My 2019/2020 Te Araroa Trail sections

My tramping plan for spring/summer/autumn of 2019/2020

I am in the process of planning my 2019/2020 tramping season, this is a task I do every year to give me something to aspire towards. It is a real mix: day walks, overnight trips, Great Walks and Te Araroa Trail sections. The plan will add another 300 odd kilometers towards the completion of my Te Araroa Trail section walk. 

Key Summit, Fiordland National Park....walking in December 2019

Obviously this is all tentative as the weather will determine if these trips go ahead. Some of the early trips may also be affected by the lambing season (August-October). The 2019/2020 season will be...beautiful sunny skies, warm winds and not ex tropical storms and torrential rain...I look forward to this being a great tramping season.

What TA Section shall I walk?

I'm planning on walking the following TA Sections this year, possibly more if the weather holds out into May/April. There were a number of NOBO trekkers still on trail as late as July in 2019 late starters.  2020 is predicted to be a La Nina year so it will probably be wetter/cloudier/more stormy on the east coast of the South Island and all of these sections have multiple un-bridged river crossings.  

Morison Footbridge: start/finish of the Mingha-Deception Track

All these sections are in the South Island...it is just easier for me to get to the start/finish of those sections. I'm also trying to avoid the bubble of TA trekkers moving through the South Island by tramping later in the season. 

January 2020

Arthurs Pass NP, NOBO, Greyney's Shelter to Goat Pass Hut/Morrison Footbridge, mid Jan, multiday trip (also TA Section) Cancelled due to bad weather...

Rakuira/Stewert Island, Rakuria Track, 28 Jan-2 Feb, Great Walk: multiday trip (also TA Section)... Completed 

February 2020
Lake Summer FP, NOBO, Harpers Pass Track-mid February, TA Section, multiday trip (5 days) We had a 1-100 year storm that closed everything down for a couple of weeks...

Note: New Zealand was placed into lock-down due to the Covid-19 pandemic in early March and all outdoor activity outside your local area was banned. The country was released slowly from lock-down towards the end of May. All of my planned trips over that period were cancelled. 

March 2020
Nelson Lakes NP/St James Conservation Area, SOBO,  D’Urville-Waiau Valley Trip: D'Urville Valley- Moss Pass- Blue Lake- Waiau Pass- Waiau Valley- Hanmer via St James Cycleway, early March, Partial TA Section, multiday trip (7-10 day trip?). This is my major tramping trip for the coming season, crossing two significant passes and a hard couple of days walking up the remote D'Urville Valley.

St James Range, St James Walkway:view down the Waiau Valley towards Hanmer

April 2020
Hakatere Conservation Park, SOBO/NOBO, one of: Rakaia River- Rangitata River or Rangitata- Lake Tekapo or Lake Tekapo- Lake Ohau- all TA Sections, multiday trip (5 days)

May 2020
Marlborough, NOBO, Pelorous Bridge to Anikiwa, multiday trip (2-3 days); or
Craigeburn FP, SOBO, Hamilton Hut to Rakaia River, multiday trip (3-4 days)

Hoping to visit Lake Tekapo in 2020

I am attempting to get into top trail condition by the end of the current year so I will be ready to tackle the sections outlined. It will be interesting to see how far I progress...come back soon for updates!!!