Te Araroa Trail Itinerary
Mine was a leisurely thru-hike and below is my Te Araroa Trail itinerary. Click the links in red to view day by day or start with Day 1 on the blog roll.
My full Te Araroa Trail experience on and off-trail totaled 146 amazing days. I started on 14th October 2017 and finished on 2nd March 2018. Finally, I came back to hike the Richmond Ranges in December 2018.
There were plenty of rest days – 12 on the North Island and 17 on the South Island. I took rest days for rest, injury, fun, exploring, waiting out weather, hot pools, and just because I could.
Purist or Non-Purist?
Before starting the trail I was adamant that I would walk as a purist i.e. walking every single step of the way according to the map. In reality, was a non-purist. I skipped small parts e.g. some State Highways, bits that I had walked before etc. I also did a ‘flip-flop’ i.e. I mixed up my route. Due to bad weather on the South Island, I walked Tekapo to Bluff before Nelson to Tekapo.
Why did I change my mind? All kinds of reasons… nice people offered me lifts, I was walking with cool people who weren’t purists either, and who wants to walk on a dangerous state highway for 20Kms?
My advice? Don’t feel bad about throwing your intentions out of the window. Do what feels right at the time. Your journey is your journey. Take your time, don’t hurry, go with what feels good and enjoy it!
Te Araroa Trail – North Island
- Cape Reinga to flat grassy area on beach by stream Km 21.6 – wild camp
- Km 21.6 to Km 46.7 grassy area behind dunes – wild camp
- Km 46.7 to Utea Park – cabin solo
- Utea Park to Ahipara YHA holiday Park – camp
- Ahipara rest day – camp
- Ahipara to Km 128.5 after Herekino forest – wild camp in animal pen
- Km128.5 to the campsite after Ratea Forest just after the barking dogsKm156 informal campsite by river – camp
- Km156 to Waipapa river crossing junction with Mangapukahukahu river walk Km 183.1 – wild camp
- Junction with Mangapukahukahu river walk Km 183.1 to Puketi Forest DOC campsite – camp
- Puketi Forest DOC campsite to Kerikeri – apartment with own room
- Kerikeri rest day – apartment with own room
- Kerikeri to YHA Paihia – shared backpacker dorm
- Paihia to Russell Walkway Junction camping area – wild camp
- Russell forest to Whaikahoa Bay Doc campsite (off trail) – camp
- Whaikahoa Bay to Whananaki Holiday Park
- Whananaki to James’s place Nikau Eco Camp Ngunguru – cabin
- Ngunguru to Ros & Hugh’s Tidesong bnb – cabin
- Tidesong Ocean beach, Bream Head to Taurikura Bay – apartment with own room
- Taurikura Bay, Reotahi Point, Marsden Point to Waipu – stayed friends
- Waipu to Riverside Holiday Park Mangawhai – camp
- Mangawhai to Pakiri Beach Holiday Park – camp
- Pakiri Beach to Matt Fox on Govan Wilson Rd – camp in garage for koha
- Govan Wilson Road to Nanekoti Homestay Edgerley Road – caravan
- Edgerley Road to Puhoi pub – own room
- Puhoi pub to Orewa – stayed with friends
- Orewa to Dacre Cottage (past Stillwater before estuary) – camped in cottage shed for koha
- Dacre cottage to Takapuna Holiday Park – camp
- Takapuna to Devonport Auckland – took a lift to stay with friends as had walked Auckland coast to coast section before. Skipped Auckland to Mercer (road sections)
- Off trail rest day
- Off trail rest day
- Off trail rest day
- Mercer to Cathy’s (pie) place in Rangiri – camp
- Rangiriri to Huntly – stayed with friends
- Huntly to Ngaruawahia – stayed with friends
