Taking my first steps solo from Cape Reinga, I really had no idea what I was in for – I was excited but so, so incredibly naive. My optimism got me through the challenges though and before long I’d fallen in love with the simplicity of the trail lifestyle. There was nothing more blissful than rolling out of my tent in the morning, eating breakfast in an idyllic location and quite literally only having to worry about putting one foot in front of the other, for the beautiful day ahead.
What? Te Araroa, meaning “The Long Pathway” in te reo Māori, is a 3,000km thru-hike spanning the length of Aotearoa New Zealand. It stretches from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south, traversing rugged coastlines, lush forests, volcanic landscapes and high mountain passes. It is one of the most diverse long-distance walking trails in the world.
The trail was so much more than just a physical journey for me. It allowed me to fully connect with our natural environment and let go of the constant noise and distractions of civilisation. I was able to grieve, heal, laugh and cry all in my own space and time, releasing my emotions onto the trail. Additionally, I was able to deeply connect with the land that I had called home for the last 14 years. I fell in love with it in a way that I never could’ve imagined – the people, the places, the stories and the culture are all a huge part of the journey.
Why? Taking on Te Araroa was quite a spontaneous decision for me. I was nearing the end of my undergraduate studies and was faced with the age-old question of “What next?” Most students were tirelessly searching for their dream job to begin their career. I tried that, but nothing inspired me. Instead, one day one I was driving home from class I suddenly remembered that Te Araroa existed. It was a journey that I had once dreamed of and in that moment, I knew that it was exactly what I needed to do.
The next couple of months were spent throwing together a kit of the essentials: mostly my sister’s old gear and other secondhand items that I could source. Coming off of the back of being a student for the last five years, I didn’t really have the funds to be taking on such a journey. However, I was desperate to make it work. I had lived for too long with these huge adventurous dreams that never seemed to have any follow through: I either had to focus on my education, or I didn’t have enough money, or enough time and so on. This time, something in me knew that it was now, or never. Two months after deciding to take on this journey and one day after finishing my final law exam, I was on my way to the top of New Zealand to begin my stroll down the country.
The trail became my first love for thru-hiking. It tested my limits, inspired my soul and awakened a lifelong passion for long-distance adventures. I learnt more about myself in those five months than I think I had learned in the last five years. I gained a new appreciation for my beautiful body and all of the things that it could do for me. Most of all, I grew more confident in myself and gained a mental clarity that I had never experienced before.
