Te Araroa - The Long Pathway, New Zealand
Hike the length of New Zealand on Te Araroa - The Long Pathway.
Te Araroa is Aotearoa’s, New Zealand's Trail. It’s a spectacular 3000km journey through New Zealand‘s vast and varying landscapes from the coastal sands to great forests and mountain ranges, across the farmland to volcanoes in the North Island, mountain passes, stunning national parks and high country stations of the South Island.
The 3000km trail stretching from Cape Reinga in the North of New Zealand to Bluff in the South, Te Araroa passes directly through and incorporates official UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites. The most notable UNESCO-listed section of Te Araroa is Tongariro National Park in the central North Island, holding distinction of being the first site in the world to receive dual UNESCO World Heritage status, recognised for both its outstanding natural features and profound cultural significance to the indigenous Māori people.
In 1993, Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised cultural landscape criteria. The mountains at the heart of the national park hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for Māori, symbolising the enduring connection between the people and their natural environment. Home to both active and extinct volcanoes, the park also features diverse ecosystems and some of New Zealand's most spectacular landscapes.
Another UNESCO World Heritage Area along Te Araroa is Te Wāhipounamu - South West New Zealand. One of the world's largest World Heritage sites, it covers more than 2.6 million hectares across four national parks: Aoraki/Mount Cook, Westland Tai Poutini, Mount Aspiring and Fiordland. This vast protected wilderness is renowned for its spectacular alpine landscapes, ancient rainforests, glaciers and fiords.
The South Island section of Te Araroa passes through or alongside parts of this extraordinary region. Near Wānaka and Queenstown, the trail travels close to the rugged wilderness of Mount Aspiring National Park before continuing south towards Fiordland National Park. As hikers make their way towards Bluff, they experience remote backcountry, dramatic mountain scenery and some of New Zealand's most pristine natural environments.
Although much of Te Wāhipounamu remains remote and largely inaccessible, Te Araroa offers an unforgettable journey through many of the landscapes that make this World Heritage Area internationally renowned; connecting some of New Zealand's most breathtaking alpine and wilderness regions.
This remarkable trail continues to grow in popularity, attracting thru-hikers and outdoor enthusiasts from around the world in search of an absolutely unforgettable adventure.