Category: Hiking
Putting one foot in front of the other
Te Araroa Gear Debrief
I posted about what I was taking with me for the TA here, this is to go through how I got on with different pieces. Gear is very personal, so this is just my opinion of how they worked for me and how ... Read More
Te Araroa Budget
When researching a trip, “How much is it going to cost?” is often one of the big questions. It’s impossible to give an answer that will be applicable to everyone as we have our own b... Read More
Te Araroa part 8 – Te Anau to Bluff
It ends! This section covers the rest of Southland to the finish at Bluff. Day 60: Te Anau to Aparima Hut 25km, +800m -600m, 7.5 hours We walked a couple of km to the edge of town to try and get a hit... Read More
Te Araroa part 7 – Wanaka to Te Anau
This section covers the rest of Otago and the start of Southland. Day 49: Wanaka to Highland Creek Hut 31km, +1300m -800m, 10.5 hours We said goodbye to our lovely cottage and dropped the keys off on ... Read More
Te Araroa part 6 – Twizel to Wanaka
This section covers the end of the Canterbury region and the start of the Otago region. Day 41: Twizel to Ohau 30km, +150m -100m, 7 hours We couldn’t get in to our lodge until 3pm and the fronta... Read More
Te Araroa part 5 – Arthur’s Pass to Twizel
This section covers the middle of the Canterbury region. Day 30: Arthur’s Pass to Hamilton Hut 32km, +800m – 600m, 10 hours We got ready in the kitchen so as not to disturb the girls but t... Read More
Te Araroa part 4 – Boyle to Arthur’s Pass
This section covers Lake Sumner Conservation Park and the top of Arthur’s Pass National Park. Day 25: Boyle to Hope Kiwi Lodge 27km, +200m -200m, 7.5 hours Ali and Liv had managed to source a ta... Read More
Te Araroa part 3 – St Arnaud to Boyle
This section covers the Nelson Lakes national park. Day 17: St Arnaud to Lakehead Hut 11km, <100m, 2.75 hours With only 11km on pretty flat ground to cover, I had a lie in at the hostel and l... Read More
Te Araroa part 2 – Havelock to St Arnaud
This section covers the Richmond Ranges (and the Kaikoura interlude). I’ve added some rough ascent and descent to the distance and time (hut to hut times). I had a gloriously sunny couple of day... Read More
Te Araroa part 1 – Wellington to Havelock
It begins! This section covers my faffing around in Wellington and the Queen Charlotte Track. Things that I arranged a few weeks before arriving in New Zealand: Hostel in Wellington Ferry to Picton H... Read More
Te Araroa Gear List
Here is my final* gear list of what I’m taking to New Zealand to hike the South Island section of the Te Araroa. My base weight (total of that in the table below, minus what I’ll be wearin... Read More
South Downs Way: Amberley to Eastbourne
“So, why did you want to go walking at this time of year?” I was on my third train of the morning, 2 hours behind schedule due to delays and cancellations, and the man in the seat opposite... Read More
Getting home, the slow way
I stayed the night at a friend’s house in Bicester, and as I didn’t have plans for the next day, and the forecast was decent, I’d try walking back to Oxford. ‘Try’ as the... Read More