Te Araroa

New Zealand’s South Island

02/02/2024—03/22/2024

Between December 10, 2023 and March 22, 2024, I tramped the length of New Zealand's 3033km long trail, Te Araroa, from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

I hiked across the South Island on Te Araroa in 50 days—some of the hardest miles I’ve ever hiked, and the most breathtaking.

I forded the Wilberforce and Rakaia Rivers, hiked in the Timaru, Arrow and countless other rivers for many miles at a time, wallowed through mud, was almost fully consumed by sandflies on several occasions, climbed the most beautiful mountains and took snack breaks on soaring passes.

I swam in lakes, I ate a million butter chicken and mince pies, drank gallons of chocolate milk, I took zeros when I needed them and dug deep to make miles despite my growing exhaustion. I fell in and out of love with walking everyday, but we never went to bed angry, and I made friends with every bird who deemed me worthy of notice.

I took an absurd amount of photos—too many—and had to be extremely choosy when making this gallery because I ran out of room.

The world is a big, beautiful place, it’s all worth seeing, even the muddiest parts.