- Ngaruawahia to Hamilton – stayed with friends
- Skipped Hamilton to Pirongia. Dropped at Kaniwhaniwha Stream car park to Pahutea hut Mt Pirongia – DOC hut
- Pahutea hut to Km 871 – wild camp
- Km 871 to Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park – camp
- Waitomo to Te Kuiti Casara Mesa Backpackers – camp
- Te Kuiti, Mangaokewa river track, then hitch to Ngaherenga campsite (start of Timber trail) – DOC camp
- Ngaherenga campsite to Km 995.2 Timber Trail – wild camp
- Km 995.2 to #10 camp at Km 1032 Timber Trail – wild camp
- #10 camp at Km 1032 to Taumarunui Holiday Park (hitch from end of Timber trail to Holiday park) – shared cabin
- Taumarunui rest day – shared cabin
- Taumarunui rest day – shared cabin
- Taumarunui to Whakapapa river informal camp site (before river) Km 1103.5 – wild camp
- Whakapapa river, 42 Traverse to Km 1134.3 – wild camp
- Km 1134.5 Waione Cokers Track to YHA National Park – shared room
- National Park over Tongaririo Crossing (slackpacking) – shared room
- National Park to Junction of Retaruke Road and Oio Road (by horse statue) – wild camp
- Oio Road to Whakahoro – DOC hut
- Whakahoro to Whakahoro via Whanganui river (capsized!) – DOC hut
- Whakahoro, hitch to Pipiriki Whanganui River Adventures – camp
- Pipiriki to Flying Fox at Matahiwi – camp
- Matahiwi to YHA Whanganui – dorm room
- Whanganui rest day – dorm room
- Whanganui, hitch to Turakina beach, walk to Bridge Motor Lodge in Bulls – camp
- Bulls to Feilding – Trail angel
- Feilding to Palmerston North Holiday Park – camp
- Palmerston North to Km 1541.4 Burton’s Track – wild camp
- Km 1541.4 Burton’s Track to Sally’s place at Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre – camp for koha
- Outdoor Pursuits Centre to Te Matawai DOC hut Tararua Ranges – Doc hut
- Te Matawai hut to Nichols DOC hut Tararua Ranges – DOC hut (camped)
- Nichols hut to Waitewaewae hut Tararua Ranges – DOC hut
- Waitewaewae hut to Otaki Forks campground – camp
- Otaki Forks to Kapiti Holiday resort campsite Paraparaumu – camp
- Paraparaumu to Paekakariki Holiday Park – camp
- Paekakariki to Porirua Camp Elsdon – cabin
- Porirua to Ngaio Wellington – Airbnb
- Ngaio through Wellington – to complete N.Island. YHA Wellington – dorm room
- Wellington rest day – own room
- Wellington rest day – own room
- Wellington rest day – own room
- Wellington rest day traveled to Picton Villa backpackers – dorm room
Te Araroa Trail – South Island
- Picton to Madsen’s campsite Queen Charlotte Track – camp
- Madsen’s campsite to Cowshed Bay – DOC campsite
- Cowshed Bay to Davies Bay – DOC campsite
- Davies Bay to Havelock Holiday Park – camp
- Havelock to Pelorous Bridge – DOC campsite
- Pelorous Bridge to Middy hut – DOC hut (camped)
- Middy hut to Rocks hut – Doc hut ** see day 67 below for Richmond ranges **
- Rocks hut to Nelson InBetween Backpackers – off trail – dorm room
- Nelson rest day – dorm room
- Nelson rest day – dorm room
- Nelson rest day – dorm room
- Nelson rest day – dorm room
- Nelson hitch to Blenheim Top 10 Holiday Park – camp
- Blenheim to Christchurch YHA Hereford Street – own room
- Christchurch to Lake Tekapo Motel and Backpackers – camp
- Lake Tekapo rest day – camp
- Lake Tekapo cycled to Lake Ohau, camped on Freehold track just before treeline Km 2516.3 – wild camp
- Km 2516.3 Freehold Creek to Birchwood track past car park Km 2538.2 – wild camp
- Km 2538.2 Avon Burn Birchwood track to Top Timaru Hut – Doc hut
