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@julzi42 5 күн бұрын
Ahh the Colonial Knob steps!! Never ending but a great track. Loving the Vlog 😊
@toughgirlchallenges 5 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!! A really great track - enjoyed it a lot!!
@supafrogg258 6 күн бұрын
After on TV chancing upon and enjoying the documentary covering several years of Naomi's family life / power lifting development, I had to seize the opportunity to watch it again, when it was re-run.
@nathanhedges3491 10 күн бұрын
Congratulations on finishing the north island. enjoyed your time off trail and be great to see your south island journey
@toughgirlchallenges 5 күн бұрын
THANK YOU for watching the north island vlogs - the roads, the mud and the roads again - the South Island vlogs will start on January 3rd!
@patrickthemoteo11 11 күн бұрын
É meu sonho morar nos eua em boston eu sou um torcedor apaixonado e muito apaixonado pelo meu boston red sox!
@ChrismTwo 12 күн бұрын
Happy Christmas 🎄 etc Loved your summary here So many facts and figures I'm sure you'll enjoy the SI section more Looking forward to following your journey on the Mainland!!!
@toughgirlchallenges 12 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for watching and following along! The South Island Vlogs start again on the 3rd January - have a lovely Christmas!
@toughgirlchallenges 12 күн бұрын
Total Stats for the North Island Total Days: 50 Days on Trail : 47 Rest Days: 1 Travel days: 2 (Day 1 & Day 50) 🗓Start date: 1st November 2023 from Cape Reinga/ Te Rerenga Wairua 🗓End date: 19th December 2023 at Wellington. North Island: 1,700km / 1,056 miles Methods of travel: Walk, Bike, Canoe, Car, Boat, Cable Car 🥾Walked: 40 days / 1,068km / 664 miles Average daily km: 26.7 km / 16.7 miles ⏰Earliest start time: 6am (Day 22) ⏰Latest start time: 11.20am - waiting for water taxi - day 14 ⏰Earliest end time: 12.40pm - the last day of the canoe - day 38 ⏰Latest end time: 8.40pm (Day 20) - I was wild camping, so needed to wait until it was dark to set up my tent. 🦶Longest time on feet: 12hrs 30 mins - day 27 / 21.4km / Pirongia to Waitomo - very badly overgrown, slow going. Shortest day: day 44 - hitch to Levin - then a short walk to the accommodation. 5.9km / 2hr 10 mins - also stopped to do a food shop 🛶Canoe: Whanganui River - 5 days / 168km / 105 miles / $300 🚴♀Bike: Timber Trail - 2 days / 90km / 56 miles / $135 🚗Hitching: 374km / 232 miles / no of hitches 32 Most hitches in a day: 3 (day 1 and day 31) Longest Hitch: Levin - Waikanae (74km / 46 miles) (Missed the Tararua Ranges - due to bad weather) Other transportation: 🚎Buses: 3 (travel to the start & travel from the finish) $45 ⛴Boat rides: Ferry 2 / water taxi 1 $36 🚠Cable Car: 1 Wellington $6.50 💵Total Transport Costs: $522 / £256 Accommodation: ⛺Night in my tent: 34 / 68% 🛏Nights with a roof over my head: 16 / 34% Breakdown: 🏕Free Camping: 18 ⛺Paid Camping: 16 🏚Cabin/hut: 4 🛌Hostel: 3 ⛪Mattress floor of church: 2 💨Air mattress: 2 🛏Bedroom in house: 2 🛏Bed in a garage: 2 🛏Eco Lodge: 1 💵Most expensive accommodation: Eco Lodge $222 (did include pizza on arrival, dinner, breakfast & lunch) 😇Most expensive trail angel $50 (included being picked up, dropped off, shower & dinner) 💰🏕Most expensive camping $40 💰⛺Cheapest camping $8 Best value for money: Trail Angel 😇- Jo’s Funny Farm. Day 25 $30 (the price included an amazing dinner & breakfast, bed in a garage & hot shower). 💷💵Total Accommodation Costs: £485 / $990 💷💵Average Accommodation Costs: £9.70 / $19.80 Random… 🍾Bottles of wine drank: 4 (most expensive $44) Gear destroyed/broken: 2 pairs inov8 socks, 1 water bladder, 1x inov8 trainers, 1x pink hat, sunglasses. No of items lost: 0 Gifted gear: 🎒Osprey backpack EJA 48L, all Inov8 gear: 2x socks, shoes, black short shorts, pink hoody, pink waterproof jacket, gloves. 