Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category. I was simply pushing my way through grass as high as my shoulders, falling into boggy marshes that went up to my thighs and bush bashing my way through gorse bushes, which are basically just super sturdy, giant prickle bushes. Tommy joined me for the day and we had a ball – jumping over puddles and traversing our way around muddy pits. The terrain wasn’t inspiring. What Te Araroa offers is a snapshot view, at walking pace, of the best of New Zealand. We talked through what we should do – wait or go – but all agreed was a no brainer to wait. The straight-line distance from Cape Reinga to Bluff is 1,475 km (917 mi) , but the Te Araroa stretches roughly 3,000 km (1,864 mi), varying in distance when sections are upgraded or otherwise changed. Here are my top-tips for planning the hike. I somehow managed to lunge forward onto a shallow bed of rocks about 1.5m in front of me. Rivers rose, roads flooded. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. Te Araroa means “The Long Path” and so it is. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. I've run 3,000km across NZ in 66 days; cycled the length of the UK and travelled through Europe and the USA. Even the 1309 km of the South Island part that this website concentrates on. About the mountains. Discover remote villages, magical kauri forests, breathtaking volcanic scenery and bustling cities on New Zealand’s Te Araroa trail. It is situated 175 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Tokata and Awatere. Friends had laid out signs for me with silly quotes which made me laugh. On the Te Araroa, your feet are wet a lot of the time, in fact in the South Island they will be wet for the majority of the time! It was poorly marked so I was constantly second guessing if I was going the right way. Then Laura and Phil met us at Lake Hawea. Christmas Day was lovely. I was completely drenched and frustrated. We were literally crashing our way through a wall of trees and bushes. Bliss. First Things First You need to understand me and my particular way of hiking and resupplying before we go any further into my resupply strategy on Te Araroa. This allows for cooler late spring and early summer temperatures in the North Island and means trekkers reach the colder, higher-altitude South Island in the mid-to-late summer, when there's less likely to be snow in the mountains, and the rivers will be lower. Stretching 3,000 km from Cape Reinga, at the top of the North Island, to Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island, the TA is defined by its challenging terrain, unpredictable weather and navigational obstacles, and just may be the toughest of the world’s major thru-hikes. Huge chunks of the track had collapsed into the river which sent us bush bashing around them. We mark the end of the Te Araroa trail with a hike on the Foveaux Walkway along the coast, right along the edge of the Southern Ocean. Te Araroa is the birthplace of noted Māori politician Sir Āpirana Ngata. It is an incredible gesture and quite a lot of work. It is also here where I joyfully picked up our friends, Nicki and Mat. The views were particularly beautiful with horses running in the dying sunlight. Te Araroa is the birthplace of Sir Apirana Ngata, who made it his life’s goal to uplift the Māori race spiritually, culturally and economically. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet. Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss. South Island Te Araroa Trail In August 2019, my wife Jenny died a year after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The trail is a mix of tracks, including wilderness tracks, paths through paddocks, beaches, roads, and highways, as well as a section which is a river and must be kayaked. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. Our lodge, built at the turn of the century, is accessible only by boat. We fly to Queenstown and head out for Te Araroa hikes above treeline in the Mototapu Valley, the perfect place for vistas across the snow-capped Southern Alps. After this stunning and positive start to the South Island, we then went into the notorious Richmond Ranges. About the river crossings. I ate a sandwich, put my pack back on and went on to tackle the next four crossings. Just as we were getting ready to tackle this section, the sky opened up and we got torrential rain. It has a lot of road and farm walking. In other words, I got my mojo back. The schedule says four days but we agreed that we would try to finish in three so we could have Christmas Day off! It was a pretty good tonic for my nerves and another great unplanned fun memory. A Trail Angel is someone who provides an awesome service to a weary hiker, whether it be a spot to camp for the night, a hot drink, a shower or a lift in their car. The 3000km pathway known as Te Araroa (‘The Long Pathway’) stretches across Te Ika-a-Māui/the North Island and Te Wai Pounamu/the South Island. Overview. I tackled the Two Thumb Range by myself and ran along the most beautiful single track which had views over the crystal blue Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook. Day 63 was one of my favourite days. Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. We also covered some of the most beautiful sections of the trail – Breast Hill, Montotapu Ranges, Arrowtown. Finally, Melissa flew in from NYC as a surprise. Day 1 was easy. Basically, it wasn't a track. The only resupplies needed on the South Island were to St Arnaud and Arthur’s Pass. On our South Island journey, this famous trail brings us from the coastal forests of Queen Charlotte Sound to Fiordland National Park, where the Te Araroa meets the Southern Ocean. 66 days. Sign me up to receive your Enewsletter, announcing new adventures and special offers. In the north huts are way more common than found in the North Island section. We pulled ourselves together and got across using the river crossing technique. I simply wanted to get it done. We went up and over Travers Saddle and made it to the West Sabine Hut in good time. We arrived at 2:30pm and had a beer in hand by 3:30pm at the campsite. As far as once in a lifetime trips go, tramping Te Araroa is spectacularly transformative. There are many restaurants, cafes and take away food options. 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