What is Te Araroa?
Te Araroa — “The Long Pathway” in Māori — is New Zealand’s national long-distance trail. It runs ~3,058 kilometres from Cape Reinga at the northern tip of the North Island to Bluff at the southern tip of the South Island, crossing two islands, countless mountain ranges, and some of the most spectacular wilderness on earth.
First opened in 2011, the trail has grown rapidly in popularity. Today several thousand hikers — called “thru-hikers” when completing the full trail — attempt it each year, alongside many more who hike individual sections.
How long does it take?
Please note that duration varies heavily per person. It depends on your pace, how long you walk per day, the number of rest days you take and of course whether you hike the whole trail or not. The TA Trust indicates that people usually take 50-80 days per island.
Which direction should I go?
Most hikers go southbound (SOBO) — Cape Reinga to Bluff. This lets you start in the relatively gentle North Island, build fitness and experience, and arrive in the South Island for the best summer weather (January–February). Northbound (NOBO) hikers start at Bluff and head to Cape Reinga. NOBO hikers usually only hike the South Island, as the North Island can be considered somewhat less spectacular (opinions differ!) and people tend to want to end on a high). When only hiking South Island, hiking NOBO can be advantageous as you save the Richmond Ranges for later, which is considered difficult and best to be tackled when fit. Moreover, NOBO can be a more solitary experience, as majority of hikers go SOBO. There is no wrong or right, both are done.
When to go?
SOBO hikers typically start in late October or November. Starting too early risks bad weather in the South Island; starting too late can mean high river levels and heat in the North Island.
NOBO hikers usually start in January or February.
What does the trail include?
Te Araroa is genuinely varied — it’s not just a mountain trail. Expect:
- Long beach walks on Ninety Mile Beach in Northland
- Native bush and kauri forests in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges
- The volcanic plateau around Tongariro
- The Whanganui River Journey — a canoe section through remote gorges
- The Richmond Ranges and Nelson Lakes in the South Island
- The Southern Alps, including snowy mountain peak views and bright blue lakes
- The Fiordland approach and the final stretch to Bluff
Where do you sleep?
Accommodation is a mix of DOC huts (basic mountain huts with bunks and sometimes cooking facilities), freedom camping, paid campsites, trail hosts (locals who open their properties to hikers), and towns with hostels and hotels. A DOC annual hut pass covers most huts; some popular ones require advance booking.
How hard is it?
Honest answer: it’s a serious undertaking. Several sections involve river crossings that can be dangerous in flood. The Tararua Ranges in the lower North Island and the Richmond Ranges in the South Island are notoriously tough. The trail can be rough, it’s not a hiker highway. But the trail is walked successfully every year by people of many different fitness levels and hiking backgrounds.
Good preparation matters more than elite fitness. Know how to navigate, know how to cross rivers safely, and know when to wait out bad weather.
For more information about the trail, please go to teararoa.org.nz
Where do I start planning?
Right here. Use the planner to calculate your itinerary, find sections that fit your time, or build a custom route stop by stop.
For official information, visit teararoa.org.nz.