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Day 0-5: Port Melbourne, Australia šŸ‡¦šŸ‡ŗ to Davies Bay Campsite. 0km - 1783km - 🄾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

  • Writer: Tough Girl
    Tough Girl
  • Apr 19, 2024
  • 4 min read

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Day 0/64 🄾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Travel Day 31st December 2023

Weather: sunny ā˜€ļø

From: Port Melbourne, Australia šŸ‡¦šŸ‡ŗ

Start time: 6.30am

To: Wellington, New Zealand šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

End time: 2.30pm

Accommodation: private room -bed

Terrain: car šŸš— , plane āœˆļø , bus šŸšŽ , walk 🄾, hotel šŸØ


šŸ’°Costs: $10 bus from airport to city

$73 accommodation

$222 food resupply

$13 sunscreen

US$44 -eSIM


ā­ļøHighlights: traveling with 1 bag on an international flight is the best. So quick through immigration and bio-control. Then straight onto the bus and into the city.


šŸ”ļøChallenges: I wasn’t able to print my boarding pass in advance- so I was in the bag queue and almost missed my flight. They pulled me out the queue, printed my ticket and I had 20 mins to get through security and to the gate for boarding.


šŸ’­Thoughts: let’s get ready for the South Island šŸ‘‰A few jobs to do. Buy a new e-sim card and pay for the hut pass, do a good food shop and repack the backpack.




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Day 1/64 🄾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Monday 1st January 2024

Weather: sunny ā˜€ļø

From: Wellington

Start time: 2.35pm

To: Picton

End time: 8pm

Accommodation: Tombstone Motel, Lodge & Backpackers

Terrain: bus, ferry ā›“ļø, walk


Total Km: 1715/3028 57% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: $99 Ferry to Picton

$33 accommodation

$132


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 5/10 - just a travel day - lots of waiting around

Fatigue: 7/10 - I am feeling tired. I didn’t sleep well last night

Ease of terrain: 0/10 very little walking


ā­ļøHighlights: Arriving in Picton - sunny day - nice vibes


šŸ”ļøChallenges: I feel as though I’m burning through money. Everything is costing. There is nothing cheap. New Zealand is so much more expensive than I imagined and it’s only going to get more expensive with the food especially.


šŸ’­Thoughts: I feel so lucky to be out here. What a great way to start 2024. I dreamed about this life I’m now living and I’m actually doing it!



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Day 2/64 🄾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Date Tuesday 2nd January

Weather: sunny & hot ā˜€ļø

From: Picton

Start time: 10.50am

To: Furneaux LodgeĀ - Endeavour Inlet

End time: 5pm (including shower)

Accommodation: 4 bed cabin - with just me in it. Bottom bunk - so lucky to get this - as I didn’t book in advance

Terrain: well marked trail through the forest


🄾Km: 25

🦶Steps: 32,710


Total Km: 1731/3028 = 57% done āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: water taxi $85

$75 accommodation

$13 wine x2

$29 dinner - burger šŸ”

$6 ice cream


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 9/10 the forest, the views, everything was great.

Fatigue: 5/10 - took a few stops - on the bench and sunbathed

Ease of terrain: 3/10 - really easy going


ā­ļøHighlights: such a chill day. The weather has been gorgeous as well. Furneaux LodgeĀ - Endeavour Inlet is stunning. Treated myself and had dinner.


šŸ”ļøChallenges: my pack is so heavy and really digging into my hip bones.


šŸ’­Thoughts: the South Island is off to a strong start. First day on The Queen Charlotte track has been great. 🄳



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Day 3/64 🄾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Wednesday 3rd January

Weather: sunny ā˜€ļø & hot

From: Furneaux LodgeĀ - Endeavour Inlet

Start time: 10am

To: Bay of Many Coves Campsite

End time: 4.44 pm

Accommodation: camped šŸ•ļø

Terrain: well marked coastal paths, pine forests, a few rocky bits.


🄾Km: 25

🦶Steps: 31,633


Total Km: 1751.5/3028 = 58% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: $10 camping


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 7/10

Fatigue: 5/10

Ease of terrain: 5/10 relatively easy a few ups and downs


ā­ļøHighlights: more beautiful views, nice weather and nice walking.


šŸ”ļøChallenges: at the start it was sometimes pretty busy - lots of people. The campsite wasn’t the best. Very small and the ground wasn’t flat - it was ok.


šŸ’­Thoughts: none worth sharing šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚



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Day 4/64 🄾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Thursday 4th January

Weather: sunny ā˜€ļø & hot

From: Bay of many Coves Campsite

Start time: 10.50am

To: Black-rock Campsite

End time: 12.50pm

Accommodation: camped tent sent up by 1pm. Reading my book at 1.20pm

Terrain: easy paths, pine covered paths.


🄾Km: 12.4

🦶Steps: 14,691


Total Km: 1761/3028 = 58% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: $10 camping


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 8/10

Fatigue: 3/10

Ease of terrain: 4/10


ā­ļøHighlights: stunning views. Did a little bit of running on the downhill. Made it to the campsite super early. Had a chilled afternoon in the sun


šŸ”ļøChallenges: my sawyer water I filter bag got torn. So I’ve patched it up with duct tape!


šŸ’­Thoughts: loving the QCT - it’s an amazing walk 🄳



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Day 5/64 🄾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ


šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Friday 5th January

Weather: dry with patches of rain šŸŒ§ļø

From: Black-rock Campsite

Start time: 8.10am

To: Davies Bay Campsite - massive campsite - so much flat ground.

End time: 2.10pm

Accommodation: camping ā›ŗļø

Terrain: forest tracks, well maintained, soft underfoot.


🄾Km: 26.2

🦶Steps: 32,485


Total Km: 1783/3028 = 59% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: $10 camping. Paid online


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 8/10

Fatigue: 3/10

Ease of terrain: 5/10 a few nice steep climbs, a few switchbacks.


ā­ļøHighlights: gorgeous bit of downhill running for the final 5k - Got to the shelter just before it started to rain.


šŸ”ļøChallenges: none


šŸ’­Thoughts: I got nothing šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚



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