There’s something a little strange—but honestly kind of wonderful—about stepping into a place you’ve never been, without ever leaving your chair. Especially when that place is somewhere as wild and beautiful as the Omanawanui Track in New Zealand’s Waitākere Ranges.
Recently, I put together a 360° virtual walk of the trail. It’s a Slow TV experience—no commentary, no music, just the steady rhythm of footsteps, the occasional gust of wind pushing through the trees, and the distant, slightly mysterious calls of native birds. If you’ve never tried Slow TV before, you might be surprised by how absorbing it is. Or… maybe you won’t be. Some people take to it immediately; others find it a little too, well, slow. Personally, I think there’s something deeply satisfying about letting the world unfold at its own pace.
The Omanawanui Track itself is a bit of a climb. It winds up along rugged ridgelines, and every so often, you crest a hill and are just—well—stopped in your tracks. There’s the Manukau Harbour spread out in the distance, and the coastline fraying into mist. It’s breathtaking. And not just in the usual travel-brochure way either. It feels raw. Untouched, or at least almost untouched.
I should probably mention—pronouncing “Omanawanui” can feel a little intimidating at first. It’s actually pretty straightforward once you hear it: O – ma – na – wa – nu – i. It almost rolls off the tongue after a few tries. I practiced it quietly while editing the video, which, looking back, must have sounded a little odd to anyone nearby.
Walking the track virtually, you’ll see thick stands of native bush, low-growing shrubs clinging to the slopes, and if you look (and listen) carefully, the occasional bird flitting through the branches. There’s no big, cinematic moment. No dramatic soundtrack swelling behind a ridge reveal. Just the simple, unhurried pleasure of being immersed in nature, one step at a time.
And maybe that’s the real magic of it. There’s no rush to get anywhere. No finish line to cross. Just the trail, and you, and the option—at any moment—to look around and soak it all in. Sometimes I found myself pausing, mid-edit, just to watch the way the light moved across the hills. Maybe it’s silly, but those small moments felt almost as important as the grand vistas.
Of course, nothing can replace the feeling of your boots hitting real dirt. The salty edge to the air when you’re standing up high with the wind in your face. But in a way, this 360° experience captures something else: that slower, quieter part of walking in nature, when you’re not thinking about anything except where you are right now.
If you’re craving a little escape—maybe just a breather from a hectic day—I’d invite you to step onto the Omanawanui Track with me. No plane ticket needed. Just a willingness to take a slow walk through a beautiful, faraway place.