👟Trainers: Inov8 RocFly G350 - Cushioned hiking shoes. Designed for thru-hiking & multiple long days on the trail £150. World’s first hiking shoe with Graphene foam. The highly-breathable, quick-drying knitted upper delivers excellent comfort, protection and long-lasting durability as the big miles stack up. They were new for the start of this walk. 📡📲Communication Device: ZOLEO - connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage Apps used on the trail: Te Ararora App, Te Ararora Notes & maps App, Google Maps, Booking.com, Airalo (e-sim card), Zoleo App Other Costs: 💰Total Food Resupply: £736 / $1503 Average daily food cost £15 / $30 Most expensive Food Shop: £192 / $392 - this was for 5 days hiking & 5 day canoe trip, plus 2 extra days worth of food in case of bad weather. (12 days worth) No of no spend days: 14 💰Miscellaneous Costs: e-sim cards & data top up, new water bladder, painkillers, suncream, anti-septic cream. Total: $169 / £83 Total Costs*: £1,560 / $3,184 💷 Average costs per day: £31 / $64 *This doesn’t include my international flight costs, travel insurance, and travel/accommodation before & after finishing the North Island - I’ll include these costs in my total stats post as it’s too hard to separate it out for each island. Subjective feeling out of 10 on: 😀Total Enjoyment: 312/480 = 65% Enjoyment - seems about right! Maybe a little high!! 😫Total Fatigue average: 238/480 = 50% - tired - which did surprise me a little. Maybe I was more tired going into this trail than I thought I was. ⛰Total Ease of terrain: 281/480 = 59% of the trail was hard/challenging. This will be the roads, concrete paths, gravel paths, cycle ways. Plus many parts of the trail were overgrown and in a bad state, coupled with lack of signage Challenges: The TA Website says it is- is a continuous 3,000 km walking track from Cape Reinga to Bluff. This is not correct. IT IS NOT a continuous walking track!!! There are breaks, road detours, bike tours, canoe tours, ferry links, water taxi links, roads links, State Highway links. 📌This is not your typical wilderness thru hike. 🛣The biggest challenge for me was the roads, they were just brutal on your feet and your soul. Least enjoyable days: (below 5 out of 10 on my enjoyment rating system) Day 6 - The Northland Forest - first serious exposure to the mud and lack of signage. Day 7 - road walking, plus my left ankle is causing me pain Day 12 - Road walking & waiting to cross the estuary, left ankle still causing me pain Day 22 - fell in a swamp, fields of cows, being wet, thighs rubbing together Day 36 - cold and wet - canoeing, fell in the water 3x Day 46 - horrendous weather - rained all day - cold and wet I don’t mind challenging walking, but when 80% of your day is miserable, it’s just not fun anymore. I don’t want to spend the majority of my time, on dangerous roads, with cars and lorries going past at ridiculous speeds. Logistics were also more challenging than I expected. In terms of planning estuary/river crossings. Finding places to stay and getting around the detours. ✨Highlights: Timber Trail, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Colonial Knob Walkway (before Wellington). *I will be doing a separate post with the stats from the South Island, and I will also be doing a post with the TOTAL stats from both islands 🎤I will also be recording a Tough Girl Podcast solo episode where I will share in more detail my experience from the hike. Plus I will be answering questions from my community the Tough Girl Tribe and people who followed along with the journey on Instagram. This will be live 12th March 2024. 💬Any thoughts or comments about the stats? Anything you’d like me to consider keeping track of for future hikes?
@Expatkiwipeter 12 күн бұрын
You said 1715 km done but - you haven't? Aside from the hundreds of kilometres you've hitchhiked, what about the Tararuas? I appreciate the weather was bad, but aren't you going to go back and walk it?
