When I first traveled to New Zealand in 2018, I had just discovered hiking. I left with a pair of worn-out sneakers and an oversized backpack. Instead of a Camelbak, my hydration system consisted of an empty milk jug that I filled with water and placed on the outside (!) of my backpack… Check out my gear list to see my improvements since then!
A hike took my travel companions and I to a cozy little cabin in the middle of nowhere: Camp Stream Hut. There were six bunk beds and a small stove, which we really appreciated when the snow storm hit. Later, two women joined us. Read more: jjj4eddd. I remember how fascinated I was by their lightweight backpacks, which contained everything they needed. They told us they were walking Te Araroa (‘the long way’). It lives up to its name and covers 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles) from Cape Reinga to Bluff. They inspired me so much that that same night of sleep I decided: I’m going to do this trail!
At first, I thought I would have to find a hiking partner, since the trail seemed too long to walk alone. So I kept putting off the hike year after year. As I gained more experience on the trails, my confidence grew and I realized that I am hardly alone, even if I start a hike alone. So after 8 years, a master’s degree, a job, a lost home, a broken heart and a lot more hiking experience, I returned to New Zealand to start Te Araroa on my own.
I met the first hikers on the bus heading north from Auckland and haven’t felt alone since. In fact, strangers became friends, and some of them became my trail family and remained a part of my life even after the trail.
After three months on the road, I passed Camp Stream Hut, where this journey had begun. And who knows, maybe my walk or my stories about my experiences in Te Araroa will inspire YOU too?
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