Posts Tagged ‘Te Araroa’

Te Araroa and onwards

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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

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Te Araroa – Ngaruawahia to west of Hamilton

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

29.2 km – 5.25 hours

The next section of Te Araroa involves some walking on a busy stretch of SH1, waiting for a walkway to be built along the south bank of the Waikato River. My scout had been sent out earlier to check out the new walkway, but nothing much happening, so my alternative route was to cross to the north bank and follow a more minor River Rd all the way to Hamilton – at times still able to hear the traffic on SH1.

I crossed to the south bank again on a pedestrian bridge, so picking up with the Te Araroa route again very soon after it actually hits the walkway alongside the river. This delightful walk and cycle way took me all the way into the centre of Hamilton – what a real treat that is for the city to have such a pleasant traffic free walk in the middle of the city.

From there a scoot across to Lake Rotoroa, and then via a few roads to Tills Lookout on the west of the town. And there I was with views all around and the path leading to … Mt Pirongia, where Te Araroa will take me soon. From the lookout the path took me down into the Taitua Arboretum, for a gentle walk amongst the trees to the carpark and my pickup for the day.

Back there hopefully at Easter.

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Wenderholm to Redvale

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Wenderholm to Redvale (just north of Auckland)

28.5 km – 6.8 hours

A later start than usual to ensure the tide was OK – so left Wenderholm at the canoe landing place at 9.40 heading up a much improved track around the Wenderholm peninsula, with great views down to the river mouth, out to sea, and in the distance, what was probably the Dome summit.

The track then continued on down and around, taking me to the bridge at Waiwera, and from there it was out to the beach for the low tide section. This was a mixture of beach (cliff picture) and rock walking and rock scrambling all the way around to Hatfields Beach. Then various paths up the next hill, with a great view down Orewa Beach. Along that beach (mostly not on sand), to the western end of the Whangaparoa Peninsula and after not too long down to the northern edge of the Weiti River.

An obliging boatie rowed me across to a non muddy landing spot, so then I was off again on the Okura walk – the first part taking advantage of the lowish tide to skip a few hills. The official Te Araroa route involves a muddy Okura River crossing, so I skipped that and continued on the bush track to its end, walking up to East Coast Bays road for my pickup for the day.

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Cycleways and Te Araroa

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Not long ago, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, held a “job summit” to try to find ways to save jobs during this global recession. He gathered together a bunch of business and labour leaders to see if a day of brainstorming could produce a miracle solution.

While many ideas were bounced around, one of the ones that seems to have really caught the PM’s attention is a proposal to build a cycleway the entire length of New Zealand. This would become a major tourist draw, and help to boost falling visitor numbers. It would also create jobs building the trail, which was estimated to cost around $50 million. (Sounds low to me.)

There’s no doubt it would be great to be able to cycle New Zealand from north to south (I don’t know why, but that sounds easier than going south to north. For no apparent reason heading north equates in my brain with going uphill.) Is it the best way for the government to spend taxpayer money when people are having trouble paying rent and putting food on the table? I’m not so convinced. In the grand scheme of things, it would make more sense to me if they put the public works money into improving public transit. But then again, I wasn’t invited to the “job summit” – probably for very good reasons.

The cycleway idea has also ruffled the feathers of the folks at Te Araroa Trust. Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) is a long-planned hiking route that will run the entire length of New Zealand. Sort of an Appalachian Trail or LEJOG for the Southern Hemisphere. They’ve been working on it for over a decade, with the major problems being access through private land, and funding.

Certainly the funding needed to complete Te Araroa would be far less than that needed to create a whole new cycleway. On the other hand, it would not require as much manpower, so fewer jobs would be created. Also, as you and I and the whole world have realised, you don’t make as much cash from tourists who spend all of their time hiking as you do from people cycling who are more likely to be staying in hotels and eating in restaurants.

I can see where the cycleway may be a winning idea, depending on the cost. But I would also love to see the government throw a bit of cash at Te Araroa to get the damn thing finished. New Zealand is arguably the hiking capital of the world – a title it would really deserve if it had a long distance walkway.

Article courtesy of Michele Waitzman

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Whangarei Heads

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Sunday 7th March

Near to and over Kauri Mountain – Ocean Beach – along the tops at Whangarei Heads then around the foreshore to near Little Munro Bay – 29 km – 8.75 hrs

An early morning walk along a quiet rural road, then up and up a private road (with some misleading markings), but then reached the top of Kauri Mountain with coastal views off to the north. Down the other side, then after a short road stretch, clambered down onto Ocean Beach, with Bream Head and the rest of the Whangarei Heads peaks clearly in view. Getting on for high tide, so had a bit of a scramble up an unstable bluff to get down to the last stretch of the beach that has public access. Collected some more gear in anticipation of a blustery tramp along the length of the hills at the Whangarei Heads

In the event it was a hot climb, and very up and down once at the top, so grateful to find that the track at the tops is mostly in bush, but enough views and glimpses of the sea a long way below to
get a feeling of height. Some amazing rocky outcrops – Bream Head – Matariki – and on towards Mt Lion. Super views to the north, the south, and coming down Mt Lion, the nearby bays and past Marsden Point and up the Whangarei Harbour. A real knee killer of a track coming down, so a time to be slow and careful. No wind, so that extra gear … had a good ride !

