A few months ago I barely owned any hiking gear, and now I'm less than a month away from walking the length of New Zealand! It's been a lot of fun putting a kit together from scratch, with plenty of research, second guessing and gear changes along the way. Think I've finally got everything dialled in!

Heading off from Cape Reinga in mid-November. Got my River Safety Course tomorrow, which will be another thing ticked off the list.

Been getting out on shakedown hikes this month, and so far everything's feeling great. The pack carries well and doesn't feel overly heavy, even with food and water. I've added a couple of luxury items along the way, but I reckon they'll be worth the extra weight over the course of the walk.

I'm planning to add a few things as I head further south and into more mountainous terrain, particularly some extra clothing and changes to my cookset as the conditions get colder. Not expecting to get everything perfect from day one, and I'm sure I'll figure out pretty quickly what works and what doesn't.

Thanks to everyone who's given advice on my previous posts. It's definitely helped me narrow things down and get to this point.

Here's the final(ish) gear list: https://lighterpack.com/r/7ixtnu

Anyone else heading SOBO around mid-November? Would be keen to hear from others starting around the same time!

I’m getting very nervous to start this trail and beginning to get a little cold feet about it. When I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail last year, my nervousness disappeared the first day. Does people ofte experience the nervousness drop when you arrive?

I both move out of my apartment and end my job in 2 weeks, and I am panicking a bit about it all 🙉

Finally a non chemical answer to keeping the black swarm at bay.

Hi All,

My partner and I will be hiking a few portions of the SI TA this winter over the course of about 6 weeks. We're going through the process of registering for the TA, but we're unsure whether the full trail pass or the "section walks" pass is right for our trip.

Does the "section walks" pass entitle you to accommodation at the same huts that the full trail pass does? I understand there will still be a few huts here and there that you need to book separately through DOC. '

Thanks in advance!

hello, I am SOBO starting in November and don’t think I understand booking expectations for TA hikers… a lot of DOC huts (including now in richmond range) are “bookable ahead of time,” how far ahead do people book these huts? what if you have no service, the huts are full, or you’re unable to reach a certain hut by a booked time? I guess I’m a little confused on the booking expectation for huts in the backcountry. thanks!

I’m getting ready to walk the Te Araroa and for some reason finding a decent cold soaking jar in NZ has become way harder than I thought it would be lol

I’m looking for something around 500–600ml, plastic, reasonably lightweight, with a proper screw lid that won’t leak in my pack. Ideally something I can just buy from Pak’nSave, Countdown, New World, etc and eat/remove whatever originally came in it.

I’ve looked at peanut butter jars and a few random containers, but a lot of the ones here either seem too big, heavy, or the lid doesn’t look trustworthy enough to have food and water sloshing around inside my pack.

Has anyone in NZ actually cold soaked on TA or another long trail and found something that worked well?

Would be keen to know exactly what jar/container you used, roughly what size it was, and where you got it from.

Not really after expensive purpose-built hiking containers if a $5 supermarket jar does the exact same job.

Cheers

On the Pacific Crest Trail I only had a garbage plastic bag, that I didn’t even renew. There were small holes in it, but worked fine, because it didn’t really rain.
But I guess it will rain a lot on the Te Araroa, I have heard. What did you do?
Did you put every single thing in a dry bag? Sleeping bag, dry chlothing, food… or did it work okay for you with only a big garbage plastic bag? There is also these pack covers, but come on, it doesn’t look like, they really cover the rain between your back and the backpack.
Any advice? I fear the rain a bit, so nice to have a strategy.
I have bought a gore-tex jacket, and I consider wether I should buy rain pants. But I feel like it could be a bit of a claustrophobic experience. If I hike with rain pants, I will for sure be sweating.

So yes, two questions:
A) how to keep things dry?
B) are rain pants necessary?

Hi!

Looking for your thoughts and ideas on my kit for a NOBO Te Araroa south island only LASH. I've heard this is an early start, so I might have to wait on river crossings. I'm ok with that. I'd love to hear from other folks who've walked it this early (or at all). I'm unfamiliar with the landscape, so anything specific to the area would be wonderful! (I'm coming from Alaska)

I'm back and forth on the sleeping pad. It's a delticate one with less R value than I typically use, but 8.5ozs! I've also got a ~19oz long wide xlite R 4.5, a ~14oz nemo switchback that I could take. It's a decision between comfort (xlite), weight (Nemo tensor elite), and durability (Nemo switchback).

