Te Araroa
A country-length trail across New Zealand.
Route overview
A country-length trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff across both islands of New Zealand.
Te Araroa runs the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff. It crosses beaches, cities, farmland, forests, rivers and alpine terrain.
Trail facts
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- North and South Islands
- Distance
- 3,000 km
- Typical duration
- 3–6 months
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Elevation gain
- Varies
- Best season
- October–April
- Trail type
- Long-distance thru-hike
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- Rules vary by land manager, region and section. Hikers must check current route notes and local access rules.
- Bookings
- Long-distance logistics include resupply, huts, river crossings, road sections and changing route conditions.
Safety context
River crossings, weather, logistics and route changes require serious preparation. This is a major long-distance undertaking.
River crossings, weather, road walking, route changes and logistics make this a serious long-distance undertaking.
Typical itinerary
Most thru-hikers take 3 to 6 months, while others complete selected sections.
Highlights
New Zealand thru-hike, beaches, mountains, rivers, varied landscapes.
Why find a buddy
Te Araroa is a strong buddy platform trail because many hikers look for partners for specific sections rather than the whole route.
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.