He recently got his Kiwi by descent citizenship, and is walking the S.I. Support the trust today so that you can enjoy the trail tomorrow, either one day at a time, or all 3000km! 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. My full Te Araroa Trailexperience on and off trail totalled 146 amazing days. Te Araroa Specific Links. From here, walkers take a ferry across the Tasman Strait and continue south across the South Island to the town of Bluff. Well, maybe they have been written in that direction because the Whanganui River section in the North Island consists of canoeing downstream. Te Araroa is a 3000 km long route that runs the length of both islands of New Zealand.This is a new route that was opened on December 3, 2011. New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail is the world’s newest long-distance thru-hike. What the Kiwis call tramping is a traditional and respected skill and New Zealanders are inclined to celebrate the long walkers with invitations into homes en route to share a meal and a story. Te Araroa is an amazing long distance trail that traverses both the North and South Island. This is a guide for people wanting to through-hike the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand going from south to north. For the parts of the North Island I haven’t walked I have used the official notes as a basis by re-writing them in reverse and using Google Maps, NZ Topo Maps and other sources to clarify the confusing bits. North To South - Hiking New Zealand's 3,000 Kilometre Te Araroa Trail. Here's what you need to know to get started on your own incredible Te Araroa adventure. I would say I was walking at a fairly average speed. Or you could always walk the South Island NoBo and the North Island SoBo. But there is lots more here. Along with wilderness, the trail takes its walkers through New Zealand towns and settlements and past Maori marae. If you travel SOBO you start in the north and head south, if you go NOBO you start in the south and travel north. GAFFL Tours in Te Araroa Trail (South Island) can save you travel costs as you can share costs with travel buddies for hotels and rental cars. Te Araroa continues along the coast to Riverton, then to Invercargill. SOBO means travelling in a south bound direction and is a term borrowed from the North American long trail community. The Northland section of the Te Araroa Trail (TAT) in New Zealand. For further details visit the Te Araroa website. New Zealand’s long-distance hiking trail, the Te Araroa, connects the North Island and South Island by way of spectacular parks and reserves. 12. Most TA hikers going SoBo (southbound) will start around November and end up in Southland in March or April, walking into autumn in the coldest part of the country. In the North Island the typical stretch in between resupply towns would be 3-5 days. You can check the bottom of each page to see when I’ve last updated it. Māori in … The complete trail is 3000km from one end of New Zealand to the other and can be walked in either direction but South bound tends to be more popular. A 22km, mostly unsealed, no-exit road from Te Araroa takes you to the most Easterly point on mainland New Zealand. He works as a GP and lives in Christchurch with his wife and … Camp Stream Hut, Two Thumb Range, South Island. You will meet most of them around the middle of the day, or in the evening in huts and campsites. 2 reviews. First Things First. It’s the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand or, more appropriately, just Te Araroa, meaning “the Long Pathway in the native Maori language. It is a pathway stretching more than 3,000 kilometers (nearly 2,000 miles) from Cape Reigna at the top of the North Island to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. Or simply stay another day or two at a nice spot. It’s a walking track about 3,000 km long from Bluff at the southern tip of the South Island to Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island that was officially opened in 2011. It is 100 metres from its local beach. The 3000 kilometre route of Te Araroa Trail stretches from Cape Reinga in the North Island to Bluff in the South Island, allowing hikers to take on the walk at any point. Finally, on the subject of updates, Covid-19 has had an impact on travel and accommodation services. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Joséphine Anselin offers inspiration, tips and practical recommendations for anyone looking to fastpack New Zealand’s Te Araroa trail – a 3000km route stretching from Cape Reinga in the North Island to Bluff in the South. Between Camp Stream and Crooked Spur huts, South Island. In the summer of 2017, I took six months off work to walk the length of New Zealand on the 3,000-kilometre Te Araroa trail. Sometimes you’ll only be a day or two between towns, or you can be up to 8 days in wilderness. Te Amiki Health & Wellbeing. There were plenty of rest days – 29 to be exact, with 12 on the North island and 17 on the South island. Te Araroa – New Zealand’s Trail – is the 3000km walking track stretching from Cape Reinga in the North of New Zealand to Bluff in the South. Te Araroa covers roughly equal distance across the North and South Islands. Kapiti Is from Waikanae Beach, North Island. On a beautiful day in late 2011 Fiona and I drove to Feilding and walked back to Palmerston North along Te Araroa’s possibly virginal route. Sights & Landmarks 1. Binn Inn is at 85 Kimbolton St, just north-east of the centre of town formed by Manchester Square. Those familiar with the Guthook App used on most major US trails and some internationally, it is from the same creators. 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. It was awful. Project 2018-10-04 22:37:17 +1300. ( Log Out /  On a length of 3500 km we enjoy the wild countryside between Cape Reinga and Bluff. 