Te Araroa

Te Araroa means 'The Long Pathway', and when the path is a 3,000km continuous trail stretching from Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island, it's clear to see how it got its name.

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Te Araroa is fast becoming a mecca for 'thru-hikers' with the trail now being considered and addition to the Triple Crown of thru-hikes: The Pacific Coastal Trail, The Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail and Spains' Camino de Santiago. The newest in the worlds thru-hike scene Te Araroa has already got a reputation of being one of the toughest, for its challenging terrain, unpredictable weather, wild rugged landscapes and tricky navigational obstacles. It's a good thing I like a challenge! 

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The beauty of this thru-hike is if you don't have 4-5 months to hike the entire trail, you can hike it in sections or islands. No matter the distance, hiking in New Zealand and thru-hikes requires some serious planning. Luckily the Te Araroa Trust produces detailed trail notes and maps every year, leaving you just to worry about your gear (as light-weight as possible), food resupplies. 

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It has taken me months of research and planning in the lead up to my Te Araroa journey in the 2022-2023 season. I've scrutinised every piece of gear in my pack. Do I need it? Can I go lighter? Is ultralight worth the money? Do I have the fitness to walk for 70 days straight? And the biggest existential crisis do I really need the second pair of underwear? I wish I was joking. 

 

So to help future TA hikers I've included some of my spreadsheets as templates below that I have used for planning and to assist me throughout the hike. 
 

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