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World video travel guide
News • New Zealand • 2011-04-28
New Zealand's 'long pathway' proves popular
As summer draws to a close and hikers prepare to hang up their boots for the season, New Zealand is enjoying new status in the international walking community with Te Araroa - the long pathway that stretches from one end of the country to the other.
At least 20 hikers, from all over the world, have completed the 3000km trail - one of the longest in the world - this season, even though it is not yet officially open.
According to the Te Araroa Trust, indications are that New Zealand’s ‘Long Pathway’ which winds through forests, across farmland, along the coast, over mountains and through valleys - in and out of civilisation - is set to become one of the popular major walking trails of the world.
Intrepid backpackers
The latest two intrepid backpackers to have walked Te Araroa - one of the longest walking trails in the world - are British couple, Simon Cook and Nicky Gibson.
The two designers from Cornwall in England arrived in Bluff at the southern most point of the South Island last week (12 April 2011), nearly six months after setting off from Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island.
As well as ‘Nicky and Cookie’, as they are known in the international long trail community, 28-year-old Alex Ward from Britain and 24-year-old Canadian, Shalane Hopkins, have also completed Te Araroa this season.
The girls were strangers before embarking on the trek - which took them 171 days - and said they were speechless on completing what had been "an epic adventure discovering New Zealand".
Positive feedback
Te Araroa Trust says others to complete the trail, including Keegan Johnson (Tengu) from USA, ‘Clod’ from The Netherlands, ‘Lucy and Rebekah’ and Roger Moir - all New Zealanders - have also posted positive feedback about their experience.
Nicky and Cookie said Kiwis they had met along the way seemed "super chuffed" that the couple had spent so much time adventuring through New Zealand.
"We’ve been cheered on all the way by the lovely people we’ve met in huts, in campsites, up mountains, in pubs, and even by the side of the road. What an awesome bunch the Kiwis are, and what an amazing country. Can’t imagine a more interesting country to walk through," they said.
Walking season
Summer and early autumn - from November through to April - are the recommended months for walking Te Araroa and although 20 people are known to have completed the trail this season, many more have walked sections of it, says Geoff Chapple, Te Araroa Trust chief executive.
Because of the easy accessibility, many Kiwis do a section of the trail and go back to work, with the intention of completing the whole trail over time rather than all in one go like international visitors, says Chapple.
With the increase in popularity, Te Araroa will become a bit of a cultural goal, he says.
"I think it will become a thing that you should walk the length of New Zealand in your lifetime. There are a whole lot of things that suggest long-trail walking is going to get a lot more popular."
Te Araroa opening
It is hoped the full Te Araroa trail will be officially opened this year and meantime volunteers and professional contractors are continuing to work on the remaining sections.
Further negotiations are also being made to secure agreement over access to areas of private land - which will make the pathway more direct.
The long scenic trail meanders along coastline through forests across farmland, up over volcanoes and mountain passes, along river valleys on green pathways and through seven cities.
Te Araroa is listed amongst the major walking trails of the world along with the famous Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Great Wall of China, the Australian Bicentennial National trail and major American long trails like the Trans Canada, American Discovery and Appalachian Trails.
Mercer section
One of the latest sections of Te Araroa to open is the track into Mercer from Clevedon in South Auckland.
The path which comes down from the Hunua Ranges towards Mercer township proved a problem because of the four lane, State Highway 1 - so an underpass was built to ensure a continuous pathway.
Another new section recently completed is the Breast Hill track in the South Island. Breast Hill is 1578m high and provides panoramic views from Mount Aspiring to Lake Hawea across the Hawea and Wanaka Basins.
The full Breast Hill section is 54 km long, has a new hut en route and is a three to four day tramp which is considered a highlight of Te Araroa - The Long Pathway.
One of the best
Geoff Chapple first tramped the Breast Hill ridgeline in 2002 and says he knew then that it could be a sovereign track - "one of the very best".
"It overlooks that distinctive margin where the glaciers of the last ice age stopped, pushing up the moraines around Hawea and Wanaka and melting back. For Te Araroa walkers headed south, there could be no better entry onto Otago," says Chapple.
He said word of mouth and the long trail community blogging and sharing their experiences had led to increased interest in Te Araroa and already the New Zealand pathway was becoming a "must do" for walkers of the world.
