Start – Hamilton HutFinish – Harper Road CampgroundDaily Distance – 19 kmTA Distance – 2251 km Manly experiment to push through the early morning cold:…
Day 111 – Bealey Hut
Start – Bealey HutFinish – Hamilton HutDaily Distance – 15 kmTA Distance – 2232 km Before leaving town, I was fairly convinced that this 4…
Day 110 – Arthurs Pass
Start – Arthurs PassFinish – Bealey HutDaily Distance – 14 km + 5 km off-trailTA Distance – 2217 km Today, I walked like a true…
Day 108/109 – Avalanche Peak
Start – Arthurs PassFinish – Arthurs PassDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – 2203 km Day 108It rained. I mean really rained. The kind of…
Day 107 – Locke Stream Hut
Start – Locke Stream HutFinish – Arthurs PassDaily Distance – 26km + 19km hitchTA Distance – 2203 km Day 5 since embarking on the Harper…
Day 106 – Hurunui #3 Hut
Start – Hurunui #3 HutFinish – Locke Stream HutDaily Distance – 15 kmTA Distance – 2162 km The doors were locked, the windows barred and…
Day 105 – Hurunui Hut
Start – Hurunui HutFinish – Hurunui #3 HutDaily Distance – 9 kmTA Distance – 2147 km It is funny watching the reaction of different nationalities…
Day 104 – Hope Kiwi Lodge
Start – Hope Kiwi LodgeFinish – Hurunui HutDaily Distance – 18 kmTA Distance – 2138 km The weather today can be best described as cycloney….
Day 103 – Boyle Village
Start – Boyle VillageFinish – Hope Kiwi LodgeDaily Distance – 25 kmTA Distance – 2120 km A pretty unremarkable day today. Pretty much all of…
Day 102 – Hanmer Springs
Start – Hanmer SpringsFinish – Boyle VillageDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – 2095 km I guess I did exhaust my hitching luck yesterday after…
Day 101 – Rest Day
Start – Boyle VillageFinish – Hanmer SpringsDaily Distance – 7 kmTA Distance – 2095 km A thoroughly relaxing day made possible by the kindness of…
Day 100 – Anne Hut
Start – Anne HutFinish – TA km 2088 (nr Boyle Village)Daily Distance – 22 kmTA Distance – 2088 km Last night, on a whim, I…
Day 99 – Waiau Hut
Start – Waiau HutFinish – Anne HutDaily Distance – 26 kmTA Distance – 2066 km A day for getting the head up, looking around and…
Day 98 – Upper Waiau Forks
Start – Upper Waiau ForksFinish – Waiau HutDaily Distance – 7 kmTA Distance – 2040 km I can’t be 100% sure, but I’m reasonably confident…
Day 97 – Blue Lake Hut
Start – Blue Lake HutFinish – Upper Waiau ForksDaily Distance – 8 kmTA Distance – 2033 km Rarely have I felt so tired at 2:30…
Day 96 – John Tait Hut
Start – John Tait HutFinish – Blue Lake HutDaily Distance – 22 kmTA Distance – 2025 km A day of heroic deeds, mainly in the…
Day 95 – St Arnaud
Start – St ArnaudFinish – John Tait HutDaily Distance – 24 kmTA Distance – 2003 km Dear Lord my bag is heavy today. My food…
Day 94 – Nelson
Start – NelsonFinish – St ArnaudDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – 1979 km Today was a day for unforeseen meetings, unanticipated reunions and a…
Day 93 – Mid Wairoa Hut
Start – Mid Wairoa HutFinish – NelsonDaily Distance – UnknownTA Distance – off trail When crossing strong rivers you have to be lucky every time…
Day 92 – Rintoul Hut
Start – Rintoul HutFinish – Mid Wairoa HutDaily Distance – 15 kmTA Distance – 1924 km Today saw a dramatic increase in the number of…
Day 91 – Old Man Hut
Start – Old Man HutFinish – Rintoul HutDaily Distance – 6 kmTA Distance – 1909 km To paraphrase; all 5 hour sections are equal, but…
Day 90 – Starveall Hut
Start – Starveall HutFinish – Old Man HutDaily Distance – 13 kmTA Distance – 1903 km Today has been the type of day I hoped…
