Important planning resources
What resources can I use to plan my hike?
This trail guide:
In the 'things to do' section of this guide I have pinned all of the towns and resupply points I used along the trail as well as inlet and river crossings, transport companies and their information, points of interest, sightseeing and additional side trips I took as well as a number of the huts and campgrounds along TA.
Youtube:
For those like me who like to visually see a trail to help prepare (and get excited) for it, I have shared YouTube videos documenting my whole TA experience which you can view here:
Te Araroa Trust:
To register to walk Te Araroa, get updates and find official information about TA head to the Te Araroa Trust website.
Trail App:
For maps and hut/camping information along the trail download the TA app (officially 'Te Araroa - The Trail App' on the App Store).
FarOut:
For additional digital maps I also brought the Te Araroa map bundle on FarOut. Sometimes this was helpful, sometimes it felt a bit unnecessary but didn't hurt to have as a back up.
Note: I didn't feel I needed to refer to or use FarOut anywhere near as much as other recent trails like the AAWT but did appreciate the comments/notes left by other hikers here as compared to the lack of ability to add comments on the official TA app.
Facebook:
Facebook groups are a great place to get updates and connect with others involved in the trail. A few to join include:
Te Araroa
Te Araroa Trail Angels
Te Araroa 2025-26 (or whatever season you plan to walk)
Itineraries:
In the itineraries section of this guide I have include the distances I walked and where I stayed for the following sections.
Cape Reinga - Kaitaia
Ngunguru River - Puhoi
The Timber Trail
Whanganui River
Tararua Range
Pelorus River Track and Richmond Alpine Track
Merriview Hut (Longwood Forest) - Bluff
Everyone has their own pace which they may prefer to follow but this should give you a good reference point to start planning!
Go check out my guide for the best free things to do as well as itineraries and travel tips to make your trip unforgettable.