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