Day 89 – Hackett Hut
Start – Hackett HutFinish – Starveall HutDaily Distance – 5 kmTA Distance – 1890 km The greatest challenge of today has been not binge eating…
Day 88 – Middy Creek Hut
Start – Middy Creek HutFinish – Hacket HutDaily Distance – 19 kmTA Distance – 1885 km A wet but lovely end to the Pelorus river…
Day 87 – Pelorus Bridge
Start – Pelorus Bridge Campground Finish – Middy Creek HutDaily Distance – 27 kmTA Distance – 1866 km Day 1 on the Pelorus river trail…
Day 86 – Havelock
Start – HavelockFinish – Pelorus Bridge Campground Daily Distance – 21 kmTA Distance – 1839 km My latest trail start so far today. It was…
Day 85 – Anakiwa
Start – Anakiwa (Smiths Family Holiday Park)Finish – HavelockDaily Distance – 14 kmTA Distance – 1818 km The link pathway between Anakiwa and Havelock seems…
Day 84 – Cow Shed Bay
Start – Cow Shed BayFinish – Anakiwa (Smiths Family Holiday Park)Daily Distance – 24 kmTA Distance – 1804 km War, famine, disease. Terrible afflictions that…
Day 83 – Camp Bay
Start – Camp BayFinish – Cow Shed BayDaily Distance – 22 kmTA Distance – 1780 km The Queen Charlotte track has many qualities to recommend…
Day 82 – Ship Cove
Start – Ship CoveFinish – Camp BayDaily Distance – 25 kmTA Distance – 1758 km Day 1 of the south island journey. To better savour…
Day 81 – Wellington
Start – WellingtonFinish – PictonDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – 1733 km Goodbye North island, hello South! Having very little left to do I…
Day 78/79/80 – Porirua/Wellington
Start – Camp Elsdon, Porirua / WellingtonFinish – WellingtonDaily Distance – 32 km + 11 kmTA Distance – 1733 km It was pointed out to…
Day 77 – Paekakariki
Start – Paekakariki Holiday ParkFinish – Camp Elsdon, PoriruaDaily Distance – 28 kmTA Distance – 1690 km It has been a real slog today. My…
Day 76 – Waikanae
Start – WaikanaeFinish – Paekakariki Holiday ParkDaily Distance – 20 kmTA Distance – 1662 km Another day, another town I can’t remember the name of….
Day 75 – Parawai Lodge
Start – Parawai LodgeFinish – WaikanaeDaily Distance – 25 kmTA Distance – 1642 km Today I bade a fond, but relieved, farewell to the Tararuas…
Day 74 – Waitewaewae Hut
Start – Waitewaewae HutFinish – Parawai LodgeDaily Distance – 9.5 kmTA Distance – 1617 km Another short day of only 5.5 hours walking. I did…
Day 73 – Nichols Hut
Start – Nichols HutFinish – Waitewaewae HutDaily Distance – 8 kmTA Distance – 1608 km A most excellent New Year’s in the Tararuas! Today saw…
Day 72 – Te Matawai Hut
Start – Te Matawai HutFinish – Nichols HutDaily Distance – 12 kmTA Distance – 1600 km After yesterday’s reasonably large amount of ascent and late…
Day 71 – Wellingtonby
Start – WellingtonFinish – Te Matawai HutDaily Distance – 18 kmTA Distance – 1587 km Today I left Wellington, climbed up into the Tararua ranges…
Day 69/70 – Rest Days
Start – WellingtonFinish – WellingtonDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – off-trail A pleasant, but frustrating couple of days. Pleasant because I have been able…
Day 68 – Whakapapaiti Hut
Start – Whakapapaiti HutFinish – National Park / WellingtonDaily Distance – 20 km + 5hr bus rideTA Distance – off-trail You know you’re back in…
Day 67 – Mangaturuturu Hut
Start – Mangaturuturu HutFinish – Whakapapaiti HutDaily Distance – 11 kmTA Distance – off-trail Unfortunately yesterday’s sun has proven to be an aberration and we’re…
Day 66 – Mangaehuehu Hut
Start – Mangaehuehu HutFinish – Mangaturuturu HutDaily Distance – 15 kmTA Distance – off-trail One of the finest days hiking of the trip so far….
