“The moment you stop accepting challenges is the moment you stop moving forward.”
​-Anonymous 

People
This challenge is more personal, some people really enjoy meeting other hikers on the trail. For me, I like to be alone with nature. If you are unsocial like me, there are two things you can do to minimize the number of people you encounter. The secret (which I unfortunately figured when it was too late) is to time your hike and its direction well.
Direction: To give you an example, the year I did the Te Araroa, only about 50 people were going northbound, a thousand others were southbound. What that means is if you are going north you will encounter more than a thousand people. I personally think the South Island is better done northbound since you finish with some of the nicest and hardest parts. But if I would do it again, I would be southbound just to avoid meeting the crowd.

Time: Most people start the North Island (southbound) in November and the South Island (northbound) in December-January. So start a little earlier to get ahead of the crowd, but keep in mind some mountain in the north of the South Island can still have snow in November-December.  

Weather
Wind in New Zealand can be pretty strong! It will literally throw you off balance. I have heard of a few people having their tent collapsing under the wind. Rain can come swiftly and the weather forecasts can be inaccurate in the mountains. I have dedicated a full blog post on Hiking in Harsh Weather.
Huts: The Te Araroa is blessed to have multiple huts on the way. As part of my prepping I kept a list of every hut/town which is right on the trail, to be prepared in case of stormy days or emergency. Keep in mind that some huts can be pretty busy and you are not assured to have a spot when you get there (especially if the hut is small and you're late). Please note that these distances are based on the Te Araroa Trail of 2019-2020 so if they change even slightly the trail these numbers will be off.
Northbound Shelter list
Bluff (~km 3006)
Invercargill (~km 2973)
Riverton (~km 2941)
Martin's Hut (~km 2898)
Lower Wairaki Hut (~km 2808)
Aparima Hut (~km 2795)
Lower Princhester Hut (~km 2779)
Careys Hut (~km 2719)
Boundary Hut (~km 2713)
Taipo Hut (~km 2701)
​Greenstone Hut (~km 2691)
Slip Flat Hut (~km 2687)
Queenstown (~km 2664)
Roses Hut (~km 2626)
Highland Creek Hut (~km 2616)
Fern Burn Hut (~km 2610)
Wanaka (~km 2573)
Lake Hawea (~km 2560)
Pakituhi Hut (~km 2550)
Stodys Hut (~km 2539)
Top Timaru Hut (~km 2526)
Twizel (~km 2444)
Lake Takepo (~km 2389)
Camp Stream Hut (~km 2355)
Royal Hut (~km 2340)
Stone Hut (~km 2334)
Crooked Spur Hut (~km 2324)
Manuka Hut (~km 2283)
Comyns Hut (~km 2262)
A Frame Hut (~km 2255)
West Harper Hut (~km 2194)
Lagoon Saddle Hut (~km 2189)
Bealey Hut (~km 2183)
Mingha Bivouac (~km 2166)
Goat Pass Hut (~km 2163)
Upper Deception Hut (~km 2161)
Kiwi Hut (~km 2136)
Locke Stream Hut (~km 2128)
Harper Pass Bivouac (~km 2122)
Camerons Hut (~km 2117)
Hurunui No 3 Hut (~km 2113)
Hurunui Hut (~km 2104)
Hope Kiwi Lodge (~km 2086)
Hope Halfway Hut (~km 2079)
Boyle Village (~km 2060)
Boyle Flat (~km 2048)
Rokeby Hut (~km 2044)
Anne Hut (~km 2032)
Waiau Hut (~km 2006)
Caroline Creek Bivouac (~km 2003)
Blue Lake Hut (~km 1990)
West Sabine Hut (~km 1983)
Upper Travers Hut (~km 1975)
John Tait Hut (~km 1968)
Lakehead Hut (~km 1955)
St-Arnaud (~km 1945)
Red Hills Hut (~km 1925)
Porters Creek Hut (~km 1913)
Hunters Hut (~km 1906)
Top Wairoa Hut (~km 1896)
Mid Wairoa Hut (~km 1889)
Tarn Hut (~km 1882)
Mount Rintoul Hut (~km 1874)
Slaty Hut (~km 1861)
Starveall Hut (~km 1856)
Hacket Hut (~km 1850)
Browning Hut (~km 1847)
Rocks Hut (~km 1836)
Middy Creek Hut (~km 1831)
Captain Creek Hut (~km 1827)
Havelock (~km 1783)
Anakiwa (~km 1765)
Furneaux Lodge (~km 1712)
Southbound shelter list
Furneaux Lodge (~km 1712)
Anakiwa (~km 1765)
Havelock (~km 1783)
Captain Creek Hut (~km 1827)
Middy Creek Hut (~km 1831)
Rocks Hut (~km 1836)
Browning Hut (~km 1847)
Hacket Hut (~km 1850)
Starveall Hut (~km 1856)
Slaty Hut (~km 1861)
Mount Rintoul Hut (~km 1874)
Tarn Hut (~km 1882)
Mid Wairoa Hut (~km 1889)
Top Wairoa Hut (~km 1896)
Hunters Hut (~km 1906)
Porters Creek Hut (~km 1913)
Red Hills Hut (~km 1925)
St-Arnaud (~km 1945)
Lakehead Hut (~km 1955)
John Tait Hut (~km 1968)
Upper Travers Hut (~km 1975)
West Sabine Hut (~km 1983)
Blue Lake Hut (~km 1990)
Caroline Creek Bivouac (~km 2003)
Waiau Hut (~km 2006)
​Anne Hut (~km 2032)
Rokeby Hut (~km 2044)
Boyle Flat (~km 2048)
Boyle Village (~km 2060)
Hope Halfway Hut (~km 2079)
Hope Kiwi Lodge (~km 2086)
Hurunui Hut (~km 2104)
Hurunui No 3 Hut (~km 2113)
Camerons Hut (~km 2117)
Harper Pass Bivouac (~km 2122)
Locke Stream Hut (~km 2128)
Kiwi Hut (~km 2136)
Upper Deception Hut (~km 2161)
Goat Pass Hut (~km 2163)
Mingha Bivouac (~km 2166)
Bealey Hut (~km 2183)
Lagoon Saddle Hut (~km 2189)
West Harper Hut (~km 2194)
A Frame Hut (~km 2255)
Comyns Hut (~km 2262)
Manuka Hut (~km 2283)
Crooked Spur Hut (~km 2324)
Stone Hut (~km 2334)
Royal Hut (~km 2340)
Camp Stream Hut (~km 2355)
Lake Takepo (~km 2389)
Twizel (~km 2444)
Top Timaru Hut (~km 2526)
Stodys Hut (~km 2539)
Pakituhi Hut (~km 2550)
Lake Hawea (~km 2560)
Wanaka (~km 2573)
Fern Burn Hut (~km 2610)
Highland Creek Hut (~km 2616)
Roses Hut (~km 2626)
Queenstown (~km 2664)
Slip Flat Hut (~km 2687)
Greenstone Hut (~km 2691)
Taipo Hut (~km 2701)
Boundary Hut (~km 2713)
Careys Hut (~km 2719)
Lower Princhester Hut (~km 2779)
Aparima Hut (~km 2795)
Lower Wairaki Hut (~km 2808)
Martin's Hut (~km 2898)
Riverton (~km 2941)
Invercargill (~km 2973)
Bluff (~km 3006)