- Top Timaru hut, Stodys hut, over to Breast Hill and Pakituhi hut – DOC hut
- Pakituhi hut to Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park – cabin
- Wanaka rest day – cabin
- Wanaka rest day – cabin
- Wanaka to Fern Burn hut – DOC hut (camped)
- Fern Burn hut to Roses hut – DOC hut
- Roses hut to Arrowtown Holiday Park – cabin
- Arrowtown to Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park – camp
- Queenstown rest day – camp
- Queenstown, bus to Routeburn Track (off trail). Day walk the Routeburn track to Lake Howden campsite (30 mins past hut) – camp
- Lake Howden campsite to Greenstone track (off trail) to Greenstone hut – DOC hut (camped)
- Greenstone hut to Careys hut Mavora Kakes – DOC hut (camped)
- Careys hut Mavora lakes to 3rd swingbridge, hitch out to Te Anau Top 10 Holiday park – camp
- Te Anau rest day – camp
- Te Anau bus to Princhester Road walk to Aparima hut – DOC hut
- Aparima hut to Telford campsite – camp
- Telford camp via Linton Station to Birchwood Station Sarah & Dean’s place – dorm room
- Birchwood Station to Merrivale Road – Merriview hut – Hut
- Merriview hut via Longwood forest to Martins hut – DOC hut
- Martins hut to Colac Bay Tavern – cabin
- Colac Bay Tavern to Riverton Monkeys backpackers (terrible experience here, use campsite instead) – room
- Riverton to Invercargill to Bluff via public transport. Southern Comfort Backpackers Invercargill – dorm room
- Invercargill to Nelson rest day Inbetween backpackers – dorm room
- Nelson rest day – dorm room
- Nelson to Old Ghost Road mountain bike trail to Goat Creek (off trail)- DOC hut
- Old Ghost Road – Goat Creek hut to Ghost Lake hut (off trail) – camped
- Old Ghost Road – Ghost lake hut to Lyell, then hitch to St Arnaud Travers Sabine lodge – dorm room
- St Arnaud rest day – dorm room
- St Arnaud to Upper Travers hut – DOC hut (camped)
- Upper Travers hut to Blue Lake hut – DOC hut (camped)
- Blue Lake hut to Waiau hut – Waiau Pass – DOC hut (camped)
- Waiau hut to Boyle Flat hut – St James Walkway – DOC hut (camped)
- Boyle Flat hut to Boyle Village ourdoor centre – St James Walkway – hitch to Hanmer Springs – Airbnb
- Hanmer Springs rest day – Airbnb
- Hanmer Springs hitch back to Boyle village, to Hope Kiwi Lodge – DOC hut
- Hope Kiwi Lodge to Hurunui Hut 3 – DOC hut
- Hurunui hut 3 to Locke Stream hut – DOC hut
- Locke Stream hut – rest day – DOC hut
- Locke Stream hut to Morrison’s Footbridge – Arthur’s Pass – The Sanctuary – cabin/pod
- Arthur’s Pass Avalanche Peak track (off trail) – cabin/pod
- Hitch to Cora Lynn Road – Bealey track to Hamilton Hut – DOC hut
- Hamilton hut to Trustpower campsite Lake Coleridge, lift to Methven The Blue Pub – room
- Methven hitch to Glenrock Station with school bus, to Comyns hut – DOC hut (camped)
- Comyns hut to Manuka hut and Lake Emily, got a lift around the river to Mespoptamia Station – room
- Mesopotamia Station to Bush stream track (and out again) hitch to Forest Creek track (off trail) Felt hut – Private hut
- Felt hut (off trail) over Bullock Bow Saddle and Stag Saddle to Camp Stream hut – Private hut
- Camp Stream hut to Lake Tekapo Motel and Holiday Park
- Maitai dam to Browning hut – DOC hut ** Richmond Ranges **
- Browning hut to Slaty hut – DOC hut
- Slaty hut to Tarn hut – Over Little & Big Rintoul and Purple Tops
- Tarn hut to Top Wairoa hut – DOC hut
- Top Wairoa hut to Porters Creek hut – DOC hut
- Porters Creek hut to Red Hills hut and St Arnaud