Day 65 – Rangipo Hut
Start – Rangipo HutFinish – Mangaehuehu HutDaily Distance – 8.5 kmTA Distance – off-trail Today my luck with the weather ran out. Mild – heavy…
Day 64 – Waihohonu Hut
Start – 2 km before Waihohonu hutFinish – Rangipo hutDaily Distance – 14 kmTA Distance – off-trail As many men of a certain age know,…
Day 63 – Taupo
Start – TaupoFinish – 2km before Waihohonu hutDaily Distance – 12 kmTA Distance – off-trail Today is the first day of the 3rd month of…
Day 62 – Rest Day
Start – TaupoFinish – TaupoDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – off-trail The weather today has been as perfect as could be. Sun, barely any…
Day 61 – Bulls
Start – BullsFinish – TaupoDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – off-trail I was very glad for a late start today. Owing to a combination…
Day 60 – Koitiata
Start – KoitiataFinish – BullsDaily Distance – 30 kmTA Distance – 1465 km Today’s walk was half lovely and half exceedingly boring. The day started…
Day 59 – Whanganui
Start – WhanganuiFinish – KoitiataDaily Distance – 36 kmTA Distance – 1433 km I loved the river, it was everything I’d hoped it would be,…
Day 58 – Hipango Park
Start – Hipango ParkFinish – WhanganuiDaily Distance – 20 kmTA Distance – 1397 km On the TA, as in cheap slasher movies, finishing something off…
Day 57 – Jerusalem
Start – Jerusalem (St Joseph’s Convent)Finish – Hipango ParkDaily Distance – 53 kmTA Distance – 1377 km My last full day on the Whanganui river….
Day 56 – Bridge to Nowhere Lodge
Start – Bridge to Nowhere LodgeFinish – Jerusalem (St Joseph’s Convent)Daily Distance – 32 kmTA Distance – 1324 km And so the river became suddenly…
Day 55 – John Coull hut
Start – John Coull campsite & hutFinish – Bridge to nowhere lodge & campsiteDaily Distance – 35 kmTA Distance – 1292 km Today’s departure was…
Day 54 – Whakahoro
Start – WhakahoroFinish – John Coull campsite & hutDaily Distance – 37.5 kmTA Distance – Off-trail Today we passed into scenery that wouldn’t have been…
Day 53 – Ohinepane
Start – Ohinepane campsiteFinish – Whakahoro bunkroom & campsiteDaily Distance – 35 kmTA Distance – 1245 km Today was notable for fewer rapids, unexpected reunions…
Day 52 – Taumarunui
Start – Taumarunui (Canoe hire company)Finish – Ohinepane campsiteDaily Distance – 21 kmTA Distance – Off-trail At last! Day 1 on the Whanganui river. It’s…
Day 51 – National Park
Start – National ParkFinish – Taumarunui (Canoe Hire Company)Daily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – 1075 km A day of waiting around today. The bus…
Day 50 – National Park
Start – National ParkFinish – National ParkDaily Distance – 46 km cycle + 12 km walk to/from townTA Distance – Off-Trail (well, out-of-sequence anyway) Today…
Day 48/49 – Rest Days
Start – TaumarunuiFinish – TaumarunuiDaily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – 1075 km After a great deal of thoughtful beard stroking I have burnished my…
Day 47 – Bennett road campground
Start – Bennett road campground (timber trail exit)Finish – TaumarunuiDaily Distance – 26kmTA Distance – 1075 km After today, I have a new appreciation for…
Day 46 – Piropiro Campground
Start – nr Piropiro Campground (the timber trail)Finish – Bennett road campground (timber trail exit)Daily Distance – 28 kmTA Distance – 1049 km Happy birthday…
