Te Araroa | SOBO | 2022/2023

  •   Category Weight
  • Backpack
    0.57 kg
  • Sleep system
    0.63 kg
  • Cook kit
    0.35 kg
  • Water
    0.22 kg
  • Wash kit / First aid / Repair
    0.09 kg
  • Personal
    0.06 kg
  • Toilet
    0.04 kg
  • Electroinics
    0.51 kg
  • Clothing (packed)
    1.32 kg
  • Clothing (worn)
    1.4 kg
  • Total 5.18
    kg
    • oz
    • lb
    • g
    • kg
  • Consumable 0.07 kg
  • Worn 1.4 kg
  • Base Weight 3.71 kg

Te Araroa is New Zealand's long distance tramping route, stretching ~3,000 kilometres along the length of the country's two main islands from Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua to Bluff/Motupōhue.

We are hoping to be at the start on the 2nd week of November 2022 and we are thinking it will take us about 80-100 days in total...but we have until the end of April so we are going to explore of as much of New Zealand as we can. Maybe Stewart Island/Rakiura, Mount Aspiring National Park, etc. I really want to do the Cascade Saddle Route if the weather is good.

Pretty happy with this gear - even with the sandals, larger cook kit with two stoves (gas and alcohol), etc it still comes in under 10 pounds (4.5 kg).

When we hike together my partner, Kate, usually carries the shelter whilst I carry the cook-kit, fuel, and the bulk of the food...but she still always carries some snacks/emergency food.

The shelter Kate is caring is the Zpacks Duplex in .55 oz/sqyd OD DCF at ~550g. She is also rocking a custom Atom packs Atom 35l VX7.

UK Custom/Cottage gear links

Kit swaps I made along the way

  • In Auckland I sent my Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody home as I just never wore it (didn't miss it at all).
  • In Wellington I swapped my PHD custom Delta-Race 200 sleeping bag for my Western Mountaineering Summerlite as we had some hard-frost and snow forecast on the South Island (Preplanned to do this, hence my taking both bags to NZ)
  • In Wellington I also picked up the Lothlorian - Possum Merino 9901 gloves (always wanted some Possum gloves, and they were superb for cold mornings).