Update: There’s now an official printable map set from the Te Araroa Trust, you’re best using these for the most up-to-date and accurate route info.
If you’re planning on doing the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand, or just fancy having a closer look at what me and Nicky are going to be doing for the next 6 months, then here’s all the maps (268.4MB)! I can’t guarantee the route I’ve drawn on is accurate, the route itself is constantly changing, but also expect a fair amount of human error! If you use these maps follow your judgement and common sense, over the orange line. I didn’t get around to making all the map notes I’d of liked too.. but I’ve run out of time now and need to get on with other stuff. My plan is to check for the latest route descriptions and read people’s journals to find out info about the next section as we go and then doodle these notes onto my printed out maps. I’ve left a space on every page to be used for this purpose.
I always enjoy the pre-walk planning and mapping stage, although I’ve never bitten off anything even remotely as complex or long as this before.. Got to say a big thank you to Land Information New Zealand who made all the 1:50,000 scale topographic maps and hats off to you for making them all freely downloadable :) The Te Araroa Trust for building the trail in the first place and providing all the route descriptions on their site. And most importantly to Geoff Chapple who founded the trust 16 years ago and who has been spearheading it’s development ever since.
When you’re following a pre-defined route, there’s always the temptation to work out a few variations that suit you’re own preference of terrain etc. While mapping the trail I managed to rack up more than I was expecting, 57 maps worth in total! I’ve got no idea how many, if any of these we’ll do, those sort of decisions usually make themselves at the time. But if you’re interested, these can be downloaded too (164.9MB).
Word of warning though – I’ve never been to New Zealand, so have absolutely no personal experience whether these are any good or not. I think they are all probably longer and more difficult than the official route.. But they do follow the same numbering as the official route maps (just with a ‘b’ after the number) so you can see where they fit into the trail.
Hunting for water. Pretty scarce stuff around these parts. And a lot of the streams marked on this map are hard to spot amongst the giant sand dunes. You can’t rely on picking up the water to boil up your evening pasta, so there’s kilos of water to carry. Poor Cookie has most of it on his back and he looks like he’s sweating it out faster than we can fill it up!
Pretty much the same as day 3 ;) Nicky’s right, water is becoming more of an issue, up until The Bluff pretty much every stream marked on the map was running, now some of them are dried up, so you never quite know when you’re next going to find it. We’ve already had to use some questionable sources.
Chilling on some firm warm concrete after a long stroll. Our first proper shower on the trail. Washed hair never felt so good! Cookie bagged the outdoor armchair… But not for long…. ;)
Utea Park is a new campsite, just opened this year, it totally exceeded our expectations! Massive communal living room with sofas and dinning table, even electricity for charging our gadgets, and most importantly running water.
Blimey the contrast from the Herekino forest to this section of the trail between Diggers Valley Road and Waiotehue Road was unbelievable, felt like we were walking through the paradise. Even though the 
There’s Kiwis on the road! It’d be awesome to see one for real on this trip at somepoint. We must see signs for them several times a day – you’d think you’d be tripping over them ;)
Fairly uneventful road walk today, only thing worthy of note was that it was a pretty dry section, didn’t pass any water other than swampy stagnant stuff. Heard a stream just before the Kauri Grove and nailed it down the left hand side of the road to reach it, turned out to be further away (downwards) than it sounded!
Wey hey a duvet day! ;) Well, kind of. We’ve not talked much about rest days. But on average we try and take a day off from walking about once a week. By then we are normally well in need of a hose down, and fantasizing about having a beer and a proper cooked meal. In fact it’s funny what you find yourself longing for when your a few days from town. I think the thing I’d often kill for is orange juice :) Or a big juicy grapefruit. Mmm! But I’d imagined before the walk that it’d have been steak or something meaty, but actually it’s fresh fruit and salad I crave. Something with nutrients in! ( Ok … and Fish and chips ;) ) 
We thought we’d pass a dairy this morning at the junction of Oakura Road, but the man doing work on the building that looked like it used to be a dairy said it was a mile down the road. Our anticipation of fizzy pop encouraged us to make the detour and once we were down there and discovered the beautiful bay with a fish & chip shop, we decided to stay for a day!
