57 days and 1700 km on the Te Araroa lie behind us. Time to take stock of our scenic highlights.
1. Tongariro Crossing
Day 39 / kilometre 1117-1145
This is rightly one of New Zealand’s Great Walks as well as the most popular day walk.
Mount Ngauruhoe, the Emerald Lakes, Red Crater: the volcanic landscape – partly covered in snow, partly in lava scree – is breathtaking. Even if you will rarely be the only one marvelling at this force of nature.
2. Wanganui River canoe trip
Days 43-47 / kilometre 1217-1370
Our number 2 is another New Zealand Great Walk. After six weeks of walking we loved changing perspective and enjoying the rainforest from the water. For all the beauty of the surroundings, paddling can get a little monotonous over time – but luckily we were in good company, so there was more trouble than boredom.
3. Te Paki Coastal Track / Twilight Beach
Day 1 / kilometre 0-20
Cape Reinga – the starting point of our adventure across New Zealand. From there it is a beautiful 20 km through dunes with wonderful views of the little islands offshore. You had better commit that sight to memory very precisely, because the moment you step onto Ninety Mile Beach it means, for the next 3 days: sea on the right, dunes on the left, straight ahead sand, sand, sand…
4. Tararua Ranges
Days 51-53 / kilometre 1544-1576
Admittedly: you only see the beauty of the Tararua Ranges in good weather. But in bad weather it turns into a proper adventure. We had both. And as tends to be the way, on real adventures there is simply no time for photos.
5. Kapamahunga Walkway / Sheep’s Paradise
Days 29-30 / kilometre 820-837
You come across a fair few sheep on the way through New Zealand. But this idyllic sheep pasture warmed our hearts in particular, and we could not help pitching our tent and simply staying.
We are curious whether, by the end of the South Island, any of these sections will still be in our top 5.
