Trail stories
In 1998, when online journals were in their infancy, Geoff Chapple was one of the first to walk Te Araroa. He took one of the earliest digital cameras, a laptop and a mobile phone and posted stories of his journey.
In the decades since, many other Te Araroa walkers have also recorded and shared their journeys. Their stories give us a powerful insight into Te Araroa and New Zealand.
Not all who walk Te Araroa describe their adventure online, but those who do leave a vivid record. These are their stories.
Jenny and Gerard Wells - website and Instagram
Kirstie and Roger Twiname - Blog
Richard Soult - Instagram
Sandra Davies - Blog and Instagram
Avery Duckett - Instagram
Viktoria Koehler - Instagram
Markus Kauhanen - Facebook - Instagram
Helen Cornwell - Facebook - Instagram
Curtis Stallworthy - YouTube
Danielle Rae - Facebook - Instagram
John Ram - Website - Instagram
Robyn Chappell - Facebook - Instagram
David and Sue Till - Instagram - Facebook
Curtis Stallworthy - YouTube
Victoria and Emilie - Givealittle - Instagram
Alex Ker - Blog
Erin Cooksley - Blog - Instagram Facebook
Wayne Rohrs - YouTube
Jacqui Evans - Facebook
Holly Pfeiffer - Blog / Fundraising / Instagram
David Hoskins - Facebook
Yoginee Patel - Facebook
Tahlia Travels - Instagram
Amanda Farmilo - Fundraising Page / Instagram
Shelby and Jordan - You Tube / Instagram
Chrissie Wright - Facebook
Lisa Fahrenberger - Facebook
Rick W. Chen - Instagram / Blog
Michelle Green (Long White Gypsy) YouTube / Blog / Instagram
Mark Kerr - Facebook / Blog / Fundraising
Jason Povis - Instagram
Hone Plaister - Instagram
Uwe Stemmer - YouTube
Michel and Hilde - Instagram
Fiona Imlach - Blog
Kat Young - Blog
Dom Magnusson - Blog
Pete and Lizzie Cook - Instagram
Candis Hawkins - Website
Michelle Green (Long White Gypsy) - YouTube - Blog - Instagram
Spencer Matthews - Instagram
Lewis Matthews - Running TA - Facebook / Instagram
Gail Curtis - Fundrasing Page
Montana O'Neill - Facebook - Fundrasing Page
Jon from Black Ribbon - Facebook
Gabrielle George - Website
Natalie Gallant - Website
Kay Chapman - Blog
Pete and KK - Walk.laugh.wonder - Blog
Syd King - Instagram
Michael Geck Blog
Amber Nicole Parle Blog / Instagram
Claire Gaide Instagram
Alex McMillen - Website / Instagram
Matthew Gordon - Blog
George Henderson - Blog
Sarah Jackson Blog
Ruben Rauch Instagram
Dave + Baxter Murray - Walk the TA Website / Instagram / Facebook
Brook van reenen Facebook / Instagram
Walk for Wiggly Eyes Website / Instagram / Facebook / Youtube
Jenny Jansson Instagram
Veronika Laskova Instagram / Blog
Gerben van der Zwaard Instagram
Mickey & Michelle - musical tour on foot Website / Instagram / Facebook
Edward Colenbrander Instagram / Blog / Gearlist
Danny Strayer Website / Instagram / Facebook
Anouk Bommer Instagram
Trailblazer Johnny - Instagram
Sonja & Tim - Blog
Dean Raynel - Website
Katrina Megget - Website/Blog
Heiko Strassl - Website
Taya Fabijanic - Website and Instagram
Sebastian Isaksson - Instagram
Caleb Harris Read Blog
Owen Vaughan Follow Owens Facebook page
Eiji Kitai Read Blog Facebook (Japanese/English)
Iain McAllister Read Blog
Bruce Hopkins Facebook | Website | Radio NZ podcasts
Peter Johnston - Website
Catriona Maurice Instagram
Matthew Hill Read Blog
