Month: Oct 2023

• Te Araroa 2023/24

  Te Araroa: Day 1

  

  Date: 30th October 2023 Start: Corner of State Highway 1 and Te Paki Stream Rd (km 20) End: Maunganui Bluff Campsite (km 40.2) Distance Walked: 20.3 km + approx. 6.5 km from SH1 to end of Te Paki Stream Total Distance Completed: 26.8 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: nothing,…

  31/10/2023
• Te Araroa 2023/24

  Learning to be Patient

  I won’t be starting Te Araroa on the 28th. That’ll probably be obvious when this post comes out. To tell you the truth, I made the call during the coach ride up to Kaitaia. At 11am, an updated forecast came through which included an orange warning for all of Northland,…

  29/10/2023
• Te Araroa 2023/24

  Stepping Out onto the Road

  

  Well, I’m here. In Aotearoa. Still not fully comprehending what I’m about to go and do over the next 4-5 months. The sheer scale of this trail is simply absurd, throwing much of my regular hiking preparation routine out the window. To give an example, on the Carnarvon Great Walk…

  27/10/2023
• Preparation Te Araroa 2023/24

  T-minus 6 days

  

  In a week’s time, I will board a plane destined for Auckland, leaving behind my friends and family who I won’t see again for 4.5 months. Granted I am flying with Jetstar so take that previous sentence with a pinch of salt. But, assuming all goes to plan, I only…

  18/10/2023