“The better organised you are in the simple things, the more spontaneous and free you can be in the more important things.”
​-Brian Tracy

Staying Connected
Wifi in New Zealand sucks! Most places will have limited free data (100mb to 500mb) and you have to pay if you want more. Expect slow internet outside of big touristic cities. I went with a travel sim card and would recommend it greatly, here are the different sim card plans for visitors. I took the 10gig for 2 months and it worked well.

​You will have cellphone reception close to towns, on some roads, and high expose peak. Expect no cellphone coverage anywhere else.

Permits
There is only a small section that requires a permit, outside of that it is all free (awesome, right?). Queen Charlotte Track permit is available in the I-site in Havelock (northbound) or Picton (southbound).

I would recommend donating to the non-profit organization that developed and maintained the trail. You can donate here.

Camping
On the South Island, I never had an issue finding campsites. Keep in mind that a good section of the Te Araroa passes by private land, on private land you should always ask the owner for permission before camping. Outside of that, you are free to camp close to anywhere. Always respect the land and practise Leave No Trace principles.

Food and Water
Food: On average you are looking at 100km between sections. Some are around 30km others above 150km. For more information, visit Resupply Plan.

Water: Water is not an issue on this trail, I only carried 2L of water for almost the entire trip. Creeks and water sources are abundant, you should always treat your water. New Zealand has lots of sheep which contaminate their creek water easily. One person I met on the trail got sick because of it.

Trail
I found the trail to be well-worn, but it depends on what you compare it to. I heard many people saying how  the trail is not well-worn. In my experience, it was easy to follow and I barely used my maps. I think it would be hard to get lost if you know how to read and follow a trail. That being said expect the trail to be muddy, bushy, and expose by part.

Orange markers will show you the way but know that they are not only used for the TA. They are used in general in New Zealand to mark different trails. Don't learn this the hard way.

Wildlife
One of the joys of hiking in New Zealand is that there is no wildlife to worry about, none. Birds will actually come real close since they have no predator to worry about. The most annoying are black flies but they are not as bad as they seem. I only remember maybe 2-3 nights where I found it was quite buggy. Nonetheless I highly recommend bringing a sort of bug cover for the night. I have met people only caring a tarp on the trail, and they didn't sleep well because of the black flies. During the day, wear long sleeves and pants, have a good walking speed and you won't realize they are there (outside of your breaks and camp time). I brought a head net and didn't use it for the entire trip.

Direction
Should you go Northbound or Southbound? I have written in challenges if you want to avoid the crowd on the trail you should so Southbound since you will follow most people instead of meeting them. I figure that the hard way since I went Northbound. If you don't mind the crowd, I think going Northbound is a better choice since it starts flatter and you keep some of the best and hardest sections for the end, a treat!

Two Islands
As I'm sure you know by now, the TA crossed both islands of New Zealand. I had a few people asking me if they should do both or only one? And which one is better? I have only hiked the South Island, but I have travelled and did side hikes on the North Island. From what I have seen, both islands are quite different and they would both offer a different experience.

What I heard from people doing both islands, many didn't like the North Island. If you only have time, money, energy for one island you should definitely do the South Island. Here is a small comparison of the islands:
North Island
  • Fewer mountains
  • Less wild
  • Holds over 75% of the population
  • 113,729km square (42.3% of NZ)
  • Pop. density: 33.1/km2 (85.7/sq mi)
  • Harder to find wild campsites
  • Easier resupply
  • Not many huts are found in the North Island
  • Less river crossing
South Island
  • A lot more mountains
  • A lot more wilderness
  • Only has 25% of the population
  • 150,437km square (56.2% of NZ)
  • Pop. density: 7.6/km2 (19.7/sq mi)
  • Plenty wild campsites
  • Longer resupply 
  • Most Huts are found on the South Island
  • More river crossing

FAQs
Q: Is the Te araroa a good trail for a first thru-hike?
A: Absolutely, it was the first thru-hike of my hiking partner. Any thru-hike will have its challenges, but there are a few things that make the Te Araroa a great first hike.
  1. Not many countries have as many backcountry huts as New Zealand. Which can make your hike more enjoyable and safer.
  2. Many people do the trail every year which means if something happens, the trail is busier than less crowded ones.
  3. It is remote while always sort of accessible for a quick exit (aside from a few sections).
  4. No wildlife that can kill you (no bears, scorpions, snakes, ticks, etc).
  5. You don't have to post many food boxes. 
Q: Is it easy to find gas for my cooking stove?
A: Sorry, I'm a stoveless hiker so I wasn't looking for some. I can tell you that most cities even towns on the South Island have outdoor stores. Which I'm pretty sure holds the canisters.
Q: What were the hardest sections?
A: I would say the Deception River (it didn't help that we had a bit of rain), Richmond Range is the roughest part of the trail (but fun and beautiful), Longwood Forest (for mud), Waiau Pass and Mount Rintoul (If you don't like scramble).

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