just finished watching Alone Austraila season 8 with you, didn't know it was possible to swear so much - must have burnt at least 5k kcal. You would have won if u weren't so unlucky with the traps and medical! Also a sidenote on your yt, you have great content and the filming is awesome too. I believe you could pull a lot more viewers if you rethink your thumbnail game a bit :)

[@chrispyskiwiadventures3583]

Haha welcome to the New Zealand wilderness. Nothing ever goes to plan around here. Mind you bro it made your video very real. Good job🤙🤙

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks heaps 🙏

[@garythomson713]

"The plan" almost always changes . Weather, animals not being where they "always are"....Pays to have a flexible plan...As long as you have a good safe exit strategy it'll be ok.

[@MacBeamish]

Spent plenty of time on remote nz rivers and whitewater. Great call aborting. Can easily go very wrong sieves, undercuts, and strainers can hide around any corner. Soloing even low grade whitewater in backcountry, especially with makeshift gear is sketchy at best. Even with lots of whitewater experience, the consequences of a mistake can be big. Loved to see the vocal, safe and solid decision making. Your experience shows through big time. There is a lot to learn from here. Keep it coming mate!

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks heaps Mac.

[@BushKayakersCampingAustralia]

Great one Mike . Its a shame when things dont go to plan . but as you know , sometimes one just has to roll with the punches . even the little bit of rafting you did looked too hardcore to me . All the best on your next adventure

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks heaps🙏

[@AlloffroadAu]

mate, always at least double back up your files, small SSD you can put in a small Pelican box fully water proved. Ipad in a waterproofed case is probably better option to take where you are going

[@OutbackMike]

I normally do via my laptop. On this one I took the risk not to bring an extra hard drive because I was already way overweight and having to hike out with everything.

[@harveycalder672]

great video - as kids we used to cheat when eeling by getting a cup of blood from the butcher - they smell it for miles and it is easy fishing

[@OutbackMike]

Nice 😊

[@jacqueline7118]

Too bad on things not working out as planned but I guess that is why it is called an adventure! lol Hopefully, you will do the raft again somewhere maybe at home where you know the river. Great adventure, thanks for sharing. :) :)

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. Yep. Will do.

[@claytallstoriesmusic3242]

awesome mate

[@OutbackMike]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@budget-adventure]

Yep almost everything went to crap, but thank you for sharing it still. And the latest episode of the podcast was great as well. Keep up the great work

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks heaps. And thanks for the feedback on the podcast. It was great catching up with Sophie again.

[@carolynevans8826]

I just stumbled accross your channel and so glad i did as im really keen to get into hiking and would love to go away for a night in nature by myself. Im always watching and enjoy alone or bushcraft videos. So i would be interested to know where in the north island can you go in the wilderness to do this type of thing?

[@OutbackMike]

Hey Carolyne. I haven’t done much in the North Island sorry. All I would say is do it😊 Do your research first of course but you’ll be missing out on a better life if you don’t🏕️

[@RobsBushcraftandAdventures]

Mate I felt for you with that laptop. I went out and filmed all the content for 6 videos before the birth of my son last year. My plan was to be able to edit and upload these after he was born, so I would be at home to help out. And then I forgot the hard drive was plugged into the laptop, went to put the laptop on the coffee table, hard drive swung down, hit the coffee table and killed the hard drive. Then spent $250 on an unsuccessful recovery attempt. So yeah, I know the feeling. Now I'm using 2 SSD hard drives to double up all my files.

[@craigperry7376]

Good Vid filled with plenty of risk. kiwi National Parks aren’t always the best place to be if you are attempting to do a survival vid because of too many restrictions are put on you. Public Land at least offer the chance to catch eel. Just for next time, possum are a good source of protein & easily taken by bow. Cheers

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. Yeah I considered public land but I was after awesome scenery and ran out of time to find a suitable spot.

[@srf2112]

I can relate to your adventures as I'm also an explorer by nature. The one thing I am not or at least never have been is a hunter. I'm sure it would be different in a survival situation but it goes against my nature to hurt or harm another creature even if it's a pest. Good luck on your further adventures sir.

[@OutbackMike]

🙏

[@BishOnTheRoad]

Great job Mike - the most interesting video of an alone experience in New Zealand I've seen this year. Were you at Lake Manapori?

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. No it was the Hollyford River.

[@joshuapitsios8082]

dude your videos are the best! where can i watch your other stuff that isnt on your channel? cheers maybe consider making a patreon id pay to watch a scheduled adventure with you

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks Joshua. And thanks for the Patreon tip. You can check this outkzbin.info/www/bejne/aKnUpGeYjduGqdEsi=KO1i0DqF3nLQo7Uw

[@srf2112]

When everything does not go right you can rest assured you are on a proper adventure.

