Wilderness Magazine has revealed the winners of microchallenges 19 through 21 in its ongoing Walk1200km programme, a year-long walking challenge that has New Zealanders racking up kilometres on trails, beaches and city paths across the country.
The idea is simple: registered participants aim to walk 1,200 kilometres over the course of a year, with regular microchallenges sprinkled through the magazine and online to keep things interesting. Each mini-challenge asks walkers to complete a themed task or share a moment from their kilometres — and completing them earns something money can't buy: an exclusive Walk1200km badge that's reserved purely for participants who put in the effort.
For challenges 19 to 21, the stand-out effort in each category wins a special prize sourced from the programme's partner brands. Winners need to act quickly to claim their loot: the magazine is asking them to email a photo of themselves holding the relevant print issue of Wilderness to the editorial team. It's a low-tech but charming verification step — proof you're a real reader with a real mailbox, not just a keyboard entrant.
Worth noting for anyone tempted to enter: the microchallenges are only open to registered Walk1200km participants, so signing up to the main challenge is the entry ticket. The programme runs through the magazine's community channels, and the badge collection gives walkers a tangible record of the year beyond the odometer numbers.
For travellers, the appeal here goes beyond the swag. Walk1200km is a good nudge to explore New Zealand on foot at whatever pace suits you — it doesn't demand alpine heroics, just consistency. A kilometre or two on the local walkway each day adds up surprisingly fast, and the community angle means you're covering ground alongside thousands of others doing the same. If you're planning a walking-focused trip to New Zealand, following the challenge is a neat way to discover lesser-known tracks and urban routes recommended by locals, not just the headline-grabbing Great Walks.
