I think it was sometime in March 2019 that I became aware of the existence of the Te Araroa trail, which goes from the north tip of the north island of New Zealand to the southern tip of the south island, a total of 3,000 km (1,900 miles). I always wanted to hike a thru hike like the Appalachian trail or the Pacific Crest, and I’ve been dying to get back to New Zealand ever since I first visited for three weeks in 2015, so the Te Araroa was immediately something I wanted to do, but there’s a big difference between daydreaming about doing a thing and making it happen.
Over the next couple months I researched the trail and considered if it was something I could do. Because New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, their summer is December through March, so most people start the trail in October or November if they’re doing both islands (many just hike the southern island), which gave me plenty of time to research. I found a deal on a plane ticket leaving from San Fransisco on October 20th, they had a promotion to go to Australia on New Zealand air, so I checked to see if I could to fly to Sydney with a 5 month layover in New Zealand, and the tickets were very reasonable, so I bought them, but even then I told myself that I could always change the dates and just take a vacation if I decided not to go. I can’t say there was a defining moment where I knew for sure I was going, it just gradually became a thing.
I quit my job, gave up my apartment, and sold most of my belongings, just storing a few things like my bike, skis, guitars, camping gear, wetsuits and my car at my mom’s place, thanks mom! Aside from what I’m taking on the trip (which is just my backpack and a small carry on), this is all I own! I’m officially unemployed and homeless!
