Te Araroa Trip Report

Te Araroa (TA) was the trail I had chosen to kick-off my new full-time outdoor life back in 2012. For various reasons it turned out not to be possible then, but it was alway a question of when, not if, I would hike this trail. Hikes that start and finish at the sea have always been my favourite types, it's just not possible to go any further, and New Zealand is a very special place cramming so much variety into an area not much bigger the the UK. When some time became available it didn't take me long to commit and give it a go.

Breast Hill (yes really!), South Island, New Zealand

Back from New Zealand

I returned from a successful, and throughly enjoyable, hike of the Te Araroa a few days ago and now it’s the time that I hate after every trip - catch-up time! Emails, blog, finances, the list goes on… Fortunately it’s only temporary and I’m away again hiking next week on the TGO Challenge! Not taken part in this since event since 09 and I’m really looking forward to it. What I will do after that hasn't been decided yet and could involve hiking, boating, cycling or probably a mixture of all 3. What I can say is the the CDT WILL now happen early next year. At some point I will also spend time developing V2 of some of the MYOG kit I use on the trail. V2 kit is generally just a polished version of the original and that might involve lightening a design or adding/taking away a feature or 2, altering the fit, or sometimes even a major redesign. I must also get all my designs into a proper CAD program rather than on a million scraps of paper! On the blog front expect reviews of Locus Gear CP3 poles and Haglofs Gram Comp jacket, trip report of Te Araroa trail and perhaps a piece or 2 of new MYOG. 

I will leave you with a few photo's from Te Araroa - enjoy!

New Zealand's Te Araroa Hike

It’s amazing how fast time fly’s between expeditions. 12 weeks seems like a long time but I never got even 1/2 of what I planned done. The blogs still bare and I’ve still got many gear projects floating around in my head, but that’s life! Outdoors should come first and the rest when, and if, I get around to it.

New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail