Tramping Break

We all need a hobby to escape the stress and anxious day-to-days we live in, something to use as a hopeful defence against the daunting future. For Jess and many of those close to her, this hobby is tramping. Tramping Break is a student-led documentary that aims to take you through the pre-carved trails within the bushes of Tāmaki Makaurau and let you experience the freedom of the bush from the comfort of your own home. Although the amazing escape of the bush is free, we still need your support for other aspects of the filming process such as catering and transportation. So we humbly ask for your help to bring this story of freedom, escape and hope for the future out from the wilderness.

My name is Mia and I am the Producer of this Tramping Break. Working alongside Rachael , the Director and Matt , the Cinematographer, we are 3rd year AUT students looking to complete our degree with our final Screen Production Project.  We enjoy the outdoors, and enjoy making films, so why not put the two together! 

The money will be used for covering transport cost, looking after our crew with food and drinks, especially with hiking. It is important to look after our team as much as the environment so we want to ensure we keep everyone safe and healthy to carry out our tramp. 

Tramping Break is a powerful reminder of the need to pause, breathe, and reconnect — with nature, with loved ones, and with ourselves. Following a mother–daughter duo on the trails of Aotearoa, the film transforms a simple tramp into a metaphor for carrying life’s burdens, finding rest, and rediscovering hope.

This story deserves to be seen because it invites viewers to pause and reflect on their own journeys. For New Zealand audiences, it celebrates tramping as a cultural and environmental treasure, connecting personal wellbeing with the whenua. For wider audiences, it offers an intimate portrait of family bonds and shared resilience, reminding us that the challenges we carry are lighter when shared and that the trail always leads toward light and renewal.

This documentary matters because it highlights the healing role of nature and the importance of balance in a world weighed down by stress and anxiety. It should be seen because its story is universal — inspiring audiences to reflect, to connect, and to take their own break, however they need it.