Rivers
Te Araroa has its shares of creeks, streams, and rivers to cross. Many of them don't have a bridge so be prepared to get your feet wet! I have listed the rivers you should keep an eye on. What I mean is if you have or expect lots of rain these rivers can flood and be tricky to cross.
Northbound River list
Ahuriri River (km 2501)
When I crossed it, it was about hip level. It's not a strong river, but its rock bed is very slippery compared to other rivers.

Bush Stream (km 2323 - km 2317)
You will cross that stream multiple times, on good weather, it is knee-high at most, but because of its narrow and high cliffs on its side, if it rains, it can flood dramatically. A local told me that multiple people had to be rescued because they underestimate that stream (calling it a stream doesn't help, it makes it sound small).

Rangitata River (~km 2316)
By the Te Araroa Organisation, Rangitata river is tagged as a hazard zone. Do yourself a favour if you are unsure if you should cross it or not, don't! In the proper conditions, they do rafting on that river. Yes, rafting! Multiple people have been rescued by helicopter because they tried crossing. No one has died yet, don't be the first. Your options are limited when you get to the river, the traffic is almost none existent for hitchhiking and it is far to walk. Your best option is the shuttle Alps 2 Ocean, which I used and would recommend.
If you plan to cross the river, do so, only if you are very experienced with river crossings. Visit this website, shortly before crossing to know its flow, avoid to cross for anything above 80m/sec.

