Te Araroa | Part 1: Cape Reinga to Paihia (km 245) | 2023/24

It's been almost 10 years since I checked the walking distance between the top of New Zealand to Bluff, to then find out about Te Araroa!
At the end of September I finally took a flight to Auckland and arrived during the night to 30th September. Just 60 hours after my arrival in NZ I started Te Araroa at Cape Reinga.
Unfortunately, the first 12km along Te Paki stream track were closed, and I started the trail along the state highway to Te Paki. The weather along 90 Mile Beach was great, and I had no issues with my feet after 3 days on the beach. There were about 10 fellow hikers at each stop in the evening.
When I got to Kaitaia, there were concerns about the mud in Raetea Forest. I was determined to walk Raetea at first and set out to Takahue on a rainy day. However, a hiker got rescued from the forest that day and the search and rescue team as well as the police urged hikers to not walk the Raetea forest track. I decided to take the Broadwood alternative in the end.
Puketi Forest followed. The river walk was beautiful, and the following forest walk with the steep drop to the left stressful. A hiker who had started on the same day as me injured his foot and was helicoptered out of the forest. He managed to continue his TA adventure a few weeks later.
The start of the trail already felt like a big adventure, and it was nice to spend time in Kerikeri and Paihia, in the beautiful bay of islands ☀️
music used in this video:
1. One Step Closer by Aakash Gandhi
2. The Rising by Aakash Gandhi
3. Blue Dream by Cheel
4. Summer Somewhere in Cuba by Cumbia Deli
5. Lotus Pond by Aakash Gandhi
6. Marigold by Quincas Moreira
time stamps:
0:20 - 1:22 London to Cape Reinga
1:23 - 1:45 Cape Reinga
1:45 - 2:50 Cape Reinga to Te Paki (wild camping)
2:50 - 4:02 Te Paki to Maunganui Bluff (camping)
4:02 - 5:12 Maunganui Bluff to Hukatere Lodge (camping)
5:12 - 6:17 Hukatere Lodge to Ahipara (holiday park)
6:17 - 7:08 Ahipara to Kaitaia (Beachcomber hostel)
7:08 - 7:40 Kaitaia to Takahue (trail angels)
7:40 - 9:02 Takahue to Mangamuka Bridge (camping)
9:02 - 10:06 Mangamuka to Blackbridge (camping)
10:06 - 11:51 Blackbridge to Puketi Forest HQ (camping)
11:51 - 14:59 Puketi Forest HQ to Kerikeri (Hone Heke Lodge)
14:59 - 15:27 Kerikeri to Paihia (holiday park)

[@rjfrans6735]

Greetings from Dre! Netherlands. Today a ‘beer’ walk 25 km,Belgium Antwerp

[@hanry7]

Thank you, that sounds fun! Enjoy the walk 😀✨☀️

[@FreewheelingKiwi]

Oh my goodness this brought back so many memories! Great to see all the familiar faces. Thanks for creating this video series 😀

[@hanry7]

@@FreewheelingKiwi thank youu for your comment, I remember those first days and everyone so clearly, and trying your dehydrated mushrooms at Hukatere 💫✨☺️☀️