I've done it! I've finally reached Bluff, the southern most point and finish of the 3,000km (1,864mile) Te Araroa Trail down the length of New Zealand. This was the final six days of the trail (plus one rest day) that I had left to complete after Covid lockdown put an end to the walk in … Continue reading #WalkNZ – Finally reached Bluff
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Days 38-43 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Deception Track and the boyfriend’s rude introduction to Te Araroa
“So, what did you make of your first six days on the Te Araroa Trail?” I asked my boyfriend, who had newly flown in from the UK and was still suffering the after effects of jetlag. “Well, it’s not so much a trail, rather a route,” he mused. “The terrain is much wilder than I … Continue reading Days 38-43 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Deception Track and the boyfriend’s rude introduction to Te Araroa
Days 26-29 of #WalkNZ part 2 – River Crossings
I’m currently sitting in a warm and cosy backpackers in the tiny alpine village of Arthur's Pass. Outside the wind is howling, angrily shaking trees and threatening to tear the roof off the backpackers while thick sheets of rain move down the road in waves. Some 75mm of rain is forecast here today with wind … Continue reading Days 26-29 of #WalkNZ part 2 – River Crossings
Day 8 – 15 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Richmond Ranges
I can confirm that: Deep Heat does not deter sandflies; mice seem to have the magic skills of getting into a closed backpack to eat my peanuts; I have a selective memory of how hard the uphills are in the Richmond Ranges; five days warm up walking the Queen Charlotte Track is not sufficient for … Continue reading Day 8 – 15 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Richmond Ranges
Why pushing pause on #WalkNZ doesn’t make me a failure
Three weeks ago, I had to turn around and walk back into civilisation when poor weather conditions and a dodgy leg forced my hand and I couldn’t make it over the second highest point on the Te Araroa trail. I ended up in Hanmer Springs, a spa resort town in the South Island of New … Continue reading Why pushing pause on #WalkNZ doesn’t make me a failure
FAQs about #WalkNZ
You’re doing what? Yip, here's everything you need to know about #WalkNZ - the answers to the most frequently asked questions about my epic walk down the length of New Zealand. What are you doing? I’m solo walking the 3,000km Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand, starting at Cape Reinga at the … Continue reading FAQs about #WalkNZ
How much training is enough?
3,000km. Five to six months. Mountains, forests, knee-high mud, wet river crossings, kayaking, road walking. The legendary Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. How much training is enough? I put my hands up – I think I’m not doing enough. At least when I was walking up Box Hill last weekend with … Continue reading How much training is enough?