North Branch Ashburton River Hakatere (km 2265 - km 2262)
This river close to Comyns Hut is narrow, especially the section right before the hut. That section has a wire installed (I suppose it is to make the crossing easier when it is flooded).

Rakaia River (~km 2246)
On perfect weather Rangitata can be attempted, Rakaia, on the contrary, should not be attempted no matter what. It is multiple times more powerful than the Rangitata. If you are looking for a challenge, look elsewhere or get a packraft.

Avoca River/Harper River  (~km 2208)
The junction where both river meet can be tricky in heavy rain. In nasty weather, try to cross them separately.

Bealey River and Mingha River  (km 2173 - km 2170)
These two rivers close to Arthur's Pass are extremely low when the sun is out, but can be very high on rainy days.

Deception River (km 2163 - 2150)
By far one of the most challenging rivers on the Te Araroa, its upper section (close to Goat Pass Hut) will have you hike literally in the creek. You will cross that river over half a dozen times, and it can be tricky even with very little rain. Watch for this one and be prepared to postpone your crossing if the weather is not on your side.

Taramakau River  (~km 2138)
This river doesn't have to be crossed very often, it is a long river luckily you are crossing it close to its source.

Wairoa River Left Branch River  (km 1895 - km 1890)
This river is very narrow, in some parts it seems more like a gorge. On a nice day, you can keep your feet dry during its 8 crossings. But when heavy rain hits, watch your steps.

Hacket Creek  (km 1852 - km 1850)
You will be walking in the creek bed and crossing it often. Nothing to worry about on sunny days, but on rainy days keep it in mind.
Southbound river list
Hacket Creek  (km 1852 - km 1850)
You will be walking in the creek bed and crossing it often. Nothing to worry about on sunny days, but on rainy days keep it in mind.

Wairoa River Left Branch River  (km 1895 - km 1890)
This river is very narrow, in some parts it seems more like a gorge. On a nice day, you can keep your feet dry during its 8 crossings. But when heavy rain hits, watch your steps.

Taramakau River  (~km 2138)
This river doesn't have to be crossed very often, it is a long river luckily you are crossing it close to its source.

Deception River (km 2163 - 2150)
By far one of the most challenging rivers on the Te Araroa, its upper section (close to Goat Pass Hut) will have you hike literally in the creek. You will cross that river over half a dozen times, and it can be tricky even with very little rain. Watch for this one and be prepared to postpone your crossing if the weather is not on your side.

Bealey River and Mingha River  (km 2173 - km 2170)
These two rivers close to Arthur's Pass are extremely low when the sun is out, but can be very high on rainy days.

Avoca River/Harper River  (~km 2208)
The junction where both river meet can be tricky in heavy rain. In nasty weather, try to cross them separately.

Rakaia River (~km 2246)
On perfect weather Rangitata can be attempted, Rakaia, on the contrary, should not be attempted no matter what. It is multiple times more powerful than the Rangitata. If you are looking for a challenge, look elsewhere or get a packraft.

North Branch Ashburton River Hakatere (km 2265 - km 2262)
This river close to Comyns Hut is narrow, especially the section right after the hut. That section has a wire installed (I suppose it is to make the crossing easier when it is flooded).

Rangitata River (~km 2316)
By the Te Araroa Organisation, Rangitata river is tagged as a hazard zone. Do yourself a favour if you are unsure if you should cross it or not, don't! In the proper conditions, they do rafting on that river. Yes, rafting! Multiple people have been rescued by helicopter because they tried crossing. No one has died yet, don't be the first. Your options are limited when you get to the river, the traffic is almost none existent for hitchhiking and it is far to walk. Your best option is the shuttle Alps 2 Ocean, which I used and would recommend.
If you plan to cross the river, do so, only if you are very experienced with river crossings. Visit this website, shortly before crossing to know its flow, avoid to cross for anything above 80m/sec.

Bush Stream (km 2323 - km 2317)
You will cross that stream multiple times, on good weather, it is knee-high at most, but because of its narrow and high cliffs on its side, if it rains, it can flood dramatically. A local told me that multiple people had to be rescued because they underestimate that stream (calling it a stream doesn't help, it makes it sound small).

Ahuriri River (km 2501)
When I crossed it, it was about hip level. It's not a strong river, but its rock bed is very slippery compared to other rivers.