“feel the earth beneath [your] bare feet. The beach and bush beckon…”
New Zealand is a country synonymous with epic adventure. Over the years, countless sea kayakers, climbers and alpine trampers have attempted journeys across its stunning landscape, and many more dream of following in their tracks. In Epic, the stories of a dozen memorable Kiwi explorers are brought together to form a tribute to the spirit of adventure.
It is difficult to comprehend the scale of the journeys of the featured explorers, but author Ray Salisbury brings them to life with detailed maps, backstories, and narratives that fail to hide his own passion for adventure. From Graeme Dingle and Jill Tremain attempting the first traverse of the Southern Alps, to the nineteen-year-old ‘wildboy’ who lived off the land as he paddled, walked and swam 8000km of coastline, this is a showcase of the intrepid.
Seasoned explorer or armchair traveller, prepare to be awed and inspired by Epic. It doesn’t shy away from the realities of boundary-pushing adventure, with accounts of physical and mental battles, near-disasters, and sadly several mentions of those lost their lives in the wild. But with deep lows come impossible highs, in this exploration of what makes an epic adventurer.
In a world full of distractions, Epic is a reminder to get out there and experience the wild, stunning places of our planet – they are waiting.
Ray Salisbury began a lifelong passion for photography and tramping in the early 1970s. He was introduced to camping, hiking and kayaking by the Boys’ Brigade. In 1977 he walked the Heaphy Track in Northwest Nelson with his father. Later, he qualified with a degree in graphic design and photography at AUT in Auckland.
During the 1990s Ray began leading trips into the backcountry, accompanied by his friends. These private adventures culminated in a solo 80-day traverse of the North Island mountain ranges, starting at East Cape and ending at Cape Egmont. This epic formed the narrative of his first book, Cape to Cape, self-published in 1997.
Prior to entering teacher’s college in 2000, Ray was assistant editor of Wilderness magazine for a year. Since then, he has been a regular contributor. When Ray and his wife moved to Nelson, he joined the Nelson Tramping Club, becoming editor of the club journal for a decade.
In 2020, Ray’s second book was published by Potton and Burton. Titled Tableland – the history behind Mt Arthur, the book is a social history of the eastern part of Kahurangi National Park. In 2022 he self-published a picture book on Nelson with a concise historical overview woven through the pages.
Ray currently works as a photographer, videographer and writer as well as teaching photography. He continues to write about epic adventures in New Zealand.
Australian Country Magazine
“Author and photographer Ray Salisbury has a life-long love of New Zealand’s backcountry. In this book, he chronicles some of the amazing journeys people have undertaken across the length and breadth of his home country ”
Public Service News
“Here’s your chance to learn exactly what it takes to mastermind a digital nomad lifestyle in a post-pandemic world from someone who has been living the life for more than seven years! (Untethered) presents a vision of travel that is both thought-provoking and humbling, an experience not of finding yourself, but of losing yourself and becoming immersed in the places where you find yourself.)”
Books+Publishing
“A fast-paced dramatic account of authentic experiences of survival and endurance”
Age Concern
From the first traverse of the Southern Alps, to the nineteen-year-old who travelled 8000km of coastline, Epic is a testament to endurance, and a reminder to get out there and experience the wild, stunning places of our planet.
Motorhomes, Caravans & Destinations
This awesome read is a timely reminder that New Zealand offers much to celebrate and explore – in your own way and own time.
Grownups NZ
“In a world full of distractions, Epic is a reminder to get out there and experience the wild, stunning places of our planet – they are waiting.”
