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
#WalkNZ
Volcano number 23: The private volcano
April 2020 was spent in a yellow motel room in the small tourist town Te Anau in New Zealand. That first Covid lockdown put paid to my #WalkNZ adventure – just seven days from the finish line in Bluff. Once things opened up in New Zealand, and the rest of the world was still on … Continue reading Volcano number 23: The private volcano
Days 66-70 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Motatapu Track
Calves screamed. Lightening strips of pain burned up the back of my legs. My lungs were in meltdown trying to support my muscles that sucked up the scant oxygen in my blood, while my heart seemed to be in its death throes as it attempted to keep up with the relentless uphill movement of my … Continue reading Days 66-70 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Motatapu Track
Days 57-63 of #WalkNZ part 2 – Ahuriri River and the Breast Hill Track
Sometimes the Te Araroa throws everything at you. Hot, cold, sun, rain, uphill, downhill, stunning views, monotonous boredom, walking like a machine, hobbling and in pain. Wet underpants. That was this section. Seven days. Demanding. Challenging. Totally worth it. But it didn’t start well. A 29km walk along a flat cycle way. Sounds easy, right, … Continue reading Days 57-63 of #WalkNZ part 2 – Ahuriri River and the Breast Hill Track
Days 45-55 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Clent Hills, Two Thumbs Range & Te Araroa’s highest point
I have now walked just more than half of the South Island of New Zealand on part 2 of #WalkNZ. More than 650km. Woozers! That explains why the tread on my shoes is looking a little bald and why I’m now slightly obsessed with food. The past 10 days have provided some of the best … Continue reading Days 45-55 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Clent Hills, Two Thumbs Range & Te Araroa’s highest point
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
Day 1-5 of #WalkNZ part 2 – Queen Charlotte Track
It was cold. It was grey. Where the hell was summer? I shivered as I did some stretches before the official start of #WalkNZ part 2 began. Here I was at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, and less than a year since I was last here ready to walk the Queen … Continue reading Day 1-5 of #WalkNZ part 2 – Queen Charlotte Track
Part 2 of #WalkNZ begins
And so, part 2 of #WalkNZ is about to begin. I have just 1,000km left to walk to complete the 3,000km Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. After having to pull out 20km short of the 2,000km mark in March this year due to a knee injury, there was no question about … Continue reading Part 2 of #WalkNZ begins
Katrina Megget 