Te Araroa Trail: Te Araroa Trail: NZ’S own pilgrim age trail
If you mentioned the Te Araroa Trail to New Zealanders a few years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to be met with a blank stare. Countless travel blogs, and major media outlets like National Geographic and CNN, spoke excitedly about the amazing new long walk that stretched the length of our country, but Kiwis seemed to be out of the loop.
Dozens, and then hundreds, of international visitors started walking our national trail, but the proportion of New Zealand walkers was relatively low.
Fast forward to now, and the spectacular 3000-kilometre trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff is beginning to embed itself into the Kiwi psyche.
This summer the number of people walking the full length of the trail will exceed 1000 for the first time, and hundreds of thousands of people walk individual sections every year.
About a third of those who walked the full length of our country last summer were New Zealanders, up from one
in five the year before. The majority of those walking individual sections of the trail, particularly those that are close to our cities, are New Zealanders.
A year into my role as chief executive of Te Araroa Trust, I’m now absolutely convinced that we’ve got something truly unique and worth celebrating.
The trail passes through some of our country’s most aweinspiring landscapes and takes in more than 20 towns and cities. Walking its length, or just individual sections, brings connection with fellow New Zealanders, cultural and historic sites, and nature.
It’s a perfect playground for those who want to take a break from the virtual world while getting fit at the same time.
For people with children, it’s an ideal way to introduce them to the wonders of the outdoors.
The trail’s economic contribution is also growing. The average throughwalker spends between $7000 and $10,000 during their three to five-month journey.
The patronage and energy they bring is beneficial for the many small towns and businesses they visit. This includes hostels and campsites that host them, supermarkets and general stores where they stop to get supplies, and cafes and restaurants they graze at before heading back into the wild.