[@OutbackMike]

Yep. For sure. An important person once said that if at no stage on an adventure you wish you were not on the adventure then you didn’t pick a hard enough adventure.

[@GizmosBushEscapes]

Nothing went to plan. BUT what an awesome video. thankyou

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks heaps!

[@kirtnewton4108]

L I S T E N. Bud look the Elevation change on the rivers and how far down the river to see haw fast the river is, give a better Idea the flow, Gutzzy thought, Love your Stuff. Kirt. Maine. US

[@irondog808]

still a good watch ..as they say a bad days fishing is better than a good day at work.

[@OutbackMike]

For sure.

[@sheaandtesla4599]

Awesome video mate can't believe it doesn't have more views. I'm from New Zealand it's sad there's not many wild places left there so many invasive plant and animal species and massive deforestation and destruction from farming.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. Yeah. The invasives are running a muck here in Oz too, particularly deer.

[@thinknz]

Awesome bro well done

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks ✌️

[@thinknz]

@OutbackMike your welcome , hope you enjoyed parts of New Zealand, keep up the content @ThinkNZ

[@iantooke3549]

Hey Mike what brand is the Recurve take down bow u using ? What poundage cheers Ian kiwi Perth wa

[@OutbackMike]

It’s a Hoyt brand. 50lb.

[@iantooke3549]

@OutbackMike which model hoyt is it I'll look up did u get it in aust

[@mattiyogi1018]

Respect for showing when things dont go to plan.Maybe you were trying to do too much in such a short period of time.simplify and enjoy your surrounds.

[@murrayclist265]

Those🍄looked like wild oyesters yum.

[@OutbackMike]

So they’re edible?

[@Matto_Harvo]

Nice work.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks!

[@sheaandtesla4599]

Using a hand spear is the best way to get eels I did it all the time when I was growing up in Nz. Good eating too if cooked right ✌️

[@OutbackMike]

For sure. I’m keen to try that. Do you just wade around at night in a shallow river or is there a trick to it?

[@mikha007]

@@OutbackMike there were two in front of you lol

[@jase4270]

Miss the good night's down at the river spearing eels and flounder.

[@alecblueotter]

Great video! Where did you get that cool telescopic fishing rod it looks quality!

[@OutbackMike]

It was a $20 cheapy on eBay from memory.

[@murrayclarke2171]

What a legend!

[@djnmv]

Sorry your trip didn’t go to plan Mike, still made for an interesting video though! I hope you have Apple Care for your laptop, that would have hopefully helped replace/repair that at least if it didn’t come good again. If it’s had water inside the laptop it’s not ideal as it might start to tarnish/corrode the internal circuits etc. Best thing to do is take them all apart and clean it all down with isopropyl alcohol, but easier said than done.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. It’s still going ok🤞

[@ensporium8857]

Adventure!

[@benw5691]

Did you save the laptop long term. You need dropbox to keep those files save. I learnt that the hard way.

[@OutbackMike]

Yep it was ok thanks.

[@brentanderson1130]

Welcome to NZ ….good luck!

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks! 😃

[@jerryb953]

HEY MIKE, I enjoy your adventures. Did you get to do the trip in the dugout canoe. If so where can I find it? sgtbiff U.S.M.C. OLYMPIA WASH.

[@OutbackMike]

Yep I did. I’m still editing the film. Got sidetracked writing a book about the adventure and going on a TV show etc.

[@bonggoblin2473]

We don't kill the big breeder eels or kina as they're called in Māori to help preserve the next generation, some of them are older than you. It was fate that the big bugger eel spat your hook! some of them are fully protected too depending on if it's a long fin or short fin eel. we love hunting and fishing but take conservation pretty seriously, even people who aren't indigenous still respect it.

[@OutbackMike]

Yeah I probably would have let the big one go for that reason. There was a medium size eel lurking around too that I was hoping to get.

[@bryanbadger6841]

G'day Mike. I guess I'm stating the obvious. But with the high ranges around, you have a huge catchment area. So with an average amount of rain, is all it takes for the rivers to come up. Btw did you say that you can't catch eels inside National Parks?? I've eaten eel caught inside a park. And as I was the only one where we were staying with my own smoker, I was able to deal with it in an appropriate manner. Also had enough to feed about 8-10 kayakers. Anyway, thanks again for sharing. And my morning coffee has got cold. Cheers.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks. Yeah. It’s a NZ national park restriction that says you cant take eels. It’s not a fisheries restriction so you can take them outside national parks. The rule is not advertised anywhere that I could find it. I only found out from a visitor centre when I told them what I was planning.

