Te Araroa Trail

The idea of a walk the length of New Zealand has been circulating since the 1970s, when the New Zealand Walkway Commission was established. It soon abandoned the goal of producing a single trail, and opted to establish shorter trails throughout the country. These trails still exist today, often near urban centres, and commonly crossing private land.

The Te Araroa Trust was founded in 1994 to revisit the original idea, and it is working with local organisations and land owners to incorporate existing tracks and establish new tracks as needed.

The best source of information about this trail at present is the Te Araroa Trust website, where there are guides and maps, as well as reports from people who have walked the trail.

The trail is divided into a series of shorter tracks that may be walked individually or as a whole. Individual tracks are closed or rerouted from time to time: the Te Araroa website shows which tracks are open. The tracks are as follows:

Northland

• Cape Reinga to Ahipara 
• The Northland Forests
• Mangakaretu to Kerikeri
• Kerikeri to Waitangi  
• Paihia to Opua Coastal Walkway 
• Waikare Connection  
• Russell Forest to Whangarei Heads
• Bream Bay Walk  
• Cullen Brynderwyn Walkway  
• Bream Tail Mangawhai Walkway

Auckland

• Mangawhai to Pakiri  
• Mt Tamahunga (Te Hikoi O Te Kiri) Track  
• Govan Wilson to Puhoi Valley  
• Puhoi Track  
• Puhoi to Wenderholm Kayak
• Wenderholm to Stillwater  
• Okura to Long Bay  
• North Shore Coastal Walk 
• Coast to Coast Walkway 
• Onehunga to Puhinui  
• Puhinui Stream Track  
• Totara Park to Clevedon  
• Hunua Ranges  
• Mangatawhiri to Mercer

Waikato / King Country

• Mercer to Rangiriri  
• Rangiriri to Huntly  
• Hakarimata Walkway  
• Ngaruawahia to Hamilton  
• Hamilton City  
• Waipa Walk  
• Pirongia Traverse  
• Pirongia to Waitomo 
• Pehitawa Track  
• Te Kuiti to Pureora  
• Hauhungaroa Track  
• 42 Traverse

Whanganui

• Tongariro Alpine Crossing
• Mangatepopo to National Park 
• National Park to Whanganui River  
• Whanganui River 
• Wanganui to Bulls

Manawatu

• Bulls to Feilding  
• Feilding to Palmerston North  
• Palmerston North  
• Massey to Levin  

Wellington

• Tararua Ranges  
• Pukeatua  
• Kapiti Coast  
• Paekakariki Escarpment Track
• Ara Harakeke  
• Colonial Knob  
• Ngaio  
• Wellington City 
• Wellington South​​​​​​​

Nelson / Marlborough

• Queen Charlotte Track
• Anakiwa to Pelorus Bridge 
• Pelorus River Track  
• Richmond Alpine Track  
• Waiau Pass Track

Canterbury

• Boyle to Arthur's Pass 
• Arthur's Pass to Rakaia River  
• Rakaia River Hazard Zone  
• Rakaia River to Rangitata River  
• Rangitata River Hazard Zone  
• Two Thumb Track 
• Tekapo to Lake Ohau
• East Ahuriri Track

Otago

• Breast Hill Track  
• Gladstone to Wanaka  
• Glendhu Bay Track  
• Motatapu Alpine Track
• Wakatipu Track 
• Lake Wakatipu Hazard Zone 
• Mavora Walkway

Southland

• Mararoa River Track 
• Takitimu Track  
• Birchwood to Merrivale  
• Longwood Forest Track  
• Long Hilly Track  
• Tihaka Beach Track  
• Oreti Beach Track  
• Invercargill to Bluff​​​​​​​