Before You Go
Te Araroa is a life-changing experience both rewarding and challenging. Whether you’re walking the full length of Aotearoa or exploring one section at a time, there’s no single way to walk the trail. It’s your journey, your pace, and your adventure.
This page will help you decide how to approach Te Araroa, what to expect, and how to get started.
Choose Your Journey
Walk a little or the lot. Te Araroa can be walked in many different ways:
- Section walking – Choose one or more sections to walk at a time.
- Island Adventure – Walk Te Ika a Maui, North Island or Te Wai Pounamu, South Island
- Full Te Araroa – Walk the entire trail in one continuous journey.
Section Walking
If you don’t have a few months to spare, or want to build your fitness and skills first, section walking is a great option. You can walk the trail over several years, or even decades , choosing the sections that inspire you most.
Te Araroa is a tapestry of diverse landscapes – sandy beaches, rugged mountain passes, peaceful farm tracks, and even urban streets. Each section offers a unique adventure, so you’ll never tire of the scenery.
Te Araroa is a tapestry of diverse landscapes, from sandy beaches to rugged mountain passes, challenging singletrack to peaceful farm tracks, and even urban streets. Each section offers a unique adventure, ensuring you’ll never tire of the scenery.
Island Adventure – Walking One Island
If walking the whole trail isn’t for you, walking a single island in your own island adventure is a great way to enjoy a long distance Te Araroa experience.
Each island offers a different experience:
- Te Ika a Maui, North Island – A mix of cultural richness, coastal tracks, farmland, and urban sections. It’s more social, with frequent towns and resupply points.
- Te Wai Pounamu, South Island – Remote, rugged, and wild. Expect alpine passes, river crossings, and long stretches between towns. It’s a more backcountry experience and requires solid hiking skills.
Walking one island can take 50-80 days, depending on your pace and weather. It’s a great option for those with limited time or who want to build experience before tackling the full trail.
Full Te Araroa – Walking the whole trail
For those seeking the full Te Araroa experience, walking the entire length of Aotearoa is an adventure like no other. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in the land, connect deeply with its people and stories, and challenge yourself in ways that are both physical and personal. Te Araroa is a bold undertaking, but for those who are ready it offers a journey of transformation, resilience, and unforgettable beauty.
Walking the full length of Te Araroa is called through-walking. You’ll pass through some of the most beautiful and fascinating places in Aotearoa – so we recommend taking your time and soaking it all in.
Most walkers take 50-80 days per island, depending on pace, weather, and rest days. 50 days is a faster pace and requires high fitness and good conditions. 80 days is more relaxed pace allowing time to build fitness, enjoy town stops, and adapt to weather.
Getting Started
Planning is everything. Before you set off make sure you have a good understanding of what lies ahead. We have some great resources available to help you plan your adventure. Check out our trail logistics page and our Trail Hub for everything you need to know to plan your Te Araroa adventure. And don’t forget to register!
Register to Walk
Whether you plan to walk the whole trail, cover a single island or section walk, you need to register for your Te Araroa Pass. As a registered walker, you’ll have access to the most up to date information, support and benefits through our trail partners. You’ll receive your Te Araroa pack with your bag tag and other great information and goodies to get you started on your Te Araroa Journey.
Your Te Araroa Pass includes everything you need to access Te Araroa – your registration, your Trail Pass and your trail contribution.