Riverton to Invercargill - 33km (2962km total) The TA likes to bookend the journey for hikers, so that you finish as you start the trail. A muddy forest, a Long Beach walk and then a long road walk. Today was the Long Beach walk. It was ok, but I'll take forest and surprisingly, walking up … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 132
Machinery Bushcamp to Riverton - 34km (2929km total) With the sun rising later and later the further south I go and the closer to winter it gets, this morning was the latest I have ever managed to sleep in while in a tent. It was just before 8am when I woke up. I was impressed, … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 131
Day 129 - Merrivale There was a severe weather warning for the South Island of NZ particularly down south. The fiordland got most of it with the Southland where I currently am on. The TA getting less. However, when I woke up to the sound of rain and knowing up tp 40mm was predicted over … Continue reading Te Araroa -Day 129-130
Birchwood to Merrivale - 26km (2859km total) This morning started with some fun. It was a short road walk to the Woodlaw Track. However, as I was walking there I saw some hikers coming in the opposite direction. My first thought was northbounders, but they shouldn't be this far south at this time of year … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 128
Telford Campsite to Birchwood - 28km (2833km total) I woke up this morning to an awesome pink sky. I would have got up and taken a photo but the sandflies were already starting to swarm outside my tent. In a matter of minutes from first light to a few minutes later, my tent went from … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 127
Aparima Hut to Telford Campsite - 21km (2805km total) Less than 200km to go. That feels weird, crazy, exciting and sad all at the same time. Most of today was spent in the forest. The track in total was said to take around 10 hours to complete, but thankfully, it was not that long. The … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 126
Princhester Rd to Aparima Hut - 22km (2784km total) It was a nice start to the morning being in town. I slept in a little bit before packing up to leave. The others were not leaving until after lunch and then doing a 6km day to the first hut. I however have the end in … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 125
South Mavora Lakes to Mossburn Highway - 36km - 2760km total I woke up early this morning with the intention of getting the walk done so that I could get to the highway with enough time to get a hitch into town. Consequently, I was packing up in the dark and started hiking at 7am … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 124
Taipo Hut to South Mavoura Lake - 34km (2724km total) Today was going to be an easy day but I turned it into a longer day. The original thought was for two shortish days to get me to the last hut in this section which would then lead to a longish day to get me … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 123
Queenstown (Greenstone Carpark) to Taipo Hut - 23km (2690km total) The track ends at Queenstown and hikers need to work out how to get around Lake Wakatipu to where the trail starts again at Greenstone carpark. Some people hitch, others go and walk the Routeburn (one of NZ great walks) and then join back up … Continue reading Te Araroa – Day 122