Day 45 – Bog Inn Hut
Start – Bog Inn Hut (the timber trail)Finish – nr Piropiro campground (the timber trail)Daily Distance – 34 kmTA Distance – 1021 km 1000 kms!…
Day 44 – Pureora
Start – PureoraFinish – Bog Inn Hut (the timber trail)Daily Distance – 17 kmTA Distance – 987 km As it was put to me earlier,…
Day 43 – Mangaokewa
Start – TA km 933 (nr Mangaokewa)Finish – PureoraDaily Distance – 37 kmTA Distance – 970 km There was an interesting after dinner debate last…
Day 42 – Te Kuiti
Start – Te Kuiti (Casara Mesa backpackers)Finish – TA km 933 (nr Mangaokewa)Daily Distance – 20 kmTA Distance – 933 km Short distance, beautiful scenery,…
Day 40/41 – Rest Days
Start – OtorohangaFinish – Te Kuiti (Casara Mesa backpackers)Daily Distance – 0 kmTA Distance – 913 km After the horror show of day 39, yesterday…
Day 39 – Mt Pirongia
Start – TA km 855 (after mt Pirongia)Finish – OtorohangaDaily Distance – 42 kmTA Distance – ? I have suspected since planning this trip that…
Day 38 – Karamu
Start – TA km 832Finish – TA km 855Daily Distance – 23 kmTA Distance – 855 km At 958 metres mt Pirongia is the first…
Day 37 – Hamilton
Start – HamiltonFinish – TA km 832 (nr Karamu)Daily Distance – 32 kmTA Distance – 832 km Today I posed with a giant fish cutout,…
Day 36 – Rest Day
Start – HamiltonFinish – HamiltonDaily Distance – 0kmTA Distance – 800km Prior to filming “The Lord of The Rings”, location scouts searched for nearly 12…
Day 35 – Ngaruawahia
Start – NgaruawahiaFinish – HamiltonDaily Distance – 20kmTA Distance – 800km It’s fair to say that among Kiwis, Hamilton has something of a reputation problem….
Day 34 – Hakarimata Scenic Reserve
Start – Hakarimata Scenic Reserve (Remember When Guesthouse)Finish – Ngaruawahia (The Arrow Motel)Daily Distance – 14kmTA Distance – 780km After pushing on for longer than…
Day 33 – Hampton Downs
Start – TA km 736 (nr Hampton Downs)Finish – Hakarimata Scenic Reserve (Remember When Guesthouse)Daily Distance – 31kmTA Distance – 767km Despite seeming to dawdle…
Day 32 – Auckland
Start – AucklandFinish – TA km 735 (nr Hampton Downs)Daily Distance – 22km + Auckland-Pokeno busTA Distance – 735km After much deliberation, this morning saw…
Day 30/31 – Rest Days
Start – AucklandFinish – AucklandDaily Distance – 0kmTA Distance – 595km The main job for my rest days was an expensive trip to the outdoor…
Day 29 – Stillwater
Start – Stillwater Holiday ParkFinish – AucklandDaily Distance – 32kmTA Distance – 595km Auckland! I can’t believe that I am arriving back here with the…
Day 28 – Puhoi
Start – PuhoiFinish – Stillwater Holiday ParkDaily Distance – 33kmTA Distance – 563km Today was an exercise in positive thinking. That statement is itself an…
Day 27 – Dome Forest
Start – TA km 504 (Dome forest)Finish – PuhoiDaily Distance – 26kmTA Distance – 530km Today was just what I needed after the hard walking…
Day 26 – Pakiri
Start – TA km 483 (past Pakiri)Finish – TA km 504 (Dome forest)Daily Distance – 21kmTA Distance – 504 km I have discovered this past…
Day 25 – Mangawhai
Start – Riverside Holiday Park, MangawhaiFinish – TA km 483 (Past Pakiri)Daily Distance – 27kmTA Distance – 483km Thru-hiking is a strange relationship. Organising my…
Day 24 – Waipu Cove
