If you love walking and enjoy trekking and hiking, I highly recommend a trip to New Zealand!
Yes, New Zealand is a kingdom of trails, with trails all over the country. Today, we are sharing the news of a 6-year-old girl who walked a long-distance trail in New Zealand with her family.
What is a trail anyway?
A trail is a nature walkway or a nature path. It is a walking route that has been developed to a certain extent so that humans can walk through nature. Of course, when we say developed, we don't mean that concrete has been laid down, but rather that the route is secured in almost natural form.
New Zealand is truly the kingdom of trails! Trails vary in length, from short trails that can be walked in 30 minutes to 3 hours, to day trails that take an entire day, and long trails that take several days and require staying overnight in mountain huts and other accommodations.
And there is a trail that runs 3,000km across New Zealand! The Te Araroa Trail runs from Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of the North Island, to Bluff, the southernmost point of the South Island.
Te Araroa means "the long road" in the language of the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. As its name suggests, it is a very long road that takes about four months to walk in its entirety.
This trail covers beaches, mountains, forests, plateaus, national parks, and volcanoes, so you can enjoy nature to the fullest, but it also passes through urban areas, so you can enjoy interacting with local people.
A family of five, including three young girls aged 12, 10 and 6, walked the Te Araroa Trail and it became a hot topic.
6-year-old girl conquers 2,300km
The family set out from Cape Reinga, the northernmost point, in December last year and began their six-month journey. Due to safety and weather concerns, they cut out about 700km along the way, and arrived at Bluff, the southernmost point, on May 21st. They had walked 2,300km.
The youngest child in the family, Goldie, was only five when we started the journey and turned six halfway through, making her undoubtedly the youngest person to have ever walked the trail.
The family emigrated from Australia in 2020 and decided to do the trail before the children started their new school lives. Deanna, the mother, is originally from New Zealand.
I sold most of my gear, left Australia for NZ and immediately started hitting the trail.
I wanted to do something great with my kids, before my oldest went to high school and I thought my youngest would be ready now. Goldie is stronger, more active and more adventurous than your average 6-year-old.
said Diana.
From left: Joplin, 10, Goldie, 6, Juno, 12, their father Tom, and their mother Deanna.
Up to 29km in one day
The family's journey took a total of 177 days. They walked 130 days and rested 47 days. The longest day they walked was 29 km. The longest day they walked took 13 and a half hours (25 km). They also traveled 52 km by canoe and 42 km by bicycle.
This was a good opportunity for the children to get to know New Zealand, as they were starting their new life here. They also got to meet Deanna's relatives during the trip. Deanna and Tom watched their children grow up over the course of six months.
In an environment without any toys, the children learned how to use small knives, made toy swords and bows out of tree branches, played cards, and spent their time watching others. They became very good at inventing and playing their own games. Their growth during the trip was remarkable.
said Deanna.
Juno, 12, said she felt the challenging trail had boosted her confidence and strengthened her bond with her parents.
I've come to realise that I don't need so many things to be happy.
He said.
The family plans to cover the 700km they were unable to walk on this trip over the course of three weeks later this year.
