I MADE IT to the end of North Island! I never even dreamed I could actually reach the southern terminus of New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail on the North Island! (And I still have the South Island to go…)
Two and a half months ago, I had no idea how far I could walk, yet with each kilometer step by step forward, I’ve enjoyed 1,700 km of beautiful scenery across the North Island, and been deeply moved by the warmth and hospitality of New Zealanders.
Although I temporarily skipped some sections due to weather and trail conditions, and there are several trails outside the TA route I want to walk, I believe my time with the North Island is just a temporary goodbye—I’ll be back!
Next I’ll take two weeks off for myself and wander through the beautiful city of Wellington, then I’ll take a South Island road trip with my lovely university friends. I’m looking forward to returning to TA hiking in March to start the South Island route, and continuing to be amazed by our beautiful planet and loved by nature!
Later we played together in a small town, walked past the 2,500 km milestone together, and then reached the 2,700 km mark at the southern end of Te Araroa Trail on the North Island.
My fellow travelers along the way, companions I’ve camped with for two nights, and TA hikers I’d never traveled with before—we all got reconnected through one canoe drifting adventure, playing and chatting together, and because of them, my journey became so much more interesting.
This is like a summary and brief reflection on my North Island TA experience: the most beautiful memories come from meeting the loveliest people, which made me believe in the reciprocal nature of humanity, let me see the beauty of selflessness, and made me determined to become one who can keep this warmth alive ❤️
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