(EMAILWIRE.COM, August 27, 2009 ) New Zealand is already a hotbed of activity when it comes to hiking, attracting visitors from all over the world to follow its walking trails whilst gawping at the stunning scenery on offer – and now, a group of enthusiasts is hard at work creating a trail called Te Araroa, or the Long Pathway, which will run the entire length of the country...
Over the last decade, the Te Araroa Trust has been working towards creating the 3,000 kilometre track which will link Cape Reinga, at the very tip of the North Island, with Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island.
Their dream came one step closer to realisation earlier this month with the opening of the Hawea River Track between Hawea and Albert Town near Otago on the South Island, leaving only 250 kilometres to be constructed.
Slated for completion in November next year, the pathway will be one of the longest walking trails in the world and will take four months to walk from start to finish.
All sorts of New Zealand scenery and history will be laid out before the walkers along the trail. On one section, the part of the track known as the Whangamarino Track heads directly from Mercer south to the old Te Teoteo Pa.
Along the way a walker will get good elevation above the Waikato River to the west and to the east, for the military-minded, glimpses of an old battleground. This is the area where in July 1863, colonial troops crossed the Mangatawhiri River, and advanced into the territories of Waikato Maori.
Geoff Chapple, Chief Executive of the Te Araroa Trust, says the track differs from most in New Zealand.
“It’s not a traditional New Zealand tramping track, which are usually quite isolated paths up in the mountains.
“Te Araroa goes from town to town and eventually will link 76 towns and six cities,” he added.
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