A few years ago, in a reader survey, we asked if readers would one day like to walk Te Araroa. Amazingly, 58 per cent said they would. Two per cent said they had already done it (I know more than a few readers have since walked the Long Pathway, so if we were to ask that question again, I bet we’d be into double figures).  

I see the appeal. Te Araroa must be close to being the ultimate tramping trail in New Zealand. It is a months-long endeavour that brings people from all corners of the world to walk amongst the enticing array of landscapes New Zealand has on offer. 

But it might be more important for those who do it to ‘find themselves’ and learn what they are capable of. Sure, weekend tramping does that, too, but not quite like a thru-hike, where people spend months at a time doing the most basic of things: walk, eat, sleep, repeat.

When you pare life back and remove all the daily distractions that make us more stressed and worried, you can discover what’s truly important. As Debra Howell writes in ‘Reflections from three of the world’s long trails’ (p48): ‘Thru-hiking will change you. You may not know exactly how, but it will.’

Talk to any thru-hiker, and they will tell you the same. It doesn’t seem to matter which long hike they did. It means that it’s not the trail that changes you, it’s the walking. I see it with the Walk1200km challenge, too – from the anecdotes shared by other participants and my own experience. I’ve found the habit of walking every day helps clear my mind and focus on the things that matter. It’s addictive, too – the anticipation of going for a walk excites me – even if it’s only around my neighbourhood. It’s changed me for the better.

But sometimes I also long for the simple existence of a thru-hiking life – just for a few months. It does sound romantic. So, definitely, I consider myself one of those who would ‘one day like to walk TA’. Maybe, one of these days we’ll meet somewhere on the Long Pathway.