How to Pack for New Zealand’s 1,800-mile Te Araroa

November 4th, 2014 • BY

Te Araroa New Zealand on Foot
Margaret prepped for the Te Araroa with 17 pounds of gear. Photo: Bobby Hedderman

Follow Margaret Hedderman’s epic backpacking journey on the world’s longest new trail via our 3-part series here on WomensMovement.com. The first installment—her packing list.

There’s nothing quite like loading your pack with brand new, shiny, sparkly gear with the complete certainty that in five months it’ll be trashed beyond recognition. While it seems like the whole world is gearing up for ski season, I’ve spent the last six months amassing a pile of equipment that would impress even the most extreme gear heads.

You see, in just a few short days, I will begin an 1,800-mile hike across New Zealand on the world’s newest long distance hiking trail, Te Araroa.

Connecting the most northern tip of New Zealand to the most southern, Te Araroa officially opened in 2011 after years of planning, negotiating, and trail building. Te Araroa is so new that many Kiwis don’t even realize those smelly, dirty, and exhausted trampers passing through town after town, river after river, and mountain after mountain, are exploring the entire length of their country on foot.
 
Te Araroa connects nearly every type of environment New Zealand has to offer: mountains, beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, and cities. So when I began selecting gear for this adventure, I had to balance weight with durability and versatility. Fully loaded, my backpack lies somewhere between ultra-light and “oh-my-God what were you thinking!”

Here’s a sampling:

Osprey Ariel 75 Backpack (4lb 14oz)

MSR Hubba NX solo tent (2lb 14oz)

Mountain Equipment Helium 600 sleeping bag (2lb 4oz)

Thermarest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad (8oz)

iPad Mini with Logitech keyboard (1lb 4oz)

All total, my base weight is right around 17lbs – including an assortment of camera and tech equipment. Because hiking 1,800+ miles isn’t going to be hard enough, I’m also producing a multimedia project about both my experience on Te Araroa and New Zealand environment, history, and culture.

Fortunately, I won’t have to carry all the weight alone. My 66-year old dad has decided to abandon retirement and come for a hike across New Zealand with me as my production assistant/hiking buddy. This will be his third backpacking trip… ever. But that’s another story.

You can follow our five-month journey and view a full gear list at NewZealandOnFoot.com.

 

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