@robtwizelcleary8344 12 күн бұрын
Jeez give it a rest with the Tararuas, you know why not. HYOH rules apply to everyone 🙂
@toughgirlchallenges 12 күн бұрын
Thanks for engaging with my vlog! I appreciate your thoughts and totally get where you're coming from. The decision not to walk the Tararuas was one I didn’t take lightly. The weather conditions were hazardous, and with a flight to catch for Christmas, I had to make the call to prioritize safety and logistics. As I’ve mentioned on my website and in my podcast episode, I’ve been transparent about hitchhiking and the reasons behind it. Walking 1715 km includes both the kilometres hiked and the overall journey (which included mountain biking & canoeing), which was shaped by the circumstances I faced. I am sharing my journey on the TA. I expected it to be a thru-hike similar to the Appalachian Trail. I wasn't expecting the state highways and dangerous road walking. So hitching was a part of my story, and I’ve documented it openly to share a complete picture of my journey. I hope this adds some clarity, and I’m happy to discuss further if you’d like! 😊
@hrd9686 13 күн бұрын
What are you doing with the Tararuas?
@toughgirlchallenges 13 күн бұрын
@@hrd9686 I shared in the last video that the weather was too bad up there. So I missed that section as I didn’t want to be end up stuck in the mountains and miss my flight to Melbourne for Christmas.
@hrd9686 9 күн бұрын
@@toughgirlchallenges I highly recommend to do the Tararuas! They are much better & beautiful (i.e. Goblin Forest) and challenging than other parts! Maybe when you're coming back if you have a weather window or after finishing the TA in Bluff.
@boostedshuttle2231 13 күн бұрын
Congratulations, great effit all around. Hope you come back for the south island, it's fully worth it..... views that will neva leave you.
@toughgirlchallenges 13 күн бұрын
@@boostedshuttle2231 thank you so much for watching the North Island Vlogs. Pleased you stuck around. It was a lot of roads and mud and to be honest not what I expected. The Vlogs will be continuing for the South Island starting again on the 2nd of January.
@boostedshuttle2231 12 күн бұрын
@toughgirlchallenges can wait to see you down hear, you will not be disappointed in the people and the views. Merry Xmas
@toughgirlchallenges 12 күн бұрын
@@boostedshuttle2231 Thank you so much and Merry Xmas to you!!!
@julzi42 14 күн бұрын
Wow such a shame about the weather in the Escarpment track. Such a great trail.
@toughgirlchallenges 14 күн бұрын
@@julzi42 if this had been sunshine! It would have taken it to the next level! Still super fun doing it with a little bit of wind / made the swing bridges interesting!!!
@ruthholman4822 14 күн бұрын
I used to live in a house at River PA for a couple of years. I'm sorry the weather wasn't better for you while you were in Waikanae and Kapiti
@toughgirlchallenges 14 күн бұрын
@@ruthholman4822 that’s very kind of you thank you so much! What a selling part of the world to have lived in. I could tell the walk would’ve been even more amazing at the Sun had been shining. The weather can make such an impact.
@julzi42 14 күн бұрын
Way to go!!! Anyone that can tackle this trail deserves a medal. I haven’t done it but have done parts.
@toughgirlchallenges 12 күн бұрын
Thank you! 😊 I’d love to know-what were your favorite parts of the trail? It’s always so interesting to hear which sections stood out to others! 🌟
@jpmcc 15 күн бұрын
BTW, this vlog series is well put together. I've visited NZ several times, spending the majority of time on the south island. That country is a treat. Keep walking.
@toughgirlchallenges 15 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment. it takes so much to edit together the vlogs. The South Island is so different from the north island - I'm excited for people to watch those vlogs!
@majellafergus3643 15 күн бұрын
Wow, this trip is throwing it all at you but way to go girl, you’re hitting it right back! 👏🏻 🥰
@toughgirlchallenges 15 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!!!! Not long to go on the North Island!!! Just a few more days!!
@boostedshuttle2231 15 күн бұрын
Sorry for my comment the other day, watched your pod cast, fully understand, it's a big strange trail, I've done all the south island efi style so I do no what it's like out there. Cheers and enjoy nz
@toughgirlchallenges 15 күн бұрын
Thanks so much for watching/listening to the podcast - really appreciate it. It’s definitely a unique trail! Especially the North Island. Sounds like you’ve had some amazing experiences yourself - the South Island EFI style must’ve been incredible! Cheers for the kind words, and I’ll do my best to soak up all that NZ has to offer. 😊
@boostedshuttle2231 15 күн бұрын
@toughgirlchallenges was alot of road walking after lake Coleridge, so many people forget there alot in the south island. But the views are un forgettable. I have vlogs of my journey threw te waipounamu, But not much of an editor. Be alot of voice ovas , as I waffle alot.
