Walking

Te Araroa is Aotearoa New Zealand’s long distance tramping route stretching 3000km from Cape Reinga to Bluff, it includes a mixture of previously made tracks and walkways, new tracks and sections alongside roads. Te Araroa trail in Otago passes mountains, forests, lakes and gold mining history. The tracks range from the rigours of the Motatapu Track to easy tracks strolling along mountain tops and streams. It also passes right through Arrowtown allowing for a place to rest your head, fill your belly and shop for supplies.

Mahu Whenua means ‘healing the land’ and is the name for the 53,000 hectares of conservation land which borders Arrowtown. In 2015, the land was donated to the Queen Elizabeth II Trust and is the largest ever conservation effort on private land in New Zealand, providing a large trail network for a range of recreation activities.

Exploring the beautiful trails and paths of our region is an unforgettable experience. We’re in an alpine environment so things can change quickly in the bush and mountains so it’s important to be prepared and think ahead. Make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need for your adventure (appropriate shoes, rain jacket regardless of the forecast and layers with extra water, food, sunscreen, bug spray, phone and if possible, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Before you head out, it is ideal to tell someone of your plans and when you plan on returning.