Te Araroa

The Te Araroa (the long pathway) is a 3,000km trail across New Zealand. Check out my gear list and daily trail blog as I hiked the TA in 90 days.

Here’s a brief overview of my trek from day 1 to 90:


Hiking from Cape Reinga to Bluff is no easy task. In November 2019 I began my journey across New Zealand. In 90 days I walked (and canoed) 3,000km. Find the complete chronicles of my trek below as well as my gear list detailing what I packed for this incredible journey!

We’re gonna give it our best shot!

WHAT TO PACK

A journey of this length requires exactly the right gear and nothing extra! Check out my comprehensive gear list and video showing every item I brought with me on the trail:

GEAR LIST โ€“ What to Pack and Why


WHAT TO EAT

Check out my video detailing what I ate on the trail and my recommendations for what food to pack:

FOOD RESUPPLY
I encourage anyone with questions about food resupply to check out this awesome, comprehensive guide to resupply points on the trail and how to mail food.


TRAIL JOURNAL

Follow along on my 90-day journey across New Zealand. From towering mountains and raging rivers to bustling cities and grazing sheep, I crossed the country one step at a time!

NORTH ISLAND

One Week Out

1โ€“Ninety Mile Beach
Days 1-4: Cape Reinga to Ahipara

2โ€“Northland Forests
Days 5-8: Ahipara to Kerikeri

3โ€“Bay of Islands
Days 9-11: Kerikeri to Whananaki

4โ€“Beaches & Estuaries
Days 12-14: Whananaki to Waipu Beach

5โ€“Northland to Auckland
Days 15-17: Waipu Beach to Stillwater

6โ€“Auckland
Days 18-22: Stillwater to Mercer

7โ€“Waikato River
Days 23-26: Mercer to Pirongia Forest

8โ€“Days 27-28: Pirongia Forest
Days 27-28: Pirongia Forest to Te Kuiti

9โ€“Timber Trail
Days 29-32: Te Kuiti to Taumarunui

10โ€“42 Traverse
Days 33-34: Taumarunui to Tongariro Alpine Crossing

11โ€“Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Day 35: Tongariro Alpine Crossing to Mangahuia Campground

12โ€“Fisher Track
Days 36-37: Mangahuia Campground to Whakahoro

13โ€“Whanganui River
Days 38-41: Whakahoro to Whanganui

14โ€“Halfway to Bluff
Days 42-45: Whanganui to Mangahao Road

15โ€“Tararua Ranges
Days 46-47: Mangahao Road to Parawai Lodge

16โ€“Kapiti Coast to Wellington
Days 48-50: Parawai Lodge to Wellington

SOUTH ISLAND

17โ€“Queen Charlotte Track
Days 51-55: Wellington to Davies Bay Camp

18โ€“Pelorus River
Days 56-57: Davies Bay Camp to Rocks Hut

19-Richmond Range Part 1
Days 58-59: Rocks Hut to Mid Wairoa Hut

20โ€“Richmond Range Part 2
Days 60-61: Mid Wairoa Hut to St. Arnaud

21โ€“Waiau Pass
Days 62-63: St. Arnaud to Caroline Bivvy

22โ€“Harpers Pass to Goat Pass
Days 64-68: Caroline Bivvy to Bealey

23โ€“Rakaia & Rangitata
Days 69-72: Bealey to Rangitata River

24โ€“Stag Saddle
Days 73-74: Rangitata River to Tekapo

25โ€“Lakes and Canals
Days 75-76: Tekapo to Lake Ohau

26โ€“Lakes Hawea & Wanaka
Days 77-79: Lake Ohau to Glendhu Bay Campground

27โ€“Motatapu Valley to Queenstown
Days 80-81: Glendhu Bay Campground to Queenstown

28โ€“Mavora Walkway
Days 82-84: Queenstown to Aparima Hut

29โ€“Southland
Days 85-88: Aparima Hut to Colac Bay

30โ€“Bluff
Days 89-90: Colac Bay to Bluff


TOM’S HIKE

The Te Araroa isn’t for everyone. My hiking mate, Tom, attempted the trail with me. His journey was vastly different from mine. I compiled this comical yet enlightening video of the realities of thru-hiking across New Zealand!


VIDEO CHRONICLES

Hereโ€™s the playlist of all the videos from the trail:


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