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. We had conquered the Richmond Ranges and next up was Nelson Lakes, including the mighty Waiu Pass. I had run 20kms extra the penultimate day to make sure my last day was just a cruisey marathon. It has a lot of road and farm walking. Gradually, things got better. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet. South Island Te Araroa Trail In August 2019, my wife Jenny died a year after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Thankfully I teamed up with one, Mark, to do the final river crossing. We boarded the Interisland Ferry a few hours after I completed the North Island. 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. Then 16kms on a State Highway which was very popular with logging trucks. 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. 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. I had my own little entourage and they made the whole experience super positive. If you have only limited time, the South Island is the more spectacular, more back country part of the total Te Araroa Trail. This website is a resource for trampers to find help along Te Araroa … To get to the next hut in would hopefully meet another hiker so I had someone to talk to. Friends had laid out signs for me with silly quotes which made me laugh. Foot care is SO important. This long route goes from North to South and gives you, excited hikers, a ve Our route largely follows the spine of the Southern Alps, crossing skyline ridges to alpine lakes and through native forests, farmlands, and tussock country. I teamed up with some local runners to take on the mighty Goat Pass. Walk it all, walk it in your lifetime, walk New Zealand - walk Te Araroa! Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category. This area is a fine introduction to the richness of New Zealand’s lush native forest. Lucky for us, this terrain was similar to what we have back home – mountains, mountains and more mountains – so we felt like we were in our element. Depart via Queenstown on Day 14. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Bad because we had to do 7 crossings of the Wairo River, which was flowing incredibly fast. Nicki and Mat left on Boxing Day and I headed out for 3 days by myself. What Te Araroa offers is a snapshot view, at walking pace, of the best of New Zealand. I didn’t want to go. As I rounded the final bend, I got emotional for a second but then I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. We head to Nelson Lakes National Park, named for the 16 lovely alpine lakes cradled high in this beautiful stretch of the rugged Southern Alps. 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. Finally, it was 7km across farmland onto a coastal track to the Bluff signpost. The Pass was basically a huge scree slope, which wasn’t too bad as it made for consistent footing. We continued up, taking in Blue Lake and Lake Constance which have some of the purest water in the world. After this stunning and positive start to the South Island, we then went into the notorious Richmond Ranges. In Nov 2019, I ran the Te Araroa Trail, from Cape Reinga to Bluff in New Zealand. Nicki and I were on a mission. New Zealand’s long-distance hiking trail, the Te Araroa, connects the North Island and South Island by way of spectacular parks and reserves. We talked through what we should do – wait or go – but all agreed was a no brainer to wait. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures. The following day we went for it. I took rest days for rest, injury, fu… I summited the highest point of the trail. Super fun. Then I was on my own. Tommy tried to console me without much luck. The next day, we were knackered. The North Island route is just over 1,600 km long, and the South Island just under 1,400 km. Then Alex joined us. 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. Find a Trail Angel on Te Araroa – New Zealand’s Trail. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill Lucy. Te Araroa is New Zealand’s premier long-distance hiking trail, stretching 3000 km (1860 mi) across the country’s two main islands. Monday, 21 December 2020. Mat would stay with Tommy in the van. Read about my South Island experience, including the Richmond Ranges, Nelson Lakes and … Having these two legends from back home, who are among the nicest and most uplifting runners you could be around, was an amazing boost. I'm Lucy and I like to go on epic adventures. This 3000.0 km route stretches from Cape Reinga in the North Island to Bluff, located on the tip of the South Island. Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. There are many restaurants, cafes and take away food options. Most people hike Te Araroa from north to south, starting in Northland between September and December. First up was 9kms on a busy road. It was through the Longwood Forest. Read about my North Island experience, including my favourite sections and getting lost in the Tararua Ranges/ It felt so fitting that he was by my side for the final day. It is an astonishing route of 3,000 km across the country stretching from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Her only regret was that she didn’t have the time to see more of this wonderful country which is now our home. New Zealand's Te Araroa: The North Island, Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as. My full Te Araroa Trailexperience on and off trail totalled 146 amazing days. I will be posting my full food and resupply strategy on Te Araroa once I’ve completed the South Island section in the 2020/21 season. Many parts of the trail are challenging. It is 100 metres from its local beach. There’s plenty of huts on the South Island section of Te Araroa. From January to March 2017 I walked the South Island part of Te Araroa, New Zealand’s walking trail from Ship Cove to Bluff. As I went to take a step forward, I lost my footing and before I knew it, I was fully submerged in the river. One of the world’s truly great long walks. We zoomed through the first 20kms which were flat. It connects the dots between the northern tip of New Zealand (Camp Reinga) and the southern apex (Invercargill). Then it was a slow, boulder hopping descent back down to the river, which we followed all the way to Waiau Hut, which has only 6 beds. nzherald.co.nz. (What the Trip is Like) REQUEST CATALOG ENEWS CONTACT US 1-800-368-2794 The trail travels from Cape Reinga on the North Island to Bluff on the South Island, passing through 9 distinct regions on its way. To be honest, the three days are a blur because I just put my foot down and legged it from hut to hut. About the mountains. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. Overall this deviation was small—about a mile per day. You pass from grassy cattle flats and beech forest on the east to rugged rivers on the west. The route was officially called Te Araroa Trail and opened in 2011 by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Jerry Mateparae. This is where I began to unravel – getting super stressed out about the next section. We explore the tide pools before climbing up Howell’s Hill to Mores Scenic Reserve, where the views are phenomenal, extending out to Stewart Island, the third largest island in New Zealand, and the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean. Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. It traverses the entire country; beaches, forests, mountains, volcanoes and cities and should likely take me four to five months to finish. Basically, it wasn't a track. We walked about 1km up the river where we found a spot where we could see the bottom. If I end up doing it, it won't be walking every step of the island like with the South Island. Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Again, it was totally fine. We pulled ourselves together and got across using the river crossing technique. This went on for 18kms. Instead of heading into the mountains, we ran 12km to the trailhead and spent the arvo hanging around Havelock, drinking coffee and the odd beer. We reached Ada River at 8pm and started scoping out a safe place to cross. The only resupplies needed on the South Island were to St Arnaud and Arthur’s Pass. It took us over 3 hrs to get through a section which would normally take 1.5hrs. They are known for very steep and technical terrain – arguably the hardest in the whole country. It jumbles the bustling cities, sleepy beachside settlements, muddy forests and volcanic landscapes of the North Island with the remoteness, mountains and vast open spaces of the South Island. There was no room to get worried about anything. It was hard to find a suitable place as the sun was sinking and cast a shadow over the river so we couldn’t see the bottom. Discover remote villages, magical kauri forests, breathtaking volcanic scenery and bustling cities on New Zealand’s Te Araroa trail. I got some comfort in making a smart call and waiting another day to mentally prepare. But that was a while off yet so I just got on with having as much fun as I could. Traditional tour companies may charge thousands of dollars for a two week tour in Te Araroa Trail (South Island). Our options were to push on or sleep on the floor. We just wanted to get to the van. I was a total mess and on the verge to tears, which spilled over big time when we hit Picton. The schedule says four days but we agreed that we would try to finish in three so we could have Christmas Day off! 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! The overnights were now something I looked forward to because I was sharing it with friends. Then we met Tommy’s brother, sister and her boyfriend in Twizel. At an average of 25 kms a day, the trail takes 120 days to walk – four months. I was a total mess. I also ran what was possibly the worst trail of the trip - the Mararoa River Track. Te Araroa is the birthplace of noted Māori politician Sir Āpirana Ngata. Completed in 2011, it’s a 3000 kilometer trail extending from Cape Reinga in the North to Bluff in the south. Every dollar makes a difference. After we visit the historic gold-mining village of Arrowtown, taste some of the famous local pinot noir at a winery, we’ll hike the mountains, lakes, forests, and tussock grasslands of Mavora Lakes Conservation Park, with its Middle Earth scenery. These crossings are really mentally taxing and we were all wrecked by the end of the day. We arrived at 2:30pm and had a beer in hand by 3:30pm at the campsite. I had beaten the previous record by over 11 days. There were plenty of rest days – 29 to be exact, with 12 on the North island and 17 on the South island. New Zealand’s long-distance hiking trail, the Te Araroa, connects the North Island and South Island by way of spectacular parks and reserves. GAFFL can potentially save you 70-90% tour costs in Te Araroa Trail (South Island). Even the 1309 km of the South Island part that this website concentrates on. Mine was a gloriously leisurely thru hike and below is my Te Araroa Trail itinerary. We arrived at 4:30pm but the hut was already full. First, Scooby from London joined me for one day. It was a pretty good tonic for my nerves and another great unplanned fun memory. 