Siri Beisvåg Rom and Anne Lill Instagram
Dan Sanson Read Blog
Sara Vriends Read Blog | Instagram
Julie Stacey Facebook
Tarek Penser Instagram
Valeria Mikhailova Instagram
Nathalie Du Marais Facebook
Marjolein Drenth Instagram
Sergio Colta Instagram
Anja Spitzer and Simon Walter Read Blog
Wayne and Jan Read Blog | Instagram
James Fairman Facebook
Ben and Natalie Read Blog
Anja and Markus Sachse Read Blog (in German)
Jasper van Riet Paap and Marjon van Rijn Read Blog (in Dutch) | Read Blog | Instagram
Klaus Lampacher and Gisela Hutter Read Blog (in German) | Instagram
Sebastiaan Krijnen and Eline Veldboer Read Blog
Cate Hampton-Kerr Facebook
Llew Bardecki Read Blog
Theo Stanley Instagram
Elizabeth Baker and Mckenzie Clark Youtube Video
Elaine and Dave Alden Read Blog
Stuart Hill Photo Blog
Jeremy Kitchen Read Blog
Danelle Kelliher Youtube channel
Aaron Schulz Read Blog
Ethan "Sochi" Gehl Read Blog | Instagram
Nils Knopf Read Blog (in German)
Nobu and Kei Kita Read Blog (also in Japanese)
Marie-Laure Bartholmé and Emilie Van den Broeck Read Blog | Facebook
Tony and Belinda Hadfield Read Blog
Stephen Bretherton and Eunhwa Shim Read Blog (in Korean)
Shelley Butt Read Blog
Michelle Campbell and Jack Faulkner Read Blog | Facebook
Jasper van der Meij and Bibi Veth Read Blog (in Dutch)
Bettina Grotschel Read Blog
Red Lunday de Waal Facebook | Instagram
Frances Boyson Read Blog
Caitlyn Peesker Read Blog | Instagram
Andrew Douch Read Blog
Lyra Kane Read Blog
Jonathan Moake Read Blog
Quinn Workun Read Blog
Sandro Koster Read Blog
Rose and Dylan Gatto Read Blog
Scott Hyde Read Blog
Warwick and Keitha Ross Read Blog
Blair Telford Read Blog
Renee Harper Instagram
Jasper Jarecki, Sam Bartusek, Will Shepard and Jack Durham Read Blog | Instagram
Anthony Page Read Blog
Nigel Christmas Read Blog
Erin Saver Read Blog | Facebook | Instagram
Tom Oakley and Luke Abendroth Read Blog
Matt Condon Read Blog
Zachary Jabin Read Blog
Julia Wilmanns and Hauke Gerdes Read Blog
Amiththan Sebarajah Read Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Brent and Claire Ruru Read Blog
Alex Mason Read Blog | Instagram
Peggy Zwätz Read Blog (in German)
Jess Krejcik and Brad Jipa Read Blog
Stefan Marwick Read Blog
Tane Harre Read Blog
Julia and Samuel Schano Read Blog (in German)
Andrea Hidalgo Read Blog
Gail and Neil Marshall Read Blog
Robin and Chloe Read Blog (in French)
Lisa B Read Blog
Kylie Lang Read Blog
Foote Family Read Blog
Adam Sumner Read Blog
Eric Zachanowich Read Blog
Mark Watson Website
Morgan and Georges Read Blog
Helena Olmas Read Blog
Rachel Kirkbride Read Blog
Sharlene Laskey and Neil McKinlay Read Blog
Emma Burr Facebook
Peter Cleghorn Read Blog
Leslie Roberts Read Blog
Nancy Huber Read Blog
Jordan Reed Read Blog
Philippe Keiser and Nadine Freuler Read Blog (English) | Read Blog (German)
Mick Beckers Read Blog | Youtube documentary
Sophia Lewis Read Blog
Marlies Dorrestein Read Blog
Reyne Palmer Website
Lena and Carsten Goesmann Read Blog (German)
Jay McArthur Read Blog | Website
"Camino Te Araroa" (Rene Duindam, Mike Duindam, Rick Harris) Read Blog
Rebecca Commissaris and Aaron Patzer Read Blog | Watercolour Gallery
Marc Putzi Read Blog (in German)
Bella Ryle and Mat Hibbert Read Blog
Shanti Burton Read Blog
Harriet Southall and Alex Banks Read Blog