Reached my pickup point for the day at the road end, but after a short break, I dumped my pack and boots, donned sandals, and walked for an hour on the next section of Te Araroa, to the point where it came to within 140m of our motel.

Follow Tonys adventures

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Ngunguru to near Kauri Mountain

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Saturday 6th March

near Ngunguru to near Kauri Mountain – 35.7 km – 8 hours

Today was mostly a road walk day, starting from 2.3 km west of Ngunguru (near Tutukaka), with 10 km on the road to Whangarei to get to the head of the Ngunguru estuary, and then head back along a minor road to the start of the Mackerel Forest Walk.

That started off pleasantly through a pine plantation that looks set to get the chop soon, down to the Waitangi River – the walk description said knee / thigh depth, but actually was not much more than ankle deep – very dry right now. Then followed the stream on the edge os a logged area, with the track being that bit harder to follow, and with gorse to make it that more … interesting. Some swampy areas too, before climbing up through a mature forest and out onto my next road.

This headed off to the Horahora Estuary (mangroves galore) and then around to Pautaua where again the only way across the estuary was via a footbridge – with people jumping off into the turquoise river below (picture). Then on to the Tahururu Estuary getting close to high tide, so not being a strong swimmer, the alternative to the Te Araroa low tide route took me to the corner of Tahururu and Pautau roads.

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Levin to Otaki Forks: Via Mt. Crawford

Friday, April 9th, 2010

The Wellington branch of the Te Araroa Trust have forged a path through the Tararua Ranges. Read their comments as reported by the Kapiti Independant News and those of David Somerset – have you tramped in this area? I so what are your thoughts? Suitable hike or a dumb idea

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New Zealand’s Long Pathway

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Reproduced – an article by Brenda Ann Burke

Te Araroa is a walking path that will provide access to Aotearoa’s history and natural heritage from the top of the North to the bottom of the South Island.

The ambition to establish, by 2010, a hiking trail from the northern to the southern tip of New Zealand moved a step closer recently with the opening of two tracks: the 29 kilometre Motatapu track across Otago high country, and the Long Hilly Track, rich with Chinese New Zealand culture, which accesses a section of Te Araroa in Southland.
Long Pathway Idea is Born

The idea of connecting existing trails and walkways and forging new ones to form a cross-country route is credited to the Federated Mountain Clubs, today a national association that promotes safe use of the back country, environmental preservation and protecting rights of access.

Writer Geoff Chapple gave the idea fresh life beginning in the late 1990s, planning and completing a trial walk from Cape Reinga to Bluff, a distance of about 2600 kilometres. His account of the journey, Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail (Auckland: Random House 2002) is a frank description of the difficulties he faced getting the project underway, as well as a vivid account of the people and places he encountered.

Chapple established the Te Araroa Trust, which for many years has been grappling with issues of route design and access. The Trust has worked with Maori and local and regional authorities, and has a Memorandum of Agreement with the New Zealand Department of Conservation. In some cases the Trust has employed work gangs to build trails if there was no local organisation with the capability to do so.

Although much of the Te Araroa route is along existing tracks, access has been a big issue. The significance of balancing private property rights and access issues was highlighted by the Report of the Walking Access Consultation Panel to the New Zealand Minister for Rural Affairs, published March 2007.

In terms of the issue of access within Maori tribal boundaries, Chapple’s hope was that walkers would be welcomed as manuhiri or visitors. Tai Tokerau and Tainui are two Maori iwi or tribal groups that have lent their support to the Te Araroa project.
Links with New Zealand Culture

The long-term effort to establish Te Araroa illustrates two aspects of New Zealand character: a love of (and determination to protect access to) the wild outdoors, and a fascination with feats of endurance.

In his modern history Paradise Reforged (Auckland, Penguin Press, 2001) Jamie Belich describes a “modern populist engagement with the New Zealand landscape”, with “the boat, the bach [or cottage], the beach and the barbecue” aspects of European New Zealand folk culture. He also details the rise of “rational recreation”, including tramping (hiking) and mountain sport especially since the 1920s, and the environmentalist movement.

The notion of very long walking also fits with New Zealanders’ fascination with feats of endurance. Sir Edmund Hillary, who with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was the first to climb Mount Everest in 1953, was a patron of the Te Araroa Trust until his death in January 2008. Author, publisher and recreational mountain climber A.H. Reed walked the length of New Zealand early in the 1960s when he was in his 80s. New Zealand ultra-marathoners have done well in international forums, and gruelling multi-sport events (such as the Speight’s Coast to Coast event which crosses the South Island from Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean) continue to attract large numbers of competitors.

Supporters of Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) are still working through planning and access issues, but the hope is that the route would one day be accessible to everyday hikers. The recent track openings in the South Island are another step in the right direction.

