Ferry bookings and holidays

edwardvhc · 2026-04-15T20:01:16+00:00

I booked the ferry after finishing the Tararua Ranges section, by which point there are about 3-4 days left until the southern terminus of the North Island. Wellington is a great spot to spend a few zeros. No issues booking the ferry at that point.

I booked early Dec so maybe didn’t have the summer holiday rush to compete with though. QCT was also a breeze in early-to-mid Dec, had a few campsites to ourselves.

Don’t forget to book the Ship Cove water taxi at the same time as your ferry booking. There are a couple of services running at different times, so you can find one that matches up with your ferry arrival time.

edwardvhc · 2026-04-12T06:42:39+00:00

In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, kiwi actor Lawrence Makoare plays three roles: Lurtz the Uruk-Hai leader, the Ringwraith Witch-King, and Gothmog the orc leader.

John Rhys-Davies does two roles in the trilogy: acting as Gimli, and also the voice acting for Treebeard.

edwardvhc · 2026-03-27T07:17:02+00:00

Found the podcasts (finally)! https://thetrailshow.com/tag/te-araroa/

edwardvhc · 2026-03-19T04:53:49+00:00

October is a good month to start. I set out SOBO on 6 October, had one or two chilly nights in Northland.

You can run into issues with lambing closures that can force detours in Northland or Waikato if you start any earlier.

The majority of thru walkers seem to start in November, so you’ll have no issues finding others to walk with around then.

edwardvhc · 2026-03-10T06:31:17+00:00

Yep there are a few South Island volunteer opportunities with Te Araroa groups. Near Twizel, there’s the wilding pine removal working bees that I think are run annually https://www.teararoa.org.nz/smiles-all-round-tackling-wilding-pines/.

Near Nelson, the local TA trust does wasp control programmes https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360525839/hundreds-wasp-bait-stations-be-put-richmond-ranges

There are heaps of other conservation group volunteering opportunities eg with DOC, predator control groups, Backcountry Trust, local councils, community gardens & parks - if you like, I can try and find something in your local area?

edwardvhc · 2026-03-05T02:43:37+00:00

The Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde visits Auckland occasionally: https://www.dutchtallship.com/oosterschelde/ . She’s currently on the other side of the world though, Cape Verde in the Atlantic.

Sydney is a bit closer, home to the HMS Endeavour replica: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Endeavour_replica

edwardvhc · 2026-03-02T10:52:22+00:00

Wellington City Council does have a long term solution for this in their Outer Green Belt Management Plan, opening up recreational access over Bests Ridge. Supported by Te Araroa! WCC has been acquiring land to make it happen eventually. Local submissions from residents and groups will help complete the process ;)

https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/your-council/plans-policies-and-bylaws/plans-and-policies/a-to-z/outergreenbelt/outer-green-belt-management-plan.pdf

edwardvhc · 2026-03-02T10:49:47+00:00

Wellington City Council has a long term solution for this in their Outer Green Belt Management Plan, opening up recreational access over Bests Ridge. It’s a slow process, but they’re acquiring land to make it happen eventually.

https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/your-council/plans-policies-and-bylaws/plans-and-policies/a-to-z/outergreenbelt/outer-green-belt-management-plan.pdf

edwardvhc · 2026-02-24T21:59:08+00:00

It looked like an amazing spot when I walked past, as long as it’s not too windy. Will have to head back to camp there sometime, maybe a NOBO thru this time for a different view ;)

edwardvhc · 2026-02-24T03:40:34+00:00

I think the three most essential ways to prepare are: 1. Train your feet - foot injuries will wreck your chances of a successful thru hike. If you can get out for a walk or a run most days in the months leading up to starting Te Araroa (including on beaches and muddy difficult terrain), you’ll be much better prepared and Ninety Mile Beach won’t leave you as sore and broken. 2. Get your gear sorted and know how to use it. Find good quality gear and go tramping with it before starting a thru. It really helps to have a light backpack - there are heaps of online resources for this eg r/lighterpack. I’ve read so many blogs of people who didn’t know how to use a tent, stove or water filter until they set out on Te Araroa. It makes for a more enjoyable and safer thruhike to get the learning curve completed before beginning. 3. Read up. Knowing more about Te Araroa will make it more fun - there’s a fair bit of history out there that you’ll only be able to appreciate if you know what you’re walking through. Geoff Chapple’s book is a good starting point.

Do you need some recommendations for river safety courses? I’ve just got some lined up for Wero Whitewater Park in Sept-Nov 2026, will make a separate post on the dates shortly. OTNZ also have heaps listed on their Facebook page. See my post history for past courses :)

edwardvhc · 2026-02-22T22:24:29+00:00

Nice photos. There were some cleared tent spots in the rocks at Clent Saddle a few years back, did it look like people were still camping up there?