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. Tommy chaperoned me to a small tourist transfer boat which took me out to the start of the stunning Queen Charlotte Track. Just as we were getting ready to tackle this section, the sky opened up and we got torrential rain. Overview. 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. It passes through mesmerizing vistas, from oceanside to alpine… Te Araroa. North Island South Island Full Te Araroa; 18.2 mi/day: 19.2 mi/day: 18.4 mi/day: Conventional wisdom says that people cover less distance per day on the South Island, but I experienced the opposite. In the north huts are way more common than found in the North Island section. It is also here where I joyfully picked up our friends, Nicki and Mat. A 22km, mostly unsealed, no-exit road from Te Araroa takes you to the most Easterly point on mainland New Zealand. It was fun. With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. The terrain wasn’t inspiring. We slowly picked our way up and had some celebratory Whittakers at the top. 8 minutes. Oh, and it started pissing down rain. Te Araroa means “the long pathway” in Maori. My mind runs away when it has too much time to think. The track wasn’t very formed – we stumbled our way across tussock and up scree slops. Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss. We decided to take a punt and keep going to Anne Hut, which was 22km away. Donate now. TE ARAROA The Te Araroa is New Zealand's newest and longest footpath. Also, wearing toesocks means you can protect your feet from sandflies in the evenings and plod around camp with your flipflops. Good because we had absolutely stunning views that stretched right to the coast from the top of Red Hill. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. Then 10kms on a gravel walkway with our friend Laura, which was pleasant. But Tommy joined me for the entire time. We attempted one spot but then pulled out as the current was too strong. As far as once in a lifetime trips go, tramping Te Araroa is spectacularly transformative. I was scared of being alone. I somehow managed to lunge forward onto a shallow bed of rocks about 1.5m in front of me. We had heard that part of the track had been washed away recently so we started at 6am to give ourselves a little more time. We were literally crashing our way through a wall of trees and bushes. But sadly, at the very back of my mind, I just knew having them around would make it even harder when they left. Te Araroa in Canterbury is about the mighty Southern Alps. I hugged Tommy. In these sections, trip planning, river crossing and navigation skills are recommended, as w… I also chatted to a friend back home to try, who pointed out that I seem to have these melt downs when I am stationary. The trail encompasses the country’s two main islands. Day 3 was memorable for good and bad reasons. Huge chunks of the track had collapsed into the river which sent us bush bashing around them. I stripped off my pack and sat on the river bank for about five minutes, completely shaken. Here we’ll hike skyline ridges with incredible views across Marlborough Sounds’ secluded bays, islands, coves, and sheltered waterways. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet. The 3000km route stretching from Cape Reinga in the north of New Zealand to Bluff in the south. Phew! 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 Resupply for the South Island 1689km Picton. The only difference was that we would be staying in huts for three nights so had to carry all our kit and food with us. The diversion west is brief as Te Araroa bounces east again over Goat Pass. What’s Te Araroa? Rivers rose, roads flooded. Support the trust today so that you can enjoy the trail tomorrow, either one day at … Hike the best sections on the South Island of New Zealand’s long-distance trail, the Te Araroa, from Queen Charlotte Sound to Fiordland National Park. About what happens when our friends, who were joining for the next 10 days, leave. This guide assumes a good level of familiarity with New Zealand tramping and conditions. In fact it was some of the worst on the trail. I simply wanted to get it done. A group of girl guides had lined up and I gave them all high fives. 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. About the river crossings. We had to leap off the road ever few minutes to avoid being mown down. Really hard. Day 1 was easy. It is situated 175 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Tokata and Awatere. 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. The Ferry to and from the North Island arrives in this town. Days on the trail are rewarded by the natural showcase of New Zealand’s famously diverse landscapes, and we’ll stay in comfortable lodges en route, savoring the country’s world-class wines and fresh local cuisine every step of the way. Our lodge, built at the turn of the century, is accessible only by boat. The Te Araroa Trust does an amazing job of offering these on their site to be downloaded FOR FREE! South Island vs North Island? I ate a sandwich, put my pack back on and went on to tackle the next four crossings. Bliss. Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Finally, I came back to hike the Richmond Ranges in December 2018. I was completely drenched and frustrated. In Nov 2019, I started running the Te Araroa Trail, from Cape Reinga to Bluff. We’ll hike along Lake Rotoiti, where dense beech forest towers over a carpet of mosses and ferns, keeping an eye out for the native forest birds such as the fantail, tomtit, and bush robin. We had been warned of knee-high mud and bogs. Day 2 was hard. Around 5pm I started to get distracted – thinking about the days ahead. We took our time, taking in the scenery, chatting about the trip, facetiming my parents. 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. The Dusky Track perhaps, walking on Stewart Island down to see Gog and Magog. I started the trail on 14th October 2017 and finished on 02nd March 2018. We reached Anne Hut at 9:45pm, had a baby wipe shower and crept inside. Day 63 was one of my favourite days. See our Privacy Policy for further details. It is an incredible gesture and quite a lot of work. I can honestly say, the final day was one of the best in my life. It starts on a historic crossing of the Main Divide via the Harper Pass Track. 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. There were tears that morning – the type of crying that sounds more like you are hyperventilating. The quality of the scenery is generally up there, plenty varied. I slept in to 10:30am and basically ate for the rest of the day. Tommy joined me for moral support for the final 7km, which made it a little better. All the same you obviously need to take a tent. Here are my top-tips for planning the hike. In other words, I got my mojo back. Thankfully Tommy accompanied me for the first 12km, which included two river crossings, which were, of course, totally fine. Wrong. Māori in the area are generally associated with the Ngāti Porou iwi. Then Laura and Phil met us at Lake Hawea. There is a Four Square and Fresh Choice Grocery Store but most people resupply in … We ran/hiked to Ada homestead, about 15kms along. Miserable. Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests. Te Araroa means “The Long Path” and so it is. I hugged my crew. Day 4 was a death march. T-12 months: persuade your work to … Usually the South Island Te Araroa takes the most obvious route, following a valley or ridge when it’s there to be followed and crossing over passes when necessary to reach the next valley, but this track was deliberately keeping us far above a very flat farm road just to our right. We went up and over Travers Saddle and made it to the West Sabine Hut in good time. I was stressed out about the river crossings. At 2996 km, stretching from Cape Reinga, the tip of the North Island to Bluff, the southern end of Highway 1, it rates in length. We were on track. We also covered some of the most beautiful sections of the trail – Breast Hill, Montotapu Ranges, Arrowtown. In the final weeks we also had an influx of friends and family join. Doing the North Island, Te Araroa doesn't hold all that much appeal. But it was only 30kms to Boyle Village where the boys would meet us and we would have a rest day the next day – Christmas Day! Christmas Day was lovely. It was poorly marked so I was constantly second guessing if I was going the right way. 7 hours. New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail is the world’s newest long-distance thru-hike. 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. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking. Of course, there were still some crappy moments – like slipping over when trying to cross Bush Stream. A cup of tea has never tasted so good as it did when I finally got to the van! It was like a game and I felt like a big kid. At Wilderness Travel we never rent or sell our mailing list. Finally, Melissa flew in from NYC as a surprise. But it did further highlight one of my biggest fears - rising rivers. The views were particularly beautiful with horses running in the dying sunlight. The 56km flew by. Te Araroa is a town in the Gisborne Region of the North Island of New Zealand. We had a quick regroup at the bottom of the Pass. Day 2 featured three big climbs including going up the screen covered Little Rintoul (which was not little) and Mt Rintoul. Tommy joined me for the day and we had a ball – jumping over puddles and traversing our way around muddy pits. It spans a distance of 3,000 km, or 1,900 miles. Let's go on an adventure together. You would think that after running the entire North Island in 34 days, I would have a little bit of confidence going into the South Island right? 66 days. Sign me up to receive your Enewsletter, announcing new adventures and special offers. She was in reasonable health for most of her illness and we travelled when her treatment allowed. That said, before I could get too far into my own head, the first day of South Island started out with a bang. I didn’t stop to enjoy the scenery or take anything in. Neil's got me interested in the Overland track across Tasmania. These were slow but the views made up for it. 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