I'm alive! I can't quite believe it but I survived eight days in the remote New Zealand wilderness walking up and down a lot of steep, tall mountains through the Richmond Ranges. This was classed as scary shit - the Richmond Ranges are dubbed the toughest section in the South Island on the Te Araroa … Continue reading The South Island of #WalkNZ begins: Introducing the Richmond Ranges
Walking and walks
Reflections on the North Island section of the Te Araroa Trail
Almost four months ago, I stood at the northern tip of the North Island of New Zealand. The new pack on my back weighed just over 17kg. I carried five days worth of food and two litres of water; though anyone looking at me would have thought I was carrying the kitchen sink. I stared … Continue reading Reflections on the North Island section of the Te Araroa Trail
Answers to your questions on the North Island section of the Te Araroa Trail
101 days. 1,688km walked. And with that I reached Island Bay, the bottom of New Zealand's North Island on the Te Araroa trail and my #WalkNZ adventure. Here are the answers to questions I've been asked about what the journey has been like so far. What has the North Island section of the Te Araroa … Continue reading Answers to your questions on the North Island section of the Te Araroa Trail
Days 90-92 of #WalkNZ: The Tararua mountain range
I stood and stared at the squelchy pool of brown mud in front of me, a mixed look of disbelief and annoyance probably etched across my face. "Really! I mean really," I said out loud, to no one in particular. "Not more mud," I moaned. #WalkNZ was quickly becoming #WalkMuddyNZ. Here I was on the … Continue reading Days 90-92 of #WalkNZ: The Tararua mountain range
Reaching the halfway point of #WalkNZ
It took me 89 days to walk 1,500km and reach the halfway point on the Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. The spot itself wasn't physically marked on the trail, but according to the GPS trail app it was at a quaint little point next to the pleasant Tokomaru River along Burtons … Continue reading Reaching the halfway point of #WalkNZ
Day 72 of #WalkNZ: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing – a day of ups and downs
I had originally planned to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, part of the Te Araroa trail, on Monday. But, you know how luck happens sometimes - the Mangatepopo campsite was full on Monday so Tuesday it had to be. Which is how I found myself walking up the side of a rather tall volcano in … Continue reading Day 72 of #WalkNZ: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing – a day of ups and downs
Volcano number 22: The Timber Trail Volcano
After the #WalkNZ rigours of the Mangaokewa River Track and a tough 38km one-day road walk, it was time for a decent trail - surely. So thank you Te Araroa for delivering me the Timber Trail, an 80ish kilometre cycle track between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui. Described as a highlight of Te Araroa, this is … Continue reading Volcano number 22: The Timber Trail Volcano
Day 60 of #WalkNZ – WTF was the Mangaokewa River Track?
Day 60 of #WalkNZ didn’t start well – and it didn’t get any better. What with a terrible night's sleep and then being shadowed for a kilometre by a greasy-haired, gap-toothed cyclist out of Te Kuiti, I guess it didn’t bode well for what was to come – the Mangaokewa River Track; a 15km riverside … Continue reading Day 60 of #WalkNZ – WTF was the Mangaokewa River Track?
#WalkNZ – highlights from the first 49 days on the Te Araroa trail
Forty-nine days of walking (up to my festive five-day rest break), 773.5km walked. Here’s the highlights from the first quarter of the Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. Walking the whole of Ninety Mile Beach (boy it was hard and an introduction to Te Araroa) Spending 12 hours wading through … Continue reading #WalkNZ – highlights from the first 49 days on the Te Araroa trail
Volcanoes 18, 19 and 20: The Auckland volcanoes
So far, #WalkNZ has been a solo journey – but it was always meant to be. Last week I was asked if I was bored of walking by myself. An interesting question. I said no – I’ve met many people along the Te Araroa trail and, for the most part, I’ve spent each night with … Continue reading Volcanoes 18, 19 and 20: The Auckland volcanoes