It took Gokul Vichur 162 days to complete the Te Araroa trail. The Kiwi-Indian based out of Christchurch walked several hours a day to make the iconic journey.
Te Araroa is a long-distance walking trail that spans the length of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga at the top of North Island to Bluff at the bottom of South Island. The trail, which is divided into 160 sections, covers a total distance of nearly 3,000 kilometers.
It was opened in 2011 and it is one of the world's longest walking trails, offering hikers the opportunity to experience New Zealand's diverse landscapes, from coastal beaches to mountain ranges and forests. It is a popular attraction for hiking enthusiasts from around the world.
The Indian Weekender spoke to 33-year-old Vichur about his trip and the challenges he faced.
Q1. How did you decide on Te Araroa trail?
Once I moved to Christchurch, I joined a hiking group and started hiking with friends. Initially, we used to do day walks and a night on weekends. Over a period of time, these became longer hikes culminating in the decision to do the Te Araroa trail, covering the entire length of New Zealand eight years later.
I met some people a few years ago while they were doing the trail, and I thought they were crazy to do something of this magnitude and asked them more about it. It stuck in my mind, and I felt I might want to challenge myself to do it one day. I was also encouraged by some of my close friends in Christchurch who wanted to do it, and I finally decided to take the leap in November 2022 and do it.
Q2. What were the biggest challenges you faced?
Firstly, the logistics of planning and organising everything for this length of time…Then the physical challenge is walking an average of 20 to 25 kilometres daily, and anywhere between six and 13 hours. I remember walking in heavy rain for 12 hours, covering 44km through Puketi Forest in Northland in late November.
Walking with a 15 to 20-kg bag on your back the whole time takes work. You need to carry all your sleeping gear, tent, and cooking gear with about four to five days of food usually, with the most extended section being Richmond Ranges, where you carry food for nine days.
Some rivers might be too dangerous to cross after heavy rains, or some ridges high in the mountains are too dangerous in high winds. For instance, I had to wait for five days for safe weather in the Tararuas before I could cross, as wind speeds were at some points up to 100kph.
So, you must be flexible and change plans quickly depending on weather conditions and your body.
Q3. What was your first reaction after completing the trail?
I was thrilled. This was my life for the last 162 days, and I had finally achieved my goal and walked 2680km, cycled 195km and paddled 152km along the entire length of New Zealand, reaching Bluff on April 24, 2023, after starting my journey in Cape Reinga on November 14, 2022.
Q4. What’s next for you?
There are other similar thru-hikes in other parts of the world that I will consider doing in the future. I also want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
Q5. Your message for others who want to tread the same path?
It will be a harrowing, challenging, but enriching life-changing experience. You will see the country in a way like no other and get to some of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand. You will meet incredible people from across the globe with similar interests, so you are never alone.
Q6. Tell us about your journey from India to New Zealand?
I moved to Auckland from Bangalore in August 2008 as an international student when I was 18. I spent seven years there, then moved to Christchurch in 2015 and have lived here ever since. I went through the process from student visa to work visa to residency to citizenship
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