Affirm Press

Winner 2021 Best Travel Book, Australian Society of Travel Writers Awards for Excellence.

What would move you to ditch your life and take off into the wild for five months?

For Laura Waters, it took the implosion of a toxic relationship and a crippling bout of anxiety. Armed with maps and her life in a backpack, she set out to walk the untamed landscapes of the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, 3000 kilometres of raw, wild, mountainous terrain winding from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island. But when her walking partner dropped out on the second day, she was faced with a choice: abandon the journey, or face her fears and continue on alone?

She chose to walk on. For five months, Laura battled not only treacherous terrain and elements but also the demons of self-doubt and anxiety. As the kilometres fell behind her, nature did its work, stripping away her identity and guiding her towards a new way of being. At the end of Te Araroa, it was the hard-earned insights into the power of nature, emotional wellbeing and fulfilling relationships - with others as well as with herself - that were Laura’s greatest accomplishments. She emerged rewilded, and it transformed her life.

Bewildered is available at all good bookstores.