Geoff Spearpoint
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FMC Nominee
Geoff began tramping in the Tararua Ranges, spending his first night in a hut (Cone) during 1966 when he was 15. He joined the Hutt Valley Tramping Club and later the New Zealand Alpine Club (and is now a life member of both) following a passion for transalpine tramping and climbing trips. Initially trained in microbiology, he later worked for Mt Aspiring National Park and spent many years in prepress in the Print Industry.
His first book on tramping – Waking to the Hills – was published in 1986, and has since published various articles for club journals, Wilderness Magazine as well as being the editor for Moirs Guide North ‘The Otago Southern Alps' (a tramping guide to the area between Mt Cook and the Hollyford). His other books include 'The Canterbury Westland Alps', a climbing and transalpine guide (co-authored with Yvonne Cook and major books on New Zealand's backcountry hut network with Shaun Barnett and Rob Brown (‘Shelter from the Storm’ and ‘A Bunk for the Night’).
Whilst editing Moir’s Guide North, Geoff became increasingly aware and concerned at the lack of maintenance of huts, tracks and other infrastructure in the back country. This led him to advocate for those facilities, and ultimately to simply start doing the maintenance himself, along with other like minded people. In 2017 Geoff was awarded a QSM for services to outdoor recreation. His latest book 'The Great Unknown – mountain journeys in the Southern Alps' was published in 2019 and celebrates a lifetime of adventures into New Zealand's most remote backcountry.
A member of the Peninsula Tramping Club, Geoff lives at Birdlings Flat on the Canterbury Coast.
Geoff began tramping in the Tararua Ranges, spending his first night in a hut (Cone) during 1966 when he was 15. He joined the Hutt Valley Tramping Club and later the New Zealand Alpine Club (and is now a life member of both) following a passion for transalpine tramping and climbing trips. Initially trained in microbiology, he later worked for Mt Aspiring National Park and spent many years in prepress in the Print Industry.
His first book on tramping – Waking to the Hills – was published in 1986, and has since published various articles for club journals, Wilderness Magazine as well as being the editor for Moirs Guide North ‘The Otago Southern Alps' (a tramping guide to the area between Mt Cook and the Hollyford). His other books include 'The Canterbury Westland Alps', a climbing and transalpine guide (co-authored with Yvonne Cook and major books on New Zealand's backcountry hut network with Shaun Barnett and Rob Brown (‘Shelter from the Storm’ and ‘A Bunk for the Night’).
Whilst editing Moir’s Guide North, Geoff became increasingly aware and concerned at the lack of maintenance of huts, tracks and other infrastructure in the back country. This led him to advocate for those facilities, and ultimately to simply start doing the maintenance himself, along with other like minded people. In 2017 Geoff was awarded a QSM for services to outdoor recreation. His latest book 'The Great Unknown – mountain journeys in the Southern Alps' was published in 2019 and celebrates a lifetime of adventures into New Zealand's most remote backcountry.
A member of the Peninsula Tramping Club, Geoff lives at Birdlings Flat on the Canterbury Coast.
