Since 2019, Damiana Day has been confined to a wheelchair. In 2024 she taught herself to walk again, and in September she set out to conquer Te Araroa trail – and more.

“Yes, walking 3000km is  just not far enough for this girl,” she said.

It’s no small feat, as Day lives with autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia and cerebral palsy and was recently diagnosed with functional neurological disorder. 

Day has spent most of the past decade living on the road. She has biked more than 140,000km around the motu, and intends eventually to ride every road in the country. She often plans her journeys with the aim of helping local charities, and has raised money for Heart Kids and I Am Hope. 

Day has been a keen tramper since she was young, joining her mum on the trails.

“People with my level and type of disabilities don’t tend to do what I do, partly because it’s a lot harder,” she said.

“Also, we get told it’s impossible. I just do it anyway. I’m out there, living my best life the best and only way I can.”

Day said that after relearning to walk, she looked around for a challenge, “a big, crazy, impossible goal”.

She started at Cape Rēinga on September 1 and will follow Te Araroa to reach Bluff by March 2025. She will then turn around and walk all the way back via a different route.

“I want to visit a number of places on my to-visit list, many of which can only be reached on foot,” she said.

Day aims to finish by September next year. By then she will have tramped more than 6500km.

Along the way she will be raising funds for Land Search and Rescue.