G’day! My name is Cam and in this article I’ll be sharing my experiences on the Te Araroa Trail – the most incredible adventure of my life! I’m from Perth (WA), and I’m a full time hiker and content creator. I only really began hiking in my early 20s (I’m now 28). Every time I stepped onto a trail I felt a sense of peace and adventure that I hadn’t found before. I started hiking longer, and more difficult trails, and realized that’s where I felt most at home – in nature, challenging myself and exploring new parts of our world!
Ever since I started my hiking journey, the Te Araroa Trail was a trail I had dreamt of walking. It’s the longest marked trail in Australia and NZ, and one I wanted to experience for myself. I had hiked the Bibbulmun Track (1,000 km) in WA two years prior and the Te Araroa Trail (3,000 km) seemed like the logical progression, as I sought to challenge myself further and explore new landscapes. I had never been to NZ before crossing the ditch to hike this trail, but I had seen its beauty from afar via social media and books.
Training & Planning for the Te Araroa Trail
As you’d expect, there is a lot of preparation necessary for a hike of this magnitude. I spent the months leading up to my walk training and planning logistics like resupply, transport and timings. A big part of my training was going on hikes – as many multi-day trips as I could fit in. It’s the perfect way to train and test the body for the demands of a long trail like the Te Araroa Trail. As a bonus, I could properly test my gear. I did get a hold of quite a lot of new gear for this hike, specifically lighter and more resilient pieces of kit, that would make hiking longer distances easier.
Starting in the South & Heading Northbound
I started the Te Araroa Trail at the southern end at Bluff and finished north at Cape Reinga. I chose to head northbound, unlike most hikers, because I started a few months into the hiking season (end of summer) and wanted to avoid the south island’s cold winter weather as much as possible. The further north you get, the more mild the winter conditions become – so starting in the south towards the end of summer made more sense to me.
My 70-Day Duration of the Te Araroa Trail
I spent about 70 days on the Te Araroa Trail but it would have been a bit longer if not for skipping some of the road walking sections in the north. I estimated anywhere between 60-90 days to complete the trail before starting, depending on a lot of factors. I usually aimed to walk for 8-10 hours per day. I don’t usually enjoy sitting around at camp, so I tried to make the most of the sunlight each day! I averaged about 34 km per day of hiking.
Highlights from the North & South Island
There were so many highlights on the Te Araroa Trail as you could imagine. Some of my favorite moments from the trek in the north island were the Whanganui River including a five day canoe paddle down a remote and spectacular river, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing home of ‘Mordor’ from The Lord of the Rings, and Cape Reinga where crossing the finish line felt so good! In the south island, I really enjoyed Nelson Lakes National Park with its incredible mountainous landscapes and cozy camping huts, and the Richmond Ranges known for its beautiful but challenging alpine hiking.
Accommodation on the Te Araroa Trail
There are so many backcountry camping huts across New Zealand, so there is a lot of opportunity to stay under a roof along the trail. I would say about 50% of my nights were spent in a hut, and the rest was camping in a tent and the occasional caravan park or motel room in towns.
Difficulty Level of the Te Araroa Trail
The Te Araroa Trail is not for beginner hikers, although it’s definitely possible for anyone if you make the proper preparations and train your body right. A lot of the trail is technical, steep and rough – and you’ll want to have some backcountry hiking experience prior to attempting it. NZ’s weather is also unpredictable and brutal, so the correct gear and planning is essential.
Tips for Completing the Te Araroa Trail
The ideal starting time for the Te Araroa Trail is the end of spring/beginning of summer to make the most of the good weather. Generally, hikers start at Cape Reinga at the top of the north island between October and December – aiming to reach Bluff in the south before winter hits.
You’ll want to get a hold of some lightweight hiking kit and test it before hitting the trail – there is nothing worse than not knowing how your gear works when you need it most! Training your body for the trail is also important. It’s not a walk in the park, so get those steps in and go on some long overnight hikes with your gear during the lead up to your trek.
Looking Back on My Favorite Day on Trail
My favorite day on trail was also my most challenging. A snow storm hit unexpectedly during my time in Nelson Lakes National Park and I had to cross a high pass in the mountains during it. I could have stayed in my cozy hut to wait for the snow to melt, but I didn’t have enough food to wait long and I happened to meet another hiker going in the same direction that day. We decided to brave the pass together and it was a wild, wild day!
We battled knee-deep snow, steep climbs and gale force winds but it was also one of the most beautiful days of hiking in my life. Getting to the other side of the pass and into another hut was an awesome feeling. I look back on the day fondly, despite how cold and miserable I was for most of it!
