Te Araroa

The Announcement

The post that started the adventure

Practice Hike to Blue Glacier

A 42 mile hike in Olympia National Park to test our gear

Practice Hike to Brainard Lake

The last major gear shake-out before we left

Traveling

Getting from Colorado to New Zealand

Today's the Day

On the way to the trailhead from Kaitaia

Day 1: Cape Reinga to Twilight Beach

An action packed start to the long journey

Day 2: Twilight Beach to The Bluff Campground

Our first reality check

Day 3: The Bluff Campground to Utea Park Campground

There's a lot of sand out here...

Day 4: Utea Park Campground to Ahipara

Was that a good idea?

Day 5: Rest day in Ahipara

Our first rest day and real food adventure

Day 6: Ahipara to Herekino Forest

Through the rain, into the jungle, and up the muddy slopes

Day 7: Herekino Forest to Raetea Forest

A tale of two adventures

Day 8: Raetea Forest to State Highway 1

Traversing the 7 gates of Hell

Day 9: State Highway 1 to Puketi Road

Highway walking to angels

Day 10: Puketi Road to Kerikeri

The adventure of Pebbles, the dog

Day 11: Rest Day in Kerikeri

Do all the recovery

Day 12: Rest Day 2 in Kerikeri

In which doing nothing is everything

Day 13: Kerikeri to Paihia

The return of the umbrella

Day 14: Paihia to Russell Forest

We're moving so fast!

Day 15: Russell Forest to Helena Bay

Into the stream, then out, then back in, then out, then...

Day 16: Helena Bay to Sandy Beach

It's hard to find camping spots sometimes

Day 17: Sandy Beach to Ngunguru

Even being a bum can be expensive

Day 18: Ngunguru to Taiharuru Crossing

On the road again

Day 19: Taiharuru Crossing to McKenzie Bay

The beautiful trail of 1,200 stairs

Day 20: McKenzie Bay to Waipu

Road walking is better than ocean trudging

Day 21: Waipu to Mangawhai Heads

Winding out of Northland

Day 22: Mangawhai Heads to Pakiri

Strolling through the ocean with backpacks

Day 23: Rest Day in Pakiri

How much weight can you gain in one day?

Day 24: Pakiri to the Dome Carpark

A test of everything we've learned

Day 25: The Dome Carpark to Puhoi

The real world is real interesting

Day 26: Puhoi to Stillwater

Cities are chaos

Day 27: Stillwater to Auckland

Wading into Auckland

Day 28: Rest day in Auckland

Hostel adventure on a rest day

Day 29: Rest day 2 in Auckland

Do all the nothings

Day 30: Auckland to Auckland

Park hopping through the city

Day 31: Auckland to Totara Park

Is it hiking if you walk through industrial areas?

Day 32: Totara Park to Wairora River

How much would you sacrifice for a view?

Day 33: Wairora River to Hunua Range

Two sides of the coin

Day 34: Hunua Range to Mercer

Hitting an emotional low point

Day 35: Mercer to Rangiriri

Tiptoeing the edge

Day 36: Rangiriri to Ngaruawahia Lookout

Stacking the distance

Day 37: Ngaruawahia Lookout to Hamilton

The people are the best part of the trail

Day 38: Hamilton to Old Mountain Road

Can't get away from the road, even when we're sleeping

Day 39: Old Mountain Road to Mount Pirongia

The magic hour after sunrise

Day 40: Mount Pirongia to Pirongia Forest Park

We're becoming mud experts

Day 41: Pirongia Forest to Waitomo Caves

Can we profit off gorse in some way?

Day 42: Rest Day in Waitomo

Striving for nothing with everything we've got

Day 43: Waitomo to Mangaokewa River

Working the angles

Day 44: Mangaokewa River to Tiora Shearer Station

Ants to angels

Day 45: Tiora Shearers Station to Weraroa Track

A big km day ends with a challenge

Day 46: Weraroa Track to Hauhungaroa Hut

Lifting and lowering to success

Day 47: Hauhungaroa Hut to Taringamotu Road

Marching in the rain with purpose

Day 48: Taringamotu Road to Taumarunui

Staying flexible in new stiff shoes

Day 49: Rest day in Taumarunui

If it fits, we buy it

Day 50: Taumarunui to Poukaria Campsite

Zipping down the river

Day 51: Poukaria Campsite to Mangapapa Campsite

Floating past the mud tunnel

Day 52: Mangapapa Campsite to Mangawhaiiti Campsite

See beautiful things and take a nap? Wow!

Day 53: Mangawhaiiti to Ngapora

A bridge to nowhere

Day 54: Ngapora Campground to Koriniti

Is this still the same trip?

Day 55: Koriniti to Hipanga Park

Feeling fortunate

Day 56: Hipanga Park to Whanganui

One of the best Christmas Eve's we've ever had

Day 57: Whanganui to Koitiata

A Christmas Special

Day 58: Koitiata to Mt. Lee Reserve

Black sandy beaches and the American southwest

Day 59: Mt. Lee Reserve to Palmerston North

The struggle is real

Day 60: Palmerston North to Burtton's Track

Weather news mean big days

Day 61: Burtton’s Track to Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Center

Making the effort pays off

Day 62: Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Center to Tararua Range

Up, up, up to a spectacular sunset

Day 63: Tararua Range to Waitewaewae Hut

The hard work pays off

Day 64: Waitewaewae Hut to Parawai Hut

Being dumb then recovering enough to know we were dumb

Day 65: Parawai Hut to Waikanae

The difference a day makes

Day 66: Rest Day in Waikanae

Sitting around and pondering productivity

Day 67: Waikanae to Queen Elizabeth Park

We like long walks on the beach holding hands

Day 68: Queen Elizabeth Park to Porirua

From highs to lows

Day 69: Porirua to Wellington

Blowing our minds

Day 70: Wellington to North Island Finish

Reaching the end

Onward and Forward (to something new)!

Leaving the Te Araroa

Down Time in Wellington

Being tourists instead of adventurers

Queen Charlotte Track: Ship Cove to Big Bay

On the trail again

Queen Charlotte Track: Big Bay to Black Water

Meandering through adventure

Queen Charlotte Track: Black Water to Davies Camp

Wrapping up one of our favorite sections of trail