Monday 26 October 2015

October 28th 2015

TE ARAROA November 14th 2015

When the idea first entered my head to do a thru hike I randomly searched “worlds best long hikes”. This search gave me a list of 20 hikes that were all over the world. As I was searching through there were hikes in the States, Japan, Nepal, Africa somewhere, Chile, Argentina, then near the end of the list, New Zealand. I had some drive to do the CDT or PCT or AT in the US. As I have been to Nepal last year, that hike was thrown out. Next I thought Japan would be amazing, but then I pictured myself walking through a little village where no one spoke any English and I would be stuck there trying to convey a simple message across. In say, Europe, I could get by, sort of like a 2 year old. But in Japan I might as well be speaking to a fish, no offence. So that idea was thrown out.
How about New Zealand! Ever since watching LOTR films I loved New Zealand. New Zealand is the world essentially in a very small country. There are mountains, rivers, forests, deserts (sort of), plains, glaciers, beaches, everything. Temperatures ranging from +35ºC in the summer down to -25ºC in the winter.

Te Araroa Trek is not very well known as it has been officially named a thru hike in only 2011. And during that time the trek has changed its routes many times. Each year having less and less road walking sections. The trek is broken into 2 Parts, North Island and South Island.
The North Island is the warmer of the two, closer to the equator. But from what I have read is the less travelled Island. This is due to dense jungle “tracks”, river walks, cow/sheep pastures. and a lot of road walking. Many people do not even attempt the North Island, they just hike the South Island.
The South Island is the most popular island when it comes to tourism. The Abel Tasman National Park and Milford Sound were stated as 2 of 10 top beautiful places you have to visit before you die. In some magazine, don’t quote me. The SI is also very mountainous, which attracts hikers and mountaineers much more than say a knee deep muddy jungle in the NI. The best part about hiking the SI is the DOC hut system. There have been people stating that in 70 days, they spent only 7 nights in their tent. The rest in these huts that are spaced out throughout the island. Ranging from First class huts like a hostel to a garden shed with maybe a fire pit. Either of those are a dream for a weary thru hiker after hiking 10 hours.
My plan will be to hike both Island, starting with the North Island at Cape Reinga. Walking roughly 3000+km to Bluff on the very tip of the South Island.