Read more at Suite101: New Zealand’s Long Pathway: Dream of Country-Length Hiking Trail Moves Closer to Reality http://backpacking-trips.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_zealands_long_pathway#ixzz0icBtETwi

Read more at Suite101: New Zealand’s Long Pathway: Dream of Country-Length Hiking Trail Moves Closer to Reality http://backpacking-trips.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_zealands_long_pathway#ixzz0icBNebE3

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Motatapu section of Te Araroa covered in 7 hours!

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

I see that two “adventure athletes” – Darren Blackhurst and Chris Dagg – covered the 49Km from Wanaka to Macetown along the Te Araroa trail in 7hrs 25minutes.  That is an amazing effort, and it was not just them that were impressive – they only won by a couple of minutes, and about 34 teams finished the event!

The Motatapu event had previously “just” involved running/walking or mountain biking along the valley floor, but this year an additional event was included: running/walking the mountain trail that was established as the link between the Wanaka and Queenstown areas on Te Araroa, our national trail.

This “new event” consists of a trail described as “3-4 days”, and featuring 3 new huts – all established when Shonia Twain purchased the surrounding land a few years ago.  The deal whereby this trail was established, deemed to be open “24×365″ and with three new huts was in fact initially suggested by Te Araroa Trust – so all credit to them, as they say.  Given that fact, it is a shame that the Motatapu event organisers did not include “Te Araroa” in the title of this new event.  But I digress!

So, mountain runners can cover a “3-4 day trail” in less than the amount of time most of us consider to be one working day, and this trail has almost 3000m of vertical climbing!  Needless to say, they didn’t need to use the huts – unless nature called, in which case they did have other options!

All-in-all, a great event in a great part of the country – even if the competitors didn’t have time to fully appreciate the splendour of the area!  That, of course, is why the rest of us take our time!

City Walker

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Walking Trails vs Cycleways?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Why are Cycleways getting so much Government support compared to walking trails?

I am not against Cycleways, or the Government funding of them – but why cycling and not walking?  Is it just because cycling is more “trendy”?

The stated reasons for the funding of Cycleways go something like this:

  • Attract tourists.  But for every tourist who comes to New Zealand and cycles while they are here, there are 50 that walk (Ministry of Tourism data)
  • Create jobs.  But surely building trails and providing services to trails and the people who use them is the same for walking as for cycling?
  • Stimulate regional development.  But this is the same for both, except that there are many more walkers than cyclists.

Am I missing something here?

I have no doubt that the Government funding of Cycleways is great.  One of the main reasons is the flow-on effect – interest has been stimulated, and now there are cycleways being built by local communities without depending upon Government support.  This is a major role for Government – it is called leadership.

One effect of the “cycleway funding” is the designation of trails.  The Waikato River Trails are now positioned as “Cycleways” because that is where the funding lies – but I wouldn’t mind betting that there will continue to be more people walking on these trails than cycling.

Te Araroa is a great initiative – a walking trail from one end of New Zealand to the other.  It is nearly finished – 10% of the money committed to the Cycleways could finish Te Araroa, and there would be no need for significant spends in “feasibility studies”.

It seems that all Cycleway funding is currently being spent on these “feasibility studies” – in other words, paying bureaurocrats to do more work.

Te Araroa will deliver more benefits than the Cycleways because of the greater numbers of walkers, and it will happen more quickly because Te Araroa is nearly finished.

The Cycleway Projects have been described  as “Quick Starts” – Te Araroa could be a “Quick Fnish”.  It could deliver benefits within the current election cycle – something that the Cycleways will not.

So Government, provide some funding for Te Araroa – it is actually in the country’s interests and it is also in your interests.  Show some more leadership!

City Walker

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Te Araroa – ever heard of it?

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

I thought I had. In fact I was sure I had been there. I checked the AA map and sure enough there it was – nestled on the East Cape – I had stopped in for a coke many years ago as I toured in that area on my bike. But Te Araroa – The Lomg Pathway – frankly, the town did not have a long street to its name yet alone  a long pathway!… and then I was enligtned

Te Araroa – The Long Pathway has had many descriptors attached to it

  • A true necklace of gems
  • New Zealands greatest citizen driven initiative
  • This country’s best kept secret
  • New Zealands National Trail

…and so they go on. None the wiser? Well have we got a surprise for you.

You see 20 odd years ago Geoff Chapple had a dream. Today that dream is all but complete – an off road walkway/ tramp that stretches 3000km from Cape Reinga in the the North to Bluff in the Deep South. It passes through 70 towns / 7 cities and some of the best scenery New Zealand has to offer. It includes some of the so-called Great Walks but for every Queen Charlotte Track and Tongariro Crossing that you can point to enroute, I can show you equally magnificent walking without the hoardes.

Geoff has written a book about it – but more importantly many thousands of people are out there walking it right now – people like John and Corrine (who are hiking the lot!!) or my next door neighbour – who is taking a stroll up the beach – and a coffee at either end.

You see that is the thing about Te Araroa. It probably passes right by your door; and you don’t have to walk the 3000 km’s to experience its magic. Find your piece of paradise and get onto it

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