Start – Camp Waipu CoveFinish – Riverside Holiday Park, MangawhaiDaily Distance – 30kmTA Distance – 456km It is becoming noticable that week-by-week, if not quite…
Day 23 – Whangarei
Start – WhangareiFinish – Camp Waipu CoveDaily Distance – 27kmTA Distance – 426km I’m a big believer in fate. Or, as I could more accurately…
Day 21/22 – Rest Days
Start – WhangareiFinish – WhangareiDaily Distance – 0kmTA Distance – 399km Two very relaxing days of sloth and gluttony. The weather has made a slight…
Day 20 – Ocean Beach
Start – Jagger’s Camp, Ocean BeachFinish – Whangarei Falls Youth HostelDaily Distance – 18km (+ off-trail hitch to Whangarei)TA Distance – 399km Sometimes decisions result…
Day 19 – Pataua
Start – Tide Song B&B/Campground, PatauaFinish – Jagger’s Camp, Ocean BeachDaily Distance – 10kmTA Distance – 381km Today was a short and fairly leisurely walking…
Day 18 – Ngunguru
Start – Mila’s Backpackers Ranch, NgunguruFinish – Tide Song B&B/Campground, PatauaDaily Distance – 31kmTA Distance – 371km Pan fried eggs with a pinch of salt…
Day 17 – Hansens Hill
Start – Hansen’s HillFinish – Mila’s Backpackers Ranch, NgunguruDaily Distance – 33kmTA Distance – 340km Waking up to the sound of rain on my tent,…
Day 16 – Oakura
Start – OakuraFinish – Hansens Hill (approx)Daily Distance – 22km (+3 off trail)TA Distance – 307km Day 16 of the trek and for the first…
Day 15 – Paihia
Start – PaihiaFinish – OakuraDaily Distance – 38km (including approx 5km hitching)TA Distance – 285km Refreshed after a pretty lazy rest day, today was a…
Day 14 – Rest Day
Start – PaihiaFinish – PaihiaDaily Distance – 0kmTA Distance – 247km Today’s rest day has been spent with the customary trail admin tasks of paying…
Day 13 – Kerikeri
Start – KerikeriFinish – PaihiaDaily Distance – 26kmTA Distance – 247km After visiting the supermarket upon arrival into Kerikeri yesterday my rucksack feels like someone…
Day 12 – DOC Puketi Recreation Area
Start – DOC Puketi Recreation AreaFinish – KerikeriDaily Distance – 22kmTA Distance – 221km Today was a day for changing scenery. Passing into rolling farmland,…
Day 11 – Apple Dam Campsite
Start – Apple Dam Campsite (Puketi Forest)Finish – DOC Puketi Recreation AreaDaily Distance – 25kmTA Distance – 199km A section that I have been looking…
Day 10 – State Highway 1 (TA km 156)
Start – State Highway 1 (TA km 156)Finish – Apple Dam Camp (Puketi Forest)Daily Distance – 18kmTA Distance – 174km A short day today as…
Day 09 – Ratea Forest
Start – Ratea ForestFinish – State Highway 1 (Beyond Raetea Forest)Daily Distance – 16kmTA Distance – 156km Today was a pretty brutal march through the…
Day 08 – The Trampers Inn
Start – The Trampers Inn (TA km 123)Finish – Ratea ForestDaily Distance – 17kmTA Distance – 140km I’m not sure if the toilet at the…
Day 07 – Ahipara
Start – AhiparaFinish – The Trampers Inn (beyond Herakino forest)Daily Distance – 22kmTA Distance – 123km Today was the long awaited start of 6 days…
Day 06 – Rest Day
Start – Ahipara Holiday ParkFinish – Ahipara Holiday ParkDaily Distance – 0kmTA Distance – 101km Not too much to write about today. My main task…
Day 05 – Waipapakauri Holiday Park
Start – Waipapakauri Holiday ParkFinish – Ahipara Holiday ParkDaily Distance – 14kmTA Distance – 101km Another short day today, the 100km point reached and a…