Adventures with Emilie

Taking on Te Araroa trail in 138 life-changing days

Victoria Bruce

$35

Paperback

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English

Penguin Books (NZ)
22 August 2023

Memoirs; Walking, hiking, trekking; Travel & holiday

"A mother and daughter's wild journey to rediscover the wonder and restorative power of nature.

""I'm here because I want to test the very limits of my own resilience and reassure myself that no matter what's happened to me, I'm not ready to lie down and die.""

In 2021, Victoria Bruce quit her corporate job, packed up her life and embarked on Te Araroa trail with her seven-year-old daughter, Emilie. On the 3000-kilometre journey that traverses the length of Aotearoa, the duo faced Covid lockdowns, the harsh elements of New Zealand's backcountry and even a near-death experience.

A keen tramper, Victoria's drive to complete the walk was to take time out, create lasting memories with Emilie and reconnect with nature. But it was also a way for her to face her past, and the events that led to her post-traumatic stress disorder.

In this remarkable book, Victoria interweaves her experiences on the trail with reflections on her painful childhood, her time in state care, recovering from addiction and assault, becoming a mother, and escaping everyday life to finally confront her demons.

Powerful and evocative, this is a story about the healing power of nature, our wondrous unique environment, the deep bond between mother and daughter, and survival - both in the wilderness and in life itself.

Praise for ADVENTURES WITH EMILIE-

'Victoria Bruce brings a fresh voice to adventure storytelling, yet her honest, often raw account extends beyond the genre.' Whitney Oliver, New Zealand Mountain Film & Book Festival

'In Adventures with Emilie, author Victoria Bruce effectively transports the reader to join her and her daughter Emilie on their incredible journey through Te Araroa. Though the story takes place in the New Zealand wilderness, the themes strike a chord universally for all who open the book and embark on this expedition.' Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race, No Opportunity Wasted

'Te Araroa Trust is proud to recommend Adventures with Emilie as a great reflection of the powerful journey Te Araroa can be for walkers. Victoria's writing has captured the essence of Te Araroa and the story of walking with Emilie resonates so well with many who have experienced the benefit and sense of achievement from walking the long pathway that is Te Araroa.' Matt Claridge, Executive Director, Te Araroa Trust

'The book is a wonderful testimony to nature as therapy. Victoria emerges at the end of the trail with hope for the future, knowing that walking the trail brought her one step closer towards sustained wellbeing.' Gillian Candler, award-winning nature writer

'I expected the parallels with Cheryl Strayed's Wild, which are there. However, I was surprised that it reminded me just as much of Stephanie Foo's What My Bones Know. Bruce writes evocatively about New Zealand's grandeur, beauty, and identity.' Tim Mathis, Author and Adventurer, Travel, Adventure and Other Coping Skills"

By: Victoria Bruce
Imprint: Penguin Books (NZ)
Country of Publication: New Zealand
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 155mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781776950478
ISBN 10: 177695047X
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 22 August 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Victoria Bruce is a keen tramper and writer. Her popular social media and blog accounts Adventures with Emilie documented her and her young daughter's journey walking New Zealand's Te Araroa trail. Victoria is a media communications advisor with a background in journalism and nursing. She has worked for news agencies in Australia and South East Asia, including The Australian Associated Press, Myanmar Times and Fairfax's Sydney Morning Herald. Since completing Te Araroa, Victoria and Emilie continue to regularly escape into the wilderness. Together they love exploring Aotearoa's many walking trails, learning about the environment, conservation and doing their part to care for our beautiful country. Born in New Zealand, Victoria grew up in Australia before returning to NZ as an adult. She currently lives in Dunedin, New Zealand. Adventures with Emilie is her first book.