Our golden oldie Russell Brown may be 74 years old but it doesn't stop him from donning his pack and boots and taking on some of the country's toughest tramping terrain - every weekend.
If you can climb Mauao two or three times, then you may be able to keep up with a seasoned tramper like Russell Brown.
He's no lightweight when it comes to hiking. The 74-year-old has travelled the world tramping and taken on some tough tramping trips, just because he can.
Most of New Zealand's Nine Great Walks are a walk in the park for him too.
Make no mistake. Tramping is hard, muddy, hilly, wet, and horrible at times, but it is always rewarding, according to Mr Brown.
He has been an enthusiastic member of Tauranga's Pack N Boots Tramping Club since 1999. This is an informal club offering a programme of tramping adventures every weekend, with an emphasis on the Kaimai tracks.
"Some people think it's a walking group," he says. "It's not."
"We climb mountains. We cross rivers and it gets muddy."
The retired property developer has been on some hard tramps and has tramped for weeks overseas.
He has conquered the sprawling Coast to Coast England tramp in 16 days, he's taken on the breathtaking Rocky Mountains in Canada and completed numerous tramping trips to Australia, including the 135km Cape to Cape Track.
"But that's the thing though, you don't need to go overseas. We have such a beautiful country here. There are so many tracks, there are dozens of tracks in the Kaimais. We are so lucky to have the Kaimais right there. We do it for a fraction of the cost."
A week-long tramp through the Kaimanawa Forest Park in February, was his toughest New Zealand tramp yet.
Whirinaki Forest, south-east of Rotorua past Murupara, was no easy stroll either.
"Kaimanawas are very remote, very steep. You have to helicopter in or it takes a day to hike in ... they were some pretty long days."
One of the longer tramps Mr Brown has been on involved hauling three weeks' worth of food along the Leslie Karamea Track, a multi-terrain track in the Kahurangi National Park.
Tired trampers are able to take refuge in basic huts provided by the Department of Conservation (DoC), peppered throughout the New Zealand bush.
Maneuvering through dense bush and over rocks, carrying a massive pack for days, may sound exhausting, but there's nothing like it, Mr Brown says.
"It's hard, it's hilly and then you get to your hut and soak up the fire and put your meal on ... you think you've died and gone to heaven."
Even in a DOC hut.
Tramping tends to appeal to older people who wish to stay active. But it's also a very economic pastime, he says.
"Most retired people are on a fixed income. All you need is gas money and when you get there - that's it. You're off."
Do you know of any senior citizens making a difference in the community and to others? Email rebecca.cawston@bayofplentytimes.co.nz