Daniel Liu "Cloudwalker" Read Blog
Therese Hullinger Read Blog
Jana Hosemann Read Blog
Nicki Letts and Mat Read Blog | Youtube
Richard Larson ("Skittles") Read Blog
Red Lunday de Waal Facebook
Clare - Blog
Christoph Karallus Read Blog (in German) | Book (in German)
Adele Harris and Carl Hutchinson Read Blog
Paolo Richelli Read Blog (Italian)
Frauke and Thomas Read Blog (German)
Logan Wiwchar Read Blog
Tessa Louwerens Read Blog
Stefan Kosian Read Blog (German)
Tim Atkinson Read Blog
Emma Lagrelius Facebook
Margaret Hedderman Read Blog
Bobby Hedderman Read Blog
Patricia and Justin La Vigne Read Blog
Anna McNuff Read Blog
Tattiana Delaroziere and Arnaud Read Blog
Richard and Achara Read Blog
Eef De Boeck and Per Jonas (PJ) Strand Read Blog
Loïc Jaffro Read Blog | Facebook
Damian Day Read Blog
Kirstine Collins Read Blog
Adam Chambers Read Blog
Nathan Denmark Read Blog
Kylie Lang Read Blog
Mina Holder Website | Facebook | Twitter
Jory Akuhata Read Blog
Jake Lehmann and Megan Townsend Read Blog
Cameron McAlpine Read Blog
Maria Tischleder and Andi Photos
Eleanor Hitchings Read Blog
Bethany Latham Read Blog
Rob Candy Read Blog
Jeanette Rybinski Facebook
Patrice and Justin La Vigne Read Blog
Andrew McFallon Read Blog
Marylene Coutret Read Blog
Dan Slattery Read Blog
Paul Corne Read Blog
Rory Hart Read Blog
Alan Moore and Lauren O'Toole Read Blog
Jazmin Ellzey and Cody Cardwell Read Blog
Quoc "Double Magic" Nguyen Read Blog
Kenzie O'Keefe and Cameron Navis Read Blog
Jörg Flügge Read Blog
Anthony Behrens and Fiona Burleigh (Whin and Whiona) Read Blog
Elly Govers and Sally Woods Read Diary
Emmanuelle (Manu) Bourmalo Read Blog
Wayno and Di Read Blog
Reino Koopmans and Piet Miedema Read Blog
Hannah and Selwyn Cleland Read Blog
Peter and Andrew Read Blog
Lui and Kristina Herz Read Blog
Glen and Sherren Read Blog
Mairi-Anne and Hannah Nel Read Blog
Pat Beath "Kiwiscout" Read Blog
Rowan Worthy and Jack Newton Read Blog
Pat Shannon and Sue Busfield Read Blog
Liz and Joe Delfino Read Blog
Zeina Saad and Mike Lissner Read Blog
Floris van Bergeijk Read Blog
Jan Handrejk Read Blog
Kaitlin (Jetpack) and Elaine (Brazil Nut) Read Blog
Thorsten Brocke Read Blog
Nick Lockwood Read Blog
Fred and David Rennie Read Blog
Julie Millar Read Blog
Richard Margesson Read Blog
Frederic Morel Read Blog
Adam Chambers Read Blog
Dave Giese and Alicia Read Blog
Amy O'Hoyt, Britt Maillet, Jeb Bates and Robby Robertson Read Blog
Anne Kuehne and Jan Read Blog | Facebook
Jeanette Rybinski Facebook
Gordon Somerville Read Blog
Richard Bowles Go to Website | Facebook | Watch Video
Linda Donaldson Go to Website
Jez Bragg Read Blog
Kyle Lintern Read Blog
Davorin Fahn Web Album
Franzi and Jona Read Blog
Tony Walton Read Blog
Emily and Phil Read Blog
Hannah Joynt Read Blog
Hattie and John Read Blog
Bruno Durand Read Blog
Melanie Delpont Read Blog
Benjamin James Go to Website
Rajiv Moorthy Read Blog
Dean Crawford Go to Website
John Lockwood Go to Website
Sarn and Luigi Paroli Read Blog
Clara Mills-Romines and BJ Romines Read Blog
Sophie Were and Shaun McArthur Read Blog
John Hibbs Read Blog
Cisco and Roadrunner Read Blog
Te Araroa Tatoru Read Blog
Olivier Moly Go to Website
Lynne and Steve Brodie Read Blog
Freebird Read Blog
Weka and Kea Read Blog