[@bryanbadger6841]

@@OutbackMike yeah the limit is 6 per fisherman per day. Thank you for the heads up.

[@seanalexander9531]

NZ is spectacular. Even if you don't catch an eel 😜

[@OutbackMike]

Yep!

[@tevoro12]

I would have thought you'd had enough of eels from your alone experience, Mike... 😅

[@OutbackMike]

I love them after that experience. They taste unbelievable when you’re starving.

[@matthewbourne3617]

Welcome to NZ 🇳🇿😉

[@ronniestringer7326]

Please take me on your next trip.

[@SantanaJohnson-pv4oq]

You should have won the aus alone that was so rigged well done

[@carolynevans8826]

P.s lol advice for a newbie 55yrs and wanting to gradually work my way up - see post above 😊 thanks

[@dianecranker6026]

I really needed this today!! 💙🕊

[@OutbackMike]

Cool. Glad you enjoyed it😊

[@GeoffreyBublitz-qb1mt]

Waka. Tasty bush hen .

[@OutbackMike]

😂

[@ShelleyRaskin]

Hey, good try, ya gave it a shot, I don't mean any disrespect but NZ doesn't take any prisoners, its a tough country and it helps to have some experience before ya jump into the deep stuff out here.

[@OutbackMike]

Yep. Particularly if the weather’s not in your favour.

[@humbertopaulosilveira3922]

Estou no Brasil e amo canoas de um tronco só de madeira do guaropovu

[@scottdawson1607]

Jesus, better you than me,you wouldn't get me anywhere near those rapids on that makeshift raft,and I'm a kiwi in welly

[@OutbackMike]

Yeah. I wasn’t that keen on it either. They are bloody dangerous.

[@samajier2566]

Good job....

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks

[@alastairdow4400]

The bird was a weka the fact hes walking around is due to 1080 a horrible chrmical but no other feasible product/technique exsists currently

[@selitoskuldakis2209]

Mike was on Alone Australia. He was robbed of his prize for the woke agenda. The contestant he went up against was given food when she had none. Mike was taken off the show for medical reasons that were non-existent. You did a ripper job Mike, well done!

[@a.p5578hg]

Best bait fr eel is your stinking socks u don't need fishing hooks it's curve teeth wl gt caught on the socks..try it😊😊😊

[@OutbackMike]

Cool. I’d read the Moari wove bags with bait in them that caught in their mouths. Sounds like the same idea.

[@lejkhoda5356]

love from India

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@townsville69]

I think someone's ripped off your vids. FD Adventure have your hour-long video in the Kimberly.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks for the heads up. I thinks that’s licensed usage of my feature Surviving the Outback.

[@Gexygee]

A bit of road kill for bait in a hinaki (net) ...u would have cause them all

[@theoutpost2189]

You need a packraft!

[@OutbackMike]

Yep

[@bjhughes845]

Mate, you took a laptop...? Next time ,take a bag of rice...

[@OutbackMike]

😂 good idea.

[@asya9493]

You took a laptop out there ???!

[@OutbackMike]

Only because I was working over there and had no option to leave it behind.

[@asya9493]

@@OutbackMike Pelican case is good in those places.

[@PianoPatterns123]

Why?

[@OutbackMike]

Why not.

[@PianoPatterns123]

@@OutbackMike Going out in the wilderness alone raises your risk for SHTF.

[@jonwallace7015]

Dam it

[@Mrsurvival77]

Very god 💪

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks.🙏

[@vojtahodek166]

Nice video, but who brings a laptop hiking with him? And then crying about it for 5 min of the video. No mater how many bags you wrap it in. It will get wet or damp in this weather condition.

[@OutbackMike]

I needed it for a job before hand.

[@jolarokicka3438]

Pozdrawia, Jolanta z daleka ,,,Canada...🐁🐁🐭🐭🐇🐇🐤🐤🐣🐣🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🪿🪿🐚🦑🦑🦐🦞🦀🧭🧭🧭🌐

[@kevinhoward7194]

An then tomany people in summer

[@dmurdock2619]

As vezes é melhor abortar uma missão, do que continuar e ter uma péssima surpresa no caminho. Olhe sempre pra frente! Abraços do Brasil.

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@PurWanto-c5x]

Terlalu banyak omong

[@wafrisha7167]

Nice video 📹, Malaysia 🇲🇾 ❤ to subscribe and support your channel

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@yhanniemei5745]

newsubsmike

[@OutbackMike]

Thanks 🙏

[@032254855]

Canterbury on the east coast of the south island is a lot nicer if you want to do this sort of thing a lot less sand fly's water might be a bit colder though

[@OutbackMike]

Good to know. Thanks