Hi all!

I’m trying to plan a long trip for next year. I have a fairly clear image of what i want to do… now I just need to turn the dream into reality!

The plan is firstly to hike the Te Araroa trail from the North to South tip of NZ.
Questions:

1) Does anyone know if the trail will be complete by Feb 2011, the maps are fairly unclear and timelines are delightfully vague?

2) Would it be better or is it even possible to follow other tracks rather than this set trail?

3) I’m 18 and planning on going “alone” although in reality I hope not to spend too much time truly alone. Is this safe and am I likely to meet good travel companions on the route?

4) Can I do this trail within 4 months with time inbetween to do some of the more adrenalined things along the way?

Upon completion I’m going to Africa for four months.
Question:

1)For visa purposes will I need to have evidence that I am moving on, I ask because my timing will be variable so I can hardly book an outbound ticket (could I just buy a refundable outbound ticket and cancel it after arrival)?

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to reply in advance. Sorry to ask so much but this is the first time I have undertaken something so big and I have a lot of questions (and probably a few more to come)!

Alex

Refer – http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1925445