Philippa Daley and Madeleine Linke Go to Website
Paul Garland Read Blog
Ashley Selman and Billy Blohm Go to Website
ToeK Go to Website
Dave and Clare Go to Website
Rob and Debbie McColl Read Blog
Tengu Read Blog
Nicky and Cookie Go to Website
Judith Humbert Read Blog
Shalane Hopkins and Alex Ward Read Blog | Go to Website | Watch Video
Anders Ford, Damien and Landey Patton - TastyTrek Read Blog | Go to Website | Watch Video
Stuart Fleming Read Blog | Watch Video
Yeti Read Blog |
Trail Stories: Historical
Geoff Chapple
Geoff Chapple — one of our great Kiwis — picked up the concept that had previously floated around without real traction.
What followed was an 18-year labour of love to turn Te Araroa into reality, picking up many willing contributors along the way.
To bring Te Araroa to life, Geoff walked New Zealand himself — covering the North Island in 1998, then the South Island in 2002.
Geoff wrote extensively about Te Araroa, first releasing a publication in 2002, Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail (One Man Walks His Dream), then in 2011, Te Araroa: A Walking Guide to New Zealand’s Long Trail. Geoff also kept a blog of his walking expeditions and, in 2001, produced a study of international long walking trails as part of a Churchill Fellowship.
Geoff Chapple’s early walking journals
Geoff Chapple’s Churchill Fellowship report
George Spearing
The last New Zealand long walker we know of is George Spearing.
George Spearing took early retirement from the Fire Department — the Devonport Fire Station, actually — and decided to look at the North Island. He’d already walked the 4,000 km Pacific Crest Trail along the Sierra Nevada Range in America. His North Island route, mainly off-road, started at the northernmost point, Surville Cliffs, and ended at its southernmost, Cape Palliser. He took 73 days — from 24 November 1996 — 5 February 1997.
George firmly closed the door of his Whangaparaoa home to begin his long hike and dislodged the lucky horseshoe. He set out donged and bleeding, was almost washed off Te Horo Beach Headland but got to Cape Reinga, then walked 90-Mile Beach to Ahipara. He was bitten by wild dogs just beyond that town, but kept beach-walking down the western coast, kayaked across the Hokianga and Kaipara Harbours, and went on through Woodhill Forest to Muriwai and the Waitakere Ranges. He kayaked across the Manukau Harbour to Papakura, tramped the Hunua Range to Kopu, then Paeroa and entered the Karangahake Gorge. He followed bush tracks in the Kaimai-Mamaku Range, then exited the Carter Holt Harvey forestry roads that led through Taupo. He road-walked SH1 to the Kaimanawa Range, then entered the Ruahines. Lousy weather closed in, and strong winds lifted him off his feet, but he made it out, crossed farmland to Ashhurst, road-walked to Shannon, then traversed the Tararuas, linked with the Rimutaka Incline trail, road-walked to Lake Ferry, then round the coast to Cape Palliser.
A good walk! But different from Te Araroa — exclusively, as ours is not, a coastal, bush, and mountain range trail. “Did I enjoy my walk?” he says. “I must honestly say that I did not.” He found it “a slog, really”, with too few enjoyable moments. George — you gotta road-test Te Araroa sometime!
