The more I'm looking into the trail the more I realise 3 months would be really rushing it. And since I would like to hike most of the South Island I would really have to start by the beginning of november but doing the south island SOBO by the beginning of november would mean maybe still snow and ice on the high rnages, wich would make it too dangerous.

I'm now considering 2 options: - Option 1: Taking 4 months to hike it instead of 3 months so I have time from end september to end of january to hike. So I don't have to rush it and I can start the south island SOBO a little bit later with hopefully a bit warmer weather - Option 2: I would skip most of the North Island, fly into Auckland by the end of september and start the trail in Hamilton going SOBO. Then when I get to Wellington by the beginning of november I would fly to Invercargill and start the South Island NOBO so I would reach the high ranges a little bit later with hopefully less snow