A Life on Gorge River
A unique story of one of New Zealand’s most isolated families.

Robert Long lives in a hut two days walk south of Haast in South Westland and has lived here for nearly thirty years. His family — wife Catherine, and children Christan (17) and Robin (14) — live with him in isolation. Catherine has been at Gorge River for twenty years and the kids all their lives. Their only contact with the outside world is a helicopter or plane once a month,  two trips a year out of Gorge River and on average 50 trampers a year who come through the region to the DOC hut at Gorge River where Robert has become caretaker.

This is the inspiring and truly impressive story of how and why Robert — known locally as ‘Beansprout’ — chose to live ‘outside’ society and came to live at Gorge River. I founbd his story riveting, couldn't put it down.

It is the inspiring tale of one man’s decision to ‘drop out’ of capitalist society and successfully establish a lifestyle most New Zealanders can’t even imagine, harking back to the days of the earliest pioneers, living self-sufficiently and forging close bonds with the natural environment.

Robert is a highly intelligent, articulate author and also a talented artist. He is pictured painting below.

How did he come to the decision to drop out of medical school and begun a quest to find his place in the world?
Read this entertaining and amazing story and find out.

A life on Gorge River
Robert Long
RRP: $39.99
Publication: 04 June 2010
Random House New Zealand

Added Saturday 5 June:
Life of bush family 'Beansprout'
Otago Daily Times
By Mark Price on Sat, 5 Jun 2010
Robert Long talks to reporter Mark Price, worth a read.