Dodgy outline of a plan for 2026/27
Welcome to my ramblings on making my way up and down NZ on foot and on the water.
I am currently (April 2026) working on a project installing school traffic signage in the South Island that at this stage will finish at the end of May and am pondering an adventure to follow this.
The South Island TA appeals as much of the country it traverses is unfamiliar to me.
The TA ethos of traversing the whole country appeals but I am not interested in road bashing for extended times where more interesting options exist.
Traversing from the South Cape on Stewart Island to Hikurua at the top of the North Island appeals
I enjoy being self reliant and pack rafts have evolved
NOBO makes sense if starting in October or later.
An out and return SOBO folowed by NOBO has merit. Starting/finishing in Napier where my storage facility is located makes sense (to me :) )
SO the tentative plan ...
SOBO
Paddle or walk down the East Coast south of Hawkes Bay (dictated by the sea conditions) making my way to Makara Beach to await a suitable weather window for crossing Cook Strait to Queen Charlotte Sound.
Continue down the West Coast of the South Island paddling when possible. Await a suitable weather window to cross Foveaux strait.
Weather dodgy - paddle Pattersons, walk Tin range, paddle Pegasus, walk to South cape rtn. Weather balmy and calm (yeah right!) paddle the east coast rtn.
NOBO
Await another weather window at Christmas village before crossing Foveaux. Walk and paddle the TA to Hanmer/Boyle Village then paddle the Clarence followed by a paddle up the coast to Queen Charlotte to await a weather window for Cook Strait again.
TA Plimmerton to P Nth. Walk Ruahine, Kaweka, Kaimanawa to Taupo. Paddle Taupo to Waikato river mouth. Paddle/walk between the harbours, TA or East Coast to the top.
SOBO
Paddle down the East Coast and across the firth of Thames. Walk Coromandel/Kaimai/Mamaku Paddle Rotorua/Rotoiti/Rotoehu/Rotoma then out to the coast. Weather good - paddle round East Cape and down to Napier. Weather dodgy walk through Urewera to Waikaremoana. Walk to Te Hoe and paddle out the Mohaka. Paddle to Napier
A rough image of intentions