Also interested to hear people's thoughts on the size of the pack. It's 43L inside with another 6-8L in external pockets. Do you think that will be enough volume for this kit + the long Richmond food cary?

Thanks in advance!

Title says it all. I feel nervous starting Te Araroa mid November. Don’t know if I am prepared enough. Can I do this, is the rivers too much, and is it necessary with rain pants… so many questions. But I’m curious. What do you wish you had known? Help a nervous hiker out :)

Kia ora!

I'm arriving in to New Zealand mid November, hopefully for a complete thru, and originally assumed I'd set off SOBO. The more I plan though, the more I'm thinking heading NOBO might be a better option for me:

• Can take my time on the South Island, and use my speedy trail legs on the northern road walks
• Won't have to race against the incoming winter in the South, especially given El Niño
• Be in less busy locations for the holiday rush
• I'm comfortable with solitude

But November is obviously a bit early still, so I'm expecting to need to wait a couple of weeks before getting on trail.

Any thoughts or advice? If you headed NOBO on the South Island, when did you start, and what did you think of your start date? How did you find the first few weeks?

Hi guys, can you help me out with food storage.

So, a BearVault won't be neccessary on the trail. The same goes for an Ursack. I am worried tho about mice and rodents. I thought about a DCF bag from Zpacks or any other brand. However, I read these degrade over time. Because of folding it, the waterproof layer is damaged for example.

What do you guys think about a thick rubble sack as a food pack? And storing this in my bag. Or hanging it by a rope. Cheap and does the trick I suppose?

Any advice or alternative options I can think of?

Thanks!!

I'm starting the TA in a month, and started looking into daily distances and camping.

When I did the PCT the daily distances I covered was based on whatever my body felt like, as there would always be an option to set up camp when I felt like it.

From looking at the different trail apps, I wonder if I'm more restricted, as I can't just set up camp either due to private land or other reasons. So I'm starting to wonder, if my daily distances is more or less chosen for me – typically rather short compared to what I assume I'll be doing.

Other than that, when I filter camp options of Far Out, there's sometimes 50+ km between camps.

What was your experiences in regards to this?

Hi all,

I was planning to do a course on River Safety near Auckland before starting SOBO early November. Unfortunately the courses are all already sold out. All the guides I've read about TA make these courses seem like a no-brainer, how true is this? I liked the idea of doing one but I also wouldn't like to delay my start date by a few weeks just for the course, considering I already have flights into Auckland for November 1st. Please could anyone give me a few more details to help me weigh up my options!

Hi! What do I need to hike TA? Can I just buy the hut, or should I instead buy the more expensive trail pass? And does it cost something to register also? I’m international :)

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share a little project I've been working on after doing the trail last season. As I walked I stopped to chat to local people to learn about the culture, history and landscape of where I was travelling through, and have collated the lovely conversations I had into a podcast. The first 3 episodes are live now, with many more to come. If you have a listen and like it please feel free to follow along. It's on all the usual podcast platforms and the links are below if you're interested. Thank you :)

https://open.spotify.com/show/1qhZINwhwOupRV3q4KDHlP?si=5481a3793f894ad7

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/te-araroa-tales-local-stories-from-new-zealands-long/id6804632577

Kia ora friends!

A couple of questions I’d really appreciate some help with…

I’ll be hiking the TA starting December 12. I know it’s late, and therefore I’ll probably have to hitchhike a little on the North Island to make up some time.

So, onto the questions:
I need my parents to send me my trekking gear from home, as I’m currently travelling in South America with the wrong equipment for the TA.
My question is: Is there a TA Hub in or around Auckland that allows me to have a backpack shipped there from home and also store some of the stuff from my South America trip that I don’t plan on bringing on the trail?

And for those who have started the TA a little late;
What was your experience with South Island temperatures and river crossings?
What would you say is the latest recommended date to start the South Island, based on your own experience?

