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Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes
Learn about this amazing thru-hike through New Zealand called the Te Araroa, or also known as the TA. I haven’t been to New Zealand, it’s on the list, but as an American, it may be a while before I can go, but there are a few episodes on this podcast about New Zealand including experiencing Milford Sound and Black Water Rafting.
The TA thru-hike is one of the newest thru-hikes in the world, as it started in 2011. If you’re into thru-hiking, also check out the episode about hiking the Appalachian Trail. I interviewed Daniel Boothroyd for this episode who hiked the entire TA. He’s 28 years old, lives in Nova Scotia and he loves long-distance hiking. He completed the TA in 2017 and plans on hiking the PCT in 2022. Listen to the episode above to hear the experience of hiking the TA.
How long is the Te Araroa (TA)?
The TA is long-distance hiking trail that opened in 2011. It stretches from the North Island in Cape Reinga to the bottom of the South Island in Bluff. It is approximately 3000 km through the length of the country.
Part 1 of the TA Hike: The North Island
Daniel always wanted to go to New Zealand; the idea to hike the TA just got into his head and he knew he had to do it.
Because Daniel was intimidated by the size of the trail and the time commitment (5-6) months, he asked his friend Owen to join him on the Thru-Hike. They decided to hike the TA from North to South which is the most common way if doing the entire thru-hike. If you’re only doing the South Island, then some will start at the south tip of the hike and hike north.
The first stretch of beach is 90-mile beach, which interestingly enough is only 88 km long. The first three-days of your hike are sand dunes on your left, and beach and ocean. You lose all sense of time and all sense of progress.
The next part of the trail after the beach you hit the Northland Forest, where the trail is barely marked and it’s a muddy, sloggy mess.
You arrive at a little town on the east coast called Karekare. If you make it to Kerikeri, you stand a good shot of making it through the whole thing.
The trail mostly travels down the east coast until you arrive in Auckland, after about 4-5 weeks. It was the biggest milestone, where they felt like they really covered some ground.
Highlight of the TA: Tongariro National Park
The next big highlight was Tongariro National Park and the Tongariro Crossing. Daily there would be about 5000 people crossing; it’s one of the most beautiful walks. It’s a very volcanic sort of area, where you feel like you’re almost walking on Mars. If you get up super early to cross over, you won’t see any tourists.
Paddling on a Thru-Hike
There is a portion of the trail that you paddle. They spent about a week canoeing along the Whanganui River. Make a note that you will need to book campsites along the way. It was almost a vacation from the hiking as you get to enjoy rafting and eating fresh food.
After the paddling you’re about halfway through, as you come to the end of the North Island. From there you cut through a few towns and arrive at the Tararuas, which are a spine of mountains that run north to south. It can have rough weather, and it’s pretty exposed, ridgeline hiking.
From there you get to Wellington and have a bit of a celebration. Everyone is looking forward to the South Island as the terrain is different.
Hiking the South Island on the TA Thru-Hike
The South Island requires the biggest food carries, which you need about 7-10 days worth of food, in what is the most rugged terrain on the trail.
It’s a lot of ridgeline walking, there isn’t a lot of switchback hiking, you just charge on right ahead. The trails are classified as a “route” as opposed to a trail. It can be easy to wander off the path, so you have to keep a keen eye for markers. The weather is pretty rugged and you can potentially get four seasons in one day. The rain can be dangerous as there are a lot of river crossings, and it can rise very quickly.
The entire South Island was incredible. The trail moves through the middle of the island, in mountainous terrain, with a lot of nice valley walking. There is copious amounts of water, so you can have a nice swim in the afternoon.
Highlight of the South Island
The Waiau Pass in Nelson Lakes National Park was one of the highlights for Daniel. It was one of the coolest, but most sketchy parts of the trail, where you get to borderline rock climbing. You have to go down with your hands and feet.
The last month of the hike was mentally weird for Daniel. You slowly start to realize you’re actually getting towards the end of the hike. You get so used to hiking, you wonder what you’ll do next. When they were two days away from finishing the trail, they stayed about 2-3 days in a hostel to keep the trip going. It felt very strange to be getting close to the end.
The end of the trail isn’t very scenic. They decided to hike the last two days in one day, and hiked from 8 am until midnight, approximately 65 km. With no plans of where to stay in the night, a woman pulled up in her car and let them crash on her couch for the night.
How long does it take to Hike the Te Araroa (TA) and When Should You Start?
You can roughly finish the trail in 4-6 months. They started October 10th (springtime) and finished March 29th. If you start a bit later, that’s fine if you’re willing to move a bit quicker.
You are able to travel from the South to North Island, but the weather at the end of October in the South Island’s terrain will be colder and potentially snowy as spring will just be beginning.
How Much Should You Budget to HIke the TA?
You’ll want to budget for about $1500-$2000 per month. Gear from scratch will cost a lot, as you’ll want to go ultra light. They do as for a $250 donation per island, and they do require a back country hut pass, which cost about $92 dollars and lasts for 6 months.
Essential Items to Hike the TA
- Clothes
- Stove
- Water filter
- Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat.
You don’t need that much, you just need space for food. Their big meals were couscous and tuna, tortillas, peanut butter and jelly, instant oatmeal and coffee. You’re looking for the highest calories with the lowest weight, like Snickers.
What if You have Limited Mobility?
The TA thru-hike is not recommended if you have limited mobility. But check out this site for accessible hikes in New Zealand.
Additional Tips if you want to HIke the Te Araroa?
It’s very easy to work yourself into a negative head space when you’re on the trail. Learning how to pull yourself out of that, will make the trail easier and a lot more enjoyable.