Chris Gulley and the Te Araroa Expedition 1995
In 1995, Chris Gulley and two friends, Ron Enzler and Wendy van den Berg undertook the Te Araroa Expedition from Cape Reinga to Bluff to “promote the potential of an end-to-end trail of Aotearoa / New Zealand”. Originally planned as the Aotearoa Adventure Trail, the newly formed Te Araroa Trust asked the trio to join forces with them.
Chris had, in 1992, walked the entire Appalachian Trail in the USA and came back home with the same vision for New Zealand. The journey was undertaken on foot, by mountain bike and by sea kayak — the thinking being that these alternative forms of self-propelled transport would add some ‘spice’ to the trail and could be offered as alternatives to walking (and, in turn, employ local operators).
The trio started in February 1995 and reached Bluff in May 1995, just after the first snows of the winter. They covered roughly 3,000 km — with a third of each on foot, bike and kayak.
Rex Hendry
In 1983/84, Rex Hendry walked from the top to bottom of New Zealand through the bush – a little under 3000 km in 168 days. The route explored the possibility of a North-South Walkway through the country and stuck closely to the mountainous geological fault line that runs the country’s length. A smelly old tramper from way back, Rex Hendry returned to New Zealand in the early 1980s after studying and working in Outdoor Education in UK and Europe. This journey provides a real link between theory and practice!!
He has written an account of the journey. It is a ‘first draft’ written a few months after the trip in 1983/84. The temptation to re-write it and ‘tart it up’ with exciting expletives and dripping metaphors has been resisted. The written word follows this intrepid trek and relays the actual characteristics of the journey – rough, raw, tenacious, and at times tedious. It is an authentic account interpreted from the pages of his logbook, with a foreword by Graeme Dingle MBE ONZM.
A. H. Reed
There may have been other hikes — but the first one everyone knew about was when AH Reed, then aged 85, walked the length of New Zealand between 22 September 1960 and 12 April 1961. The old man — founder of AH and AW Reed Publishing — walked on-road the whole way.
That’s not Te Araroa’s aim.
But, in his book From North Cape to Bluff (AH and AW Reed, 1961), AH explains the journey “Yes, I knew I wanted to travel leisurely on foot through the whole length of our favoured land...” AH that’s it — you had Te Araroa spirit! The octogenarian did the North Island half in 86 days. In the 1960s, the nation enjoyed surfing a single emotion — the Beatles, right? and it got right behind AH.
The 85-year-old’s journey entered New Zealand’s heart. People clapped him through, brought him cups of tea, waved and tooted from cars, and screeched to a halt by the entire busload. And along the route, class after class of school-children were gathered for compulsory but unforgettable immersion in the eerie spell cast by this old, gaunt giant of early hiking.
Interesting that AH chose, for his “leisurely” walk, a route that mostly followed roads but which was, in its geography, similar to Te Araroa’s off-road North Island trail. He went to North Cape, Cape Reinga, Kaitaia, Herekino, Kerikeri, Whangarei, Warkworth, Puhoi, Albany, Auckland, Hamilton, Te Awamutu, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, National Park, Raetihi, Pipiriki, Jerusalem, Wanganui, Marton, Bulls, Palmerston North, Masterton, Wellington.
Esther James – the first person to walk NZ
The first person recorded walking the length of New Zealand was the indomitable Esther James, architect, inventor and fashion model. During 1931 and 1932, James walked 2500km from Spirits Bay to Bluff through New Zealand towns and communities. She worked for the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation promoting buying New Zealand-made goods during the depression. During the walk, she wore NZ-made clothes to focus the nation’s attention on the value of buying NZ-made.
Being the first person to walk the length of New Zealand was just one of James’ adventures. She also completed other long walks and spent time in Australia diving for coral, crocodile hunting and opal mining. She wrote a bestselling book, stood for parliament, designed and built houses and ran several businesses.
Esther James — Te Ara biography
Long-distance walker Esther James reaches Bluff 18 June 1932 – NZ History
Photo: Esther James. Ref: PAColl-5744-10. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22777165