A New Book Release By Pat Barrett

See 'So Long South America' in the New Zealand Society of Authors 'New Books Bulletin' for October 2025. The Bulletin brings you the latest edition of their monthly New Books Bulletin, showcasing NZSA members published writing in the month of their release.

A New Book of Real Adventure in 1980's South America.

In May 1982 three young kiwi travellers set out to explore South America on their own terms with no other knowledge of this wild and mysterious continent than that gleaned from the travel 'bible' of the day - The South American Handbook.

Unbeknownst to them, their adventure began in a time that has been lost to the annals of travel history; a world with no internet and no instant communication.

A Wild Journey Across a Wild Continent

Their only way to communicate back home in that pre-digital age was through handwritten letters and occasional collect phone calls home.

The journey encompasses Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, as well as Chile, Brazil, and Paraguay by foot, bus, train, boat, truck-back and living with the locals.

To explore this marvellous, challenging, mysterious, and immensely rewarding continent...and to stay alive. To survive, for a journey of survival in a hostile Environmental is what it ultimately became.

Is a unique, often raw, funny, breathtaking, and in every sense, an endeavour in the best Kiwi tradition.

Read samples specially selected from the pages of So Long South America Here.

On the the Shelf

So Long: South America is on the shelf now in the following stores around the country. Tell your friends to head on it and buy a copy (or 2 !!) for Christmas gifts. Muchas gracias mi amigos! PS: If your local store is not listed please contact them and ask them to get it in! They have all been contacted and have my details. Other stores will be getting it in the New Year, but ask them to get it now. Also contact your local library too and ask them to request it! I am listed with their national purchasing hub - Wheelers!

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Where To Buy

About the Author

Pat Barrett

Pat has been a regular contributor to NZ Wilderness magazine since 1993, as well as The Christchurch Press (1985) , Dominion Post, Wellington, On Holiday, NZ Geographic, Kiwi Parent and Signature.He also writes for NZ Hunter and photographs for several calendar and postcard publishers and district tourism councils. He has written five books, produces a Scenic NZ Scripture quotes calendar each year, entitled ‘Let there be Light".

Titles by Pat Barrett;

Wilderness Walks Lewis Pass (Lifestyle Publishing 2002)
Canterbury Foothills & Forests (Shoal Bay Press 2002)
True South: Tramping Experiences of the South Island Hinterland (Reed 2003)
Nelson Marlborough Foothills & Coastal Regions (Longacre Press 2007)
Southern Lakes Tracks & Trails (Otago University Press 2012)
Canterbury Foothills & Forests 2nd Edition (Canterbury University Press 2014)

Recent Titles By Pat Barrett

Canterbury Foothills and Forests Second Edition

Nelson and Marlborough Walking and Tramping Guide

A Tale of Passionate Exploration

★★★★★

Barrett’s narrative is clearly fueled by a lifelong love of adventure—rooted in his family, guided by mentors, and expressed through rugged trekking in South America. His name is synonymous with pioneering outdoor experiences, drawing from a seasoned career as a guide and travel writer.

Immersive Visual Storytelling

The memoir is beautifully illustrated with Barrett's own photography and enriched by custom maps and illustrations. These visual elements capture the dramatic peaks of the Andes, the isolation of wilderness trails, and the intensity of on-the-ground exploration, adding a visceral dimension to the stories.

Elegance Meets Grit

Barrett’s storytelling balances vivid natural imagery with tangible, often demanding reality. Whether recounting high-altitude hardships or chance encounters with locals, he brings an honest voice. That authenticity—combined with reflection on personal legacy and human connection—lifts the memoir beyond mere travelogue into thoughtful reflection.

Highlights & Best For

For nature lovers: The photography and terrain-centered narration transport you into the wild.

For aspiring adventurers: It offers both practical and spiritual insight into travel and guiding.

For memoir enthusiasts: The mix of personal story, guided career, and historical anecdotes makes it both intimate and expansive.

So Long; South America excels as both a tribute to one man’s adventurous life and a call to explore beyond familiar borders. It offers a compelling blend of nature, travel, and introspection—especially fitting for readers passionate about outdoor exploration and cultural discovery.

Review by Mark Leishman

Other Testimonials

New Zealand

I was exhausted reading it! You tell a great yarn - with lots of information to support the story. An enjoyable read.

Maxine Dignan

Editor

New Zealand

So Long; South America is an absorbing read. Not content to stand on the precipice of the Andes, (Pat) Barrett breathes in, and is inspired by, the cultural milieu in which he moves. This backdrop is a kaleidoscope of grit, poverty, and incandescent beauty. I am left with the impression that Barrett recognises this engagement as, in fact, a gift – a means by which character is refined.