Southern Wanderer: A Habitat Restoration Pilot's Life

Southern Wanderer is an account of the many and varied aspects of Peter Garden’s life and the influences that lead to his becoming a world-renowned helicopter pilot and exponent of international and national predator eradication projects. His early life in rural Southland and Otago provided an outdoor adventure playground on his doorstep.

Peter’s enjoyment of roaming began at an early age and the urge to “see what’s over the next ridge” has never diminished. His extensive knowledge of his environment lead to Peter being asked to help with local search and rescue operations which became a lifetime interest. Deer hunting became Peter’s passion when he was a teenager and was soon combined with four and two-wheeled vehicles. In 1975 a local businessman asked Peter to train as a helicopter pilot and this was his “golden opportunity”. He had taken his first flight at four during a Southland Aero Club postwar aviation promotion. That flight began a passion for aviation and when Peter eventually flew an aircraft himself, he knew for certain the sky was where he wanted to be, and set his heart on a career in aviation.