Why Te ARAROA

That is the question!

Why would any normal, sane, person think that this was a good idea, I mean Tramping the Te Araroa at the age of 62.

Firstly, I and then my wife Sue fell in love with New Zealand back in 2010 when playing Ice Hockey in Dunedin, we have been back 7 times touring both North & South Islands.

At the time of starting this amazing trek I will be 62. I have spent most of my life looking to the next challenge / adventure in family, career, sport and travel, I can’t remember not ever having that next challenge, finishing one and then looking to the next and whilst I can't pinpoint the exact moment that I decided that this would be the next thing I can tell you the process.

Back in 2018 I came across a story “Bewildered” about Laura Waters, a Melbourne woman who ditched the City life for 6 Months on the Te Araroa just to get her head straight, and then it did not take long to find the now famous Cheryl Strayed portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the “Wild “.

From there it was a simple process of Googling the Te Araroa and finding the right people to follow. Once you have started to follow people's Blogs you are hooked and in no time I was, anytime my enthusiasm drops off all I have to do is revisit the Trail Stories and the focus comes back.

So, Te Araroa is that next challenge