And well… I thought going to a festival for New Year’s would be fun — so I found AUM. It’s not too far from the trail (well, about 40 km) and works out pretty well considering I’m starting super late.
It’s a little out of the box, but does anyone have similar plans/timing? It would be so much fun to share the first chapter of the TA and celebrate New Year’s with other TA hikers!

Thanks guys, any help is much appreciated 🤍

Hi, I'm planning on hiking the TA SI Nobo. I'll be taking my Nemo Tensor with me (inflatable pad). Do people also take a foam pad with them as extra protection (and comfort)? Or is this not really necessary? I don't want to have to buy a new inflatable pad due to splinters or anything like that.

Thanks!

Hello all, first post here but grateful for all the info we’ve picked up about the TA from here 🙏

My partner and I are planning to start the TA on Jan 1st and will be aiming to do the whole thing headed Southbound. We are both fit hikers with lots of experience across the world but wanted to hear from anyone who has done it late in the season and get any advice and thoughts on this.

Wanna hear about conditions (obvs year dependant) social side, the rivers (inc paddle section) and anything else worth knowing!

We are coming from the UK and our jobs and life commitments mean we can’t fly out until right after Christmas - 28th Dec.

Anyone else heading out for this late start? 😅

Thanks 🙏

I got into Auckland today and I'll be catching my bus to kaitaia the next morning before making my way up to CR.

Anyone here making their way up around the same time?

is it easy to find gaz bottle in groceries store ?

I know that the Pacific Crest Trail had terrible weather conditions this year and stopped hikers from finishing the trail. Does anyone know how the weather on the TA will be this year? :) of course no one knows for sure, but I cannot find predictions anywhere ;o

Hello, because of my job situation, I can earliest start the 7th of November, and I would like to do the whole thing going SOBO😅 For me it is very important to have a social experience. Do you think this is possible?

Interested to hear what people think about the new re-route in the longwoods - pretty much walking part of it, ducking out of the woods for a night as a campground which the TA trust have said 'dont stay there alone' and then back into the woods.

If you haven't seen it, take a look at the new maps for that section.

Essentially it will add an extra day onto the longwoods with the re-route + an unpredictable night in a park which they've said don't camp at alone.

Doesn't sound very inviting, but I understand why they've done it to preserve the track/plants around the track.

I did think that this season they'd have part of the worst bits boardwalked, but hopefully that comes in future seasons. I'll have to come back and walk once that works completed another time.

Hi all!

A bit of context. I am doing the Hexatrek right now with my wife. I am physically above her, and because of this I couldn't do longer/harder days. I'm looking for something to "test my limits". Now, I can do something only in nov-apr time frame, that's the further I can push my sabatical year.

Now, is the Te Araroa a hard thru-hike? Or can it be made one? On the Hexatrek, we averaged 23km per day and I'm looking to push it more, to test myself. I want to say at the end that damn, this was hard :D.

What do you think? Am I looking in the right direction? The alternative would be some thru-hike in Patagonia, but that one is not an "official" thru-hike (however, this wouldn't be a deal breaker)

Hi all! Walking the South Island section of TA has been my big dream for several years and now finally I can get several months off work. However, timing is not ideal and most likely I'II be able to start only around mid-February. I was thinking to go NOBO until end of April. Technically it seems to be possible, but I'm wondering if others have experience with this timeframe and can give an impression of what this could be like. I'm a good walker, but would not want to have to rush 30km a day in order to make it. I'd be fine with skipping a less interesting section now and then, and could accept skipping a mountain section if the weather is not right anymore. To explore the wild places of the SI itself is actually the more important goal than to necessarily follow TA all the time. So my approach is quite flexible. This could be my one chance to do it and I'm not afraid of a little challenge. On the other hand, I want it to be enjoyable - if I'd have to constantly manage my timing and conditions are likely to be very harsh and many sections would not be possible, it would be disappointing.

What are your thoughts on a mid Feb - end of April South Island hike, in terms of weather, safety (river crossings), daylight, temperatures to be prepared for? Would going NOBO or SOBO make a big difference? I'm quite experienced with longer trails, although in high mountains I’ve mostly done day hikes but many of them over many years. I’m not naive about mountain conditions, but the NZ climate will be totally new to me.

Thanks, and cheers from the Netherlands!