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. The Te Araroa is Stefan’s first long distance hike (but not his last) and North to South is his first book. The quality of the scenery is generally up there, plenty varied. At an average of 25 kms a day, the trail takes 120 days to walk – four months. There are various blogs and sections of personal websites covering the TA but mostly I haven’t found them useful enough to list them here. Beyond the high point there are far fewer rakes of stairs and although the climb is greater, I suspect north to south is an easier way to go. Te Araroa South To North - Jan ~ April Moderation notice JenMarsden posted 6 September 2018 6 September 2018 • edited 9 September 2018 9 September 2018 New Zealand’s long-distance hiking trail, the Te Araroa, connects the North Island and South Island by way of spectacular parks and reserves. You can print out from here or save to your mobile phone (in the Documents folder on Android phones). 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. The southbound guides have a good amount of information but because they are oriented towards the greatest number of users (section hikers) a lot is repeated and bits between sections are left out. Donate now. In the more populous north there’s usually a campground ahead, and in the more remote south there’s the security of New Zealand’s renowned backcountry huts at the end of any tramping day. They are transitioning to the new name of Atlas Guides, but it looks identical. See the Links page for these and other sources of information. Change ), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window). I am just a few weeks away till I start a thruhike on New Zealands TE ARAROA wich runs from Cape Reinga (North Island) to Bluff (South Island) covering a distance of approx. This method will lose some of my formatting but it allows you to make your own edits. Written by: McKenzie Barney. ( Log Out /  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. The trail has also opened up many new tracks, like the 3-day Motatapu Alpine Track, which even regular visitors to New Zealand’s track system are unlikely to have yet tackled. Te Araroa / The Long Pathway: This tramp is gonna be one of the longest in the world, and certainly by far the longest of New Zealand. Popular with visitors to Aotearoa, walking the length of New Zealand is a burgeoning rite of passage for Kiwis. Beginning in Cape Reinga and finishing in Bluff. The long-distance path "Te Araroa" crosses both of the islands of New Zealand from north to south. I have been reluctant to add in accommodation prices and transport timetables because these will always change, but some are included as indicative. Spas & Wellness 2. I started the trail on 14th October 2017 and finished on 02nd March 2018. Well, it’s because they know the weather is warmer the further north you go. There is a trail saying, ‘Hike your own hike’, meaning there is no right or wrong way and you shouldn’t judge people who are doing it differently from yourself. The core component of this site are the day-by-day walking guides. If you have only limited time, the South Island is the more spectacular, more back country part of the total Te Araroa Trail. The 3000km route stretching from Cape Reinga in the north of New Zealand to Bluff in the south. It ranges over mountains and farmland, through forest, along beaches, on back roads, and in a few parts, through towns and suburbs. See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to understand how you can manage cookies. A journey that long requires plenty of planning and preparation. Te Araroa means “The Long Path” and so it is. I have walked the full South Island trail in one go, but I have only done sections of the North Island. We are able to follow along and see where our 25 year old son is hiking. Te Araroa is the birthplace of noted Māori politician Sir Āpirana Ngata.Māori in the area are generally associated with the Ngāti Porou iwi. Things to do in Te Araroa. The North Island sections of the trail run for about 990 miles, and the South Island trails are 870 miles. 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. The trail is best tackled north to south, beginning from the top of the North Island at Cape Reinga in late spring. The Te Araroa (TA) trail is relatively new, having been completed in 2011. Sort by: Traveller Favourites. The Te Araroa Trust was founded in 1994 to revisit the original idea, and it is working with local organisations and land owners to incorporate existing tracks and establish new tracks as needed. Even the 1309 km of the South Island part that this website concentrates on. And over the course of your hike they will bunch, so at the beginning you will only meet the few who started early, and towards the end, those who started late. And you can send them as printed installments to yourself on the trail with food parcels to further cut weight. SK Valley Mouse - My North to South Journey Through the Tararua Valleys . And why is it mainly Kiwis who are doing it? It was an epic day of adventure which highlighted areas to further develop before Te Araroa, which was the real victory, namely nutrition and mind-set. One of the world’s truly great long walks. And others again, particularly the majority who are visiting from overseas, might want to see a bit more of New Zealand than simply the TA, and head off on diversions here and there. Mine was a gloriously leisurely thru hike and below is my Te Araroa Trail itinerary. New Zealand’s landscape is famously various, and the trail is a natural showcase of that diversity. Also, to keep the text short, comment on the landscape and its history has unfortunately had to be kept to a bare minimum. Find airfares. It winds 3000 km along coastal sand or the ridgelines of forested ranges, across farmland and volcanoes in the North Island and across the beautiful national parks, high country stations and mountain passes in the South Island. Te Araroa Hiker App New in 2016 was the Te Araroa Hiker App, which was hugely popular. If you look at a map of NZ you will see that the country curves to the right. Read about my South Island experience, including the Richmond Ranges, Nelson Lakes and those finish line feels! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. About the distance sign on top of this guide.. By road it is 2085 km. You can print out the guides. As with the maps, once you’ve finished with them they are good for starting fires, or you can leave them in huts for other people. This preserves the formatting, skips the images at top, and the links still work. The litter, pollution and liberal use of … But I’m sure it will also be useful for people who want to do sections only as well. Something else to consider is people. Since the default direction is south-bound then if you are doing the same you will find yourself with a cohort of others also going south. All the way from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south, the trail will extend for 3000 km. Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) is New Zealand's long distance tramping route, stretching circa 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) along the length of the country's two main islands from Cape Reinga to Bluff.It is made up of a mixture of older tracks and walkways, new tracks, and link sections alongside roads. Developing the North Island section of Te Araroa has proved slower and more complex than expected. The North Island certainly has its moments, but it does involve more road walking, less time away from civilisation, and takes a little longer. If you have an e-book reader there is software online to convert pages to the file format required. I took rest days for rest, injury, fu… If you were to walk all of it, it would take five months! Feilding to Bulls: 5.5 hrs, 20 km (maps 65, 64) Keep going along South St until it meets West St. Using the guides in reverse, as I did, is quite tricky. In the Chrome browser on your phone, click the three dots at top right, then select ‘More tools’ and ‘Save page as’. The Te Araroa, or “the long pathway” in Maori, is a 3000km trail that passes from the northern tip of New Zealand’s North Island to the southern tip of the South Island. The trail is best tackled north to south, beginning from the top of the North Island at Cape Reinga in late spring. This long route goes from North to South and gives you, excited hikers, a ve It is a self published project and I'm doing pre-sales on the PledgeMe website. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we use your data and who our partners are. It is situated 175 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Tokata and Awatere. There may be a few errors, as it can be tricky turning directions going one way into something that makes sense the other, but probably no more than if you did it yourself – and I’m saving you the trouble. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. At the beginning of 2016 I started off on my biggest hiking adventure ever! In Nov 2019, I ran the Te Araroa Trail, from Cape Reinga to Bluff in New Zealand. The trail is essentially 30 or so smaller trails connected together and is still going through some growing pains as it matures into a more formal trail. Te Araroa means “the long pathway” in Maori. Our adventure begins in the seaside town of Russell among the subtropical splendor of the Bay of Islands. The track begins on the tip of New Zealand’s North Island at Cape Reinga and heads south to the capital city of Wellington. 12 reviews. Others doing them in sequence regularly go off-trail for supplies and rest. In the summer of 2017, I took six months off work to walk the length of New Zealand on the 3,000-kilometre Te Araroa trail. It’s a walking track about 3,000 km long from Bluff at the southern tip of the South Island to Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island that was officially opened in 2011. So why go the other way? 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. Well, it’s a matter of personal choice, but it seems to me that if you want to say you have walked the Te Araroa Trail, you need to have walked all of it. Te Araroah NoBo solo. New Zealand’s long walking trail, Te Araroa, is a 3,000-kilometre tramping route running from Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. And finally to its southern terminus at Stirling Point, Bluff. Project 2018-10-04 22:37:17 +1300. For the bits I have walked (the whole South Island plus Wellington to Hamilton and a few shorter sections elsewhere in the North Island) my guides are divided up into sections of approximately eight hours walking a day (making up 63 days to cover the length of the South Island), but because towns, huts and campsites are not evenly spaced eight hours apart there are parts where some days are longer and a few are very short, effectively turning these into rest days (‘zero days’ in trail jargon). Te Araroa Trail Itinerary. What is the Te Araroa Trail? There is now a south to north guide to the South Island on it, but the accommodation and transport info is on the south-bound pages. Let us show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms by selecting 'On' and allowing us to share data from your visit(s) with our partners. For those who aren't aware (and especially those friends and family outside New Zealand) we are privileged to have an established trail from Cape Reinga in the north through to Bluff at the south of the South Island.