Naresh running in sandals with the Indian and New Zealand flags over his shoulders, on the path to the Bluff signpost
Cape Reinga, New Zealand to Bluff, New Zealand

Te Araroa

Running · Adventures
Photo: Robyn Edie/Fairfax NZ
Distance
3,054 kmThe length of New Zealand
Days
87From 12 September to 8 December 2014
Support
NoneUnsupported, in sandals
Tramped with
DanMy friend and trail partner
Running for
AwarenessAgainst sex trafficking
Recognition
Runner-upOutdoor Hero of the Year
Route
Cape Reinga to BluffNew Zealand
When
Sep 12, 2014Friday

The length of New Zealand on foot, Cape Reinga to Bluff, running and hiking the whole trail in sandals against sex trafficking.

In 2014 I walked and ran the length of New Zealand on Te Araroa, 3,054 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff, in Bedrock Sandals. My friend Dan and I set off from Cape Reinga on Friday 12 September, and it took 87 days. Along the way I raised money, with Rebekah Clews, who was also walking Te Araroa, for Tear Fund’s Project ACT, fighting human and sex trafficking.

I’ve never had to call upon such deep determination and resolve in all my life, especially after my injury. This would not have been possible without God’s grace, the wonderful help of trail angels, and above all my awesome friend Dan.

One day was so good I almost forgot it was my birthday: day 62.

The walk left a mark on my sandals too. After Te Araroa, Bedrock began prototyping and testing a new sandal line, the Cairn (their story). Dan’s photos from the trail are on his Instagram, @specialopz.

What follows is the trail as I posted it at the time, from training in the Western Ghats and Nepal to the finish at Bluff and a new year on Mt Doom.

In the press: NZ Herald, Newshub, Wilderness, The Outdoor Journal and RNZ Nights.

The journal

87 days on the road, September 13 to December 8, 2014.Pick a day, or start at the beginning and read it like a book.

Before the trail

  1. ·Training in the Western GhatsMonsoon trail running in the Sahyadri hills.
  2. ·Nepal: the Annapurna Circuit and SanctuaryTraining for Te Araroa: Thorong La, Tilicho Lake and Annapurna in 12 days.
  3. ·Getting to the startHong Kong, a ride from a stranger called Carol, and the long way to Cape Reinga.

Northland

  1. 1Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile BeachThe top of New Zealand, and the first sunset of the trail.
  2. 3A zero day in AhiparaNinety Mile Beach done, a stranger’s house, and 18 holes of golf.
  3. 6The Herekino and Raetea forestsFreezing rain, knee-deep clay mud, and covered from head to toe.
  4. 8Omahuta and Puketi forestsThe gnarliest trails of my life.
  5. 10The Bay of IslandsBack to the coast.
  6. 11Farm fences and forestThe farmers who let trampers through.
  7. 13WhananakiThe longest footbridge in the Southern Hemisphere.
  8. 14Mangawhai HeadsThe cliff-top walk.
  9. 15Te Arai beachI feel very lonely.
  10. 16RuakakaKindergarten and primary school kids sang me a Māori song.

Auckland

  1. 17Long Bay to DevonportSandstone cliffs, high tide and a busted knee.
  2. 18Auckland600 km through Northland in the worst weather.

Waikato and King Country

  1. 19Hunua Falls54 km for the day: 674 km in all.
  2. 20Liz, and a ride in a cop carA homemade sandwich by the road, and a kilometre in a police car.
  3. 21The open roadThe loneliness and solitude are making me grow.
  4. 22Rangiriri to HamiltonWhen the going gets tough, the tough crawl under a rock and cry a little.
  5. 24Mt PirongiaGusts of 150 to 170 km/h, hail and freezing rain.
  6. 28Pureora ForestThe most rugged section: 1,044 km in 28 days, and zero blisters.

Tongariro and the Whanganui

  1. 30The Tongariro Alpine CrossingMt Doom from Mt Tongariro: a dream come true.
  2. 35The Whanganui RiverDefinitely the best four days of my life.

The Tararua

  1. 39Mt Crawford, above the cloudsA magical moment that overcomes all the pain.
  2. 41Wellington: the end of the North Island41 days and 1,686 km.

Marlborough and Nelson

  1. 42The Queen Charlotte TrackDolphins in the Marlborough Sounds.
  2. 43A real challenge1,753 km in 43 days, and Laz’s words.
  3. 47Snow in the Richmond RangeBlue sky to hail to snow in half an hour.
  4. 48Little Rintoul and Mt RintoulStunning views of the Southern Alps.
  5. 51The Richmond RangePorters Creek Hut, and 1,928 km.
  6. 56Waiau PassMt Traverse, and the end of Nelson-Marlborough.

Canterbury

  1. 60Lake Sumner and the HurunuiA sunset, sandflies, and a hot stream soak.
  2. 62The Pinnacles, on my birthdayThat one time I forgot it was my birthday.
  3. 64The Clent HillsTussock and spear grass, and the simpler life.
  4. 68Lake Tekapo2,371 km, a sunset, and a night of doubt.
  5. 69The injuryA nasty fall on the Two Thumb track.
  6. 71Lake OhauGreat weather, then bone-chilling wind and rain.
  7. 73The Ahuriri RiverAn impossible crossing, a 10 km detour, and no water for the noodles.

Otago

  1. 76Lake Wanaka and the MotatapuA lone tree, and a knee-busting track.

Southland

  1. 82So closeThe Mararoa River, and My Precious.
  2. 85Longwood Forest, and the last night in the tentElectric fences, tussock landmines and 60 km to go.
  3. 86Oreti BeachMy Precious and I, walking towards Bluff.
  4. 87Bluff87 days, 21 hours, 28 minutes and 56 seconds.

After the trail

  1. ·Mt Doom, and a new yearThanking the people who helped, and the first sunrise of 2015 from Mt Doom.
Start reading →

The route

OpuaWaipuPuhoiAucklandNgaruawahiaHamiltonTe KuitiNational ParkPipirikiBullsWaikanaeWellingtonShip CoveSt ArnaudLake ColeridgeTekapoWanakaQueenstownCape ReingaBluff
The Te Araroa trail. Each day of the journal puts a dot where I was.

Further reading

Running · Adventures · 2014Home is behind, the world aheadBiking · Adventures · 2015The Wild Atlantic WayAdventures · 2015A night on the Cliffs of MoherRunning · Adventures · Food · 2015Black Forest cake in the Black Forest

Filed in

RunningAdventuresWeek 1,661

Comments

    Naresh reads every comment before it appears.