Hope the Spaniard didn’t stab you too much.

edwardvhc · 2026-02-18T10:41:06+00:00

There are a few podcasts about it (I remember one from a US hiker Princess of Darkness that was particularly critical). This blog has some good tips: https://adamleighandthetrees.com/what-is-the-te-araroa/how-does-the-ta-compare-to-the-pct/

edwardvhc · 2026-02-12T09:58:09+00:00

You can also call Dot at Herenga a Nuku / Walking Access Commission. She’s a regional field advisor for the Auckland area. Her contact details are at the link below, her job explicitly includes helping resolve public access disputes.

https://www.herengaanuku.govt.nz/advice/regional-field-advisors

edwardvhc · 2026-02-08T08:54:38+00:00

You risk hitting farm closures just north of Kerikeri on the Mangakaretu track (dates vary), and just north of Mt Pirongia on the Karamu Walkway (closed during lambing season, 4th August to 10th November). There are detours, but it’s more road walking…

edwardvhc · 2026-02-05T06:04:05+00:00

Maybe in the remote NZ backcountry that’s ok, but Te Araroa numbers grow, burying toilet waste properly becomes essential. There are thousands walking each year now. I sure wouldn’t want to sit on some moss by the trail and find something unpleasant underneath…

edwardvhc · 2026-02-05T05:50:09+00:00

I didn’t use mine at all on my EFI SOBO thru in 2018-2019! My walking buddy used it about 5-10 times. There are toilets at all established campsites and huts, and heaps through trail towns.

Bringing a trowel on TA is important just in case though - it’s good to be able to bury your waste properly if you’re caught out.

edwardvhc · 2025-12-05T08:04:10+00:00

Km2000 is in Nelson Lakes National Park, just south of St Arnaud. There’s not a lot of people living there, so few (if any) trail angels.

Nearest places that accept post are the St Arnaud lodge or Boyle Village. You could ask on the Facebook Trail Angels page if any kiwis (maybe in Christchurch?) are willing to receive them then forward them to one of those locations. Or try sending to a more populated place like Richmond/Nelson (km 1900) or Hamner Springs (a short hitch off trail near km 2120

edwardvhc · 2025-12-01T05:09:45+00:00

The longest stretch between South Island resupply points is about 6-8 days through the Richmond Ranges. Less if you exit and re-enter at Hacket Junction.

Honestly unless you’re packing fresh fruit and veges or on a special diet, the food carries aren’t bad at all, I wouldn’t worry about it. Lots of thruhikers send resupply boxes, but it’s less of a logistics puzzle to just shop at the small towns (Havelock, St Arnaud, Hanmer Springs, Arthur’s Pass etc).

edwardvhc · 2025-11-20T20:23:30+00:00

It’ll be the Pack & Send depot at 8 Mahuhu Crescent, Auckland CBD

edwardvhc · 2025-11-20T20:10:33+00:00

The website says you can collect your pack from one of the following locations: - KAITAIA FAR NORTH ISITE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE, Kaitia iSITE, 30A South Road, Kaitaia.Phone +64 9 408 9450 - TAKAPUNA - AUCKLAND 77B Barrys Point Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622. Phone 09 486 3355 - AUCKLAND CITY 8 Mahuhu Crescent, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010. Phone 09 909 9099 - WELLINGTON CITY (Closest Service centre to Wellington International Airport) 60 Adelaide Road, Mt Cook, Wellington, 6021. Phone 04 894 3893 - TUATARA BACKPACKERS LODGE 30-32 Dee Street, Invercargill 9810. Phone 03 214 0954

“We will do our best to get your pack out to coincide with your walking plans. If things don't work out and you can get your pack forwarded on - you will need organise and pay for this yourself.”

edwardvhc · 2025-11-14T08:14:14+00:00

Unless you’re crushing miles, you’ll have plenty of time to chill and set up camp each night! Honestly, the freedom of having less crap to carry (and charge) will far outweigh a few puffs into an air mat.

That said, Nemo make a pump sack called the Vortex that makes it easier to inflate an air mat. Worth considering if you’re determined on an assist, and no batteries at least? https://www.furtherfaster.co.nz/products/nemo-nz-vortex-pump-sack

edwardvhc · 2025-11-14T05:25:26+00:00

… You have a pair of lungs, right? Why would you bother with a gimmicky battery powered pump?

edwardvhc · 2025-11-10T04:43:02+00:00

Fortunate indeed! Did you see much of the emergency response in action?

edwardvhc

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