Planning a New Zealand Great Walk but unsure which trail deserves a place on your bucket list? The Milford, Routeburn, and Kepler Tracks are three of the country's most iconic multi day hikes, each offering a unique mix of scenery, challenge, and adventure. 

From Milford's towering waterfalls and remote Fiordland wilderness to Routeburn's spectacular alpine vistas and Kepler's sweeping ridgeline views, choosing between them isn't always easy. 

In this detailed comparison, I'll share my firsthand experiences on all three tracks and compare the scenery, difficulty, logistics, costs, booking challenges, and overall experience to help you decide which Great Walk is the best fit for your next adventure.

The Tama Lakes Track in Tongariro National Park is a spectacular alpine day hike, offering panoramic views of Lower and Upper Tama Lakes, Tama Saddle, and the surrounding volcanic peaks.

Though less crowded than the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, this out-and-back trail still demands preparation and the right gear.

From sturdy footwear and layered clothing to water, sun protection, and navigation tools, having the essentials can make the difference between a comfortable hike and an exhausting adventure.

In this guide, we break down everything you need for a safe and enjoyable hike, including a complete packing checklist you can download and take with you.

Whether you’re planning a summer trek or tackling the trail in cooler months, our tips will help you stay prepared, enjoy the scenery, and make the most of your Tama Lakes adventure.

I stood forlornly on the trail as my body trembled with the intensity of my shivering and my teeth chattered uncontrollably.

Tears created by the sub zero temperatures mixed freely with the sleet and snot smeared across my face. I could hardly see through my glasses not that there was anything to see other than the horizontal rain swirling manically about us.

Andrew handed me an OSM bar, with his frozen fingers he couldn’t open the wrapping and thought somehow that I’d be able to. While I fumbled with the wrapping, we attempted to communicate above the howling wind.

Finally getting the bar opened I offered him the larger half, we were clearly living the Te Araroa dream!

I fielded many questions from curious family and onlookers when planning to walk New Zealand’s stunning 3,000km National Walking Trail, Te Araroa.

On hearing of my extraordinary plans to walk the entire length of the country, one concerned youngster asked "but will you have to carry all your own food?" It’s a valid question which can be answered succinctly with yes and no.

Understanding and managing risk for solo women while hiking New Zealand’s 3,000 kilometre Te Araroa.

When planning to hike Aotearoa New Zealand’s 3,000 kilometre Te Araroa trail, I had the usual safety concerns like navigating a fast flowing river, becoming lost in the bush, suffering from hypothermia or possible injuries which were all dangers that I could anticipate and plan for.  

In this blog however, I’m not going to address those general concerns. Instead, what I will be discussing are safety concerns unique to us women hikers. Specifically, the danger that is presented by the one thing that women worldwide have learnt to fear the most, and that is men. 

Walking New Zealand’s 3,000 kilometre Te Araroa was the first thru hike I’d ever undertaken and as a novice thru hiker, I made my share of mistakes plus possibly a few more.

As a beginner, there’s so much to think and plan for plus the countless variables you’ll hopefully anticipate ahead of time from the comfort of home, rather than from a mountain top in the middle of a blizzard.

Here I share my top five mistakes that I made when hiking Te Araroa including the context that surrounded my decisions to better help you avoid making my blunders. 

Committing to a thru hike is equal parts exciting yet at the same time, immensely daunting. Not only are you going to be away from your home, family, friends and work for an extended period of time, there’s also untold logistics to be taken into account.

Choosing to hike Te Araroa, Aotearoa New Zealand’s three thousand kilometre trail which traverses the length of the country from Cape Reinga in the Far North to Bluff in the Far South (or vice a versa) brings with it many of its own unique challenges.

Below me the swollen river raged down the valley, dirty grey water rushing, crashing and tumbling, rolling boulders, tugging trees from flooded banks, swirling and churning every which way. 

Above, sky the same colour as the water closed in, the tops of the mountains remaining hidden in the murk. I knew what it was like up there, near horizontal rain driven by a malicious wind intent on tossing me off the narrow ridge. Behind, the perilous trail from where I’d descended was more a cascade than a track.

In this article I share with you the gear that we took when hiking the 3000km Te Araroa Trail along with the reasoning and context behind our decision making to better help you when making your own decisions while planning your walk of Te Araroa.

The article finishes with my reflections on what gear didn’t last the full distance, what was sent home, the substitutions and additions along the trail and what I’d change next time.