About Me
Hi I’m Chris Long, a wild kiwi boy who grew up in the wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island West Coast. My home nestled next to the ocean at Gorge River, 50km, or 2 days walk from the nearest road.
My family is officially the most isolated family in New Zealand and we have had quite a lot of publicity over the last few years as people become more interested in our alternative secluded lifestyle. One documentary on my family made by English Adventurer Ben Fogle has been shown of National Geographic all around the world.
My family and the view from my home, as far as you can see in the distance there is no roads or other civilisation
Gorge River is still my home at heart. However when I was 17 I left to go to school and gradually over the last last 7 years my sights have widened and I now spend about 8 months a year exploring all corners of the globe. Its safe to say the world is a small place to me now.
I have now traveled to over 50 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, Australia and my favorite of all, Antarctica and The High Arctic.
Who would have thought of that coming from a wild bush boy growing up in the jungle!!
Growing up in isolation in New Zealand
Originally I grew up in the wilds of South Westland, New Zealand, 2 days walk from the nearest road. My family is known as the most isolated family in the country and we try to live as sustainable as possible, away from cars, TVs, shopping centers, roads and the general hassle and bustle of modern life.
We grow a large garden and hunt and fish for our food. Food we cant grow or hunt here is flown in once a month by small fixed wing aircraft. I did home schooling and correspondence school (by mail) before leaving home and attending a “normal” school in Wanaka for one year. Every 2-3 years we would visit family in Brisbane, Australia and by the age of 17 I had been to Australia 7 times. Both my parents had travelled the world when they were in their 20’s so it was only natural for me to do the same.
Click here to see more about my family living at Gorge River
Both Mum and Dad have written books about our lifestyle and if you want to know more you can buy their books straight form us below.
Growing up in such a wild and rugged place and in a unique way has given me a range of amazing skills and experiences that can take and use anywhere in the world.
Not many people can be comfortable in the remotest wilderness as well as on a street in the biggest craziest cities of the world.
I feel I’m the luckiest person alive!
My Travelling Lifestyle
Since 2011 I have been working and travelling all over the world. I have travelled to over 60 countries on 6 continents and taught extreme survival skills in Antarctica, worked as a dog musher with huskies in Tromso, Arctic Norway, taught outdoor education in China among many other places. I have easily experienced more in the last few years than most people do in a lifetime.
Living on the road and changing locations has become a way of life for me and if I stay in one place too long I start looking for new places to explore!
My First Trip To Antarctica
My first trip overseas by myself was to this day my craziest experience of all. I got offered a job working on a Russian Icebreaker ship leaving in 4 days for Antarctica on a 2 month expedition. I was 19 and my job consisted of working up to 16 hour days in the galley (kitchen) for 2 months straight for $4 an hour. No days off, and very little down time.
I was sea sick and tired but the only option was to do your job! However I also got the chance to go ashore onto this incredible continent and sit on the ice next to penguins! Some days working 16 hours straight while seasick and exhausted were probably the worst days I will ever experience in my life. And in contrast the moments sitting on the ice surrounded by an Emperor penguin colony will always be some my most special memories.
One highlight was the “polar Plunge” in -1.9 degree water
And another was sitting on frozen ocean with emperor penguins and their chicks
How I Earn Money Along The Way
I have done many different jobs around the world to earn money to fund my travels. My favourite has been working in Antarctica as a Field Trainer st New Zealand’s Scott Base, a science research station in the Ross Sea region. I did two summers there and my job consisted of teaching extreme outdoor survival courses, doing field safety for scientists and sometime leading science expeditions to some really remote locations in Antarctica.
This video is from a typical day at work when a bunch of Emperor Penguins came to visit us!
I only ever do jobs that will preferably give me an amazing experience while working, or allow me to live in a really cool place.
In 2019 and 2020 I worked as a dog musher in Arctic Norway with husky dogs through a long cold dark Arctic winter.
Welcome to Tromso Villmarkssenter, lets meet some husky dogs!
I also earn money online through my YouTube videos and online store on this website. So if you buy any of my products you are in a way supporting my channel. This type of Eccommerce is becoming increasingly popular with travellers like myself and allows you to earn a passive income anywhere in the world.
Here you can see my line of extremely warm possum hats made at Gorge River designed for Antarctica!
Why Should You Follow @WildkiwiAdventurer
In 2015 I decided it was time to start sharing my lifestyle, both living in isolation at Gorge River and travelling. I began blogging, Instagram, and started making YouTube videos of the incredible places I have worked and travelled to. I love contrasts in life and have videos from expeditions to the wildest corners of Antarctica, living off the grid in New Zealand, through to exploring the busiest streets of some of the worlds craziest cities.
It is incredibly satisfying to show what I do to my followers and I have been able to inspire others to search for more in life than just the normal 9 to 5 lifestyle that most people come to except.
For me I could never live that sort of life. Life is too short to waste doing things I dont enjoy.
I have set out to experience as many things as possible in my life and that’s what I will continue doing.
If you would like to follow my adventures you can subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Instagram and Facebook Page by clicking the link below, or if you would like me to email you enter send me your email address below!
Absolutely loved reading your book. Thank you so much. Totally inspirational. Just wanted to keep reading.
Hi Chris,
We are in Picton and just finished reading your book – what a delightful read. You are right, you are young to write a biography, but having packed so much adventure into your life so far were most justified in doing so and it was a riveting read way more than expected. I’d be delighted to be kept up to date with your exploration via email.
Warm regards,
Ian
Hey Chris I wanted to know when is your birthday
Hyey brother i really respect you and your family from my heart. This is the best about page i read ever on internet. Will kepp following you closely on instagram and hope we meet one day when u travel to India (i can take care of your stay)
Arjun
Love from India. Kerala
they say that isolation is freedom. I really admire and envy you for all the learnings in life. Thanks for inspiring people
Thank you!
hi christ, i always love to find in youtube about isolation live and one i found about your family live in newzealand, and also find your blog, what an inspiration live, hope you can travel to my country one day, Indonesia especially jave Jogyakarta , it will love to show you around , cheer pita from Indonesia
Thank you very much. I have been to Indonesia a couple if times and really liked it!
Hey there Chris! We have enjoyed reading your blog since you left our house. It was an absolute pleasure to have you stay for a night. Please give our details to any of your friends or family passing through Twizel. They would be most welcome. Our 14 year old son Tom has been inspired by your journey. We will follow your adventures with interest. Take care, Adrienne, Alan, Tom, and Fred.
Hi there! Sorry about the slow reply, I have been super flat out since I got home. I really hope your kids can be inspired by some of my adventures and that they will want to travel the world when they are a bit older. As well as the fact that they have already travelled a lot! If they want any advice about anything please dont hesitate to ask anytime!
Hey! Thank you! Sorry about the slow reply I have been crazy busy. Im actually now in Antarctica working at Scott Base!