@hrd9686 15 күн бұрын
Sometimes I don't understand DOC why they don't care the TA tracks. Are they only doing the "great" walks🥴
@hrd9686 15 күн бұрын
Not many outside these days😉
@toughgirlchallenges 15 күн бұрын
Hopefully my videos will inspire more people to step outside and take on new challenges. That’s the goal with Tough Girl Challenges - to encourage more women and girls to embrace adventures and push their limits. 😊
@TheMahoJos 17 күн бұрын
The muuuuuuud!! Ugh! Must have been so draining 😢
@toughgirlchallenges 17 күн бұрын
it really takes it out of you! but it was fun towards the end when you are going through the streams as well!
@ygraedyn 17 күн бұрын
why do vlogers think that putting a camera done to watch themselves is clever its absolute stupidity
@toughgirlchallenges 17 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I like to mix up the shots to keep the vlogs visually interesting. Otherwise, it can end up being just scenic views or me talking to the camera the whole time. I think adding different angles makes the storytelling more dynamic, but I appreciate the feedback!
@boostedshuttle2231 17 күн бұрын
Another section walker.
@toughgirlchallenges 17 күн бұрын
And I've been very transparent about my reasons why. The north island TA is not a thru-hike (in the traditional sense of the word) - it's a long road walk, with occasional sections of forest or beach.
@genefidz2426 17 күн бұрын
Everyone does it their own way, what’s with the hate!??? @toughgirlchallenges do your thang
@toughgirlchallenges 17 күн бұрын
@@genefidz2426 Thank you so much!!!! I really appreciate your support! x
@nathandavies6014 18 күн бұрын
I am looking to do this from North to South this April and rasie money for charity.. any advice..would love to WhatsApp a few questions. Would that be OK?
@toughgirlchallenges 16 күн бұрын
Nathan, That sounds amazing! I'm more than happy to help and answer any questions you have - just drop them in the comments here and I’ll do my best to respond. 😊 Best of luck with your planning and preparation - it’s a fantastic trail!
@pj3635 18 күн бұрын
Wouldn’t be a video without a hitch in it 😂
@margaretolover3316 18 күн бұрын
Especially when you've got a flight to catch 👍
@pj3635 17 күн бұрын
@ doesn’t sound like a fun way to through hike or section hike. Should’ve just focused on the South Island and enjoy it.
@toughgirlchallenges 17 күн бұрын
@@pj3635 I agree - what people think the TA is very different from the reality. If you have done big thru-hikes before and spend all your time in the wilderness and then you come to New Zealand. You don't think it would involve so much road walking. Which is what the NI is. If you would like to hear more. I've done a detailed reflections episode on the tough girl podcast -where I talk about this (hitching, the roads, is it worth it etc) and what my recommendations would be for other hiker who are considering doing the TA.
@Sarky39 18 күн бұрын
Insecure Brian's mummy 😂😂
@toughgirlchallenges 18 күн бұрын
@Sarky39 I’m not quite sure what you mean by this comment. I would love for you to explain thank you.
@ian.blackwell 18 күн бұрын
Sarah , This is an excellent portrayal of the Isle of Man , I used to live there in the late 1990's but did not walk the coastal path . You have reignited my desire to walk the coastal path !
@toughgirlchallenges 18 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s wonderful to hear that the post brought back fond memories of your time on the Isle of Man. The coastal path is truly breathtaking, and I’m so glad it has inspired you to explore it! I hope you get the chance to walk it soon and rediscover the island's incredible beauty. 😊
@johneikenmeyer8100 18 күн бұрын
Nice walk Sarah. My wife and I did the walk this summer and it was my favorite vacation ever. From the states, but my view was that it would have been even better if I started in Bath and went to Chipping Camp Den so it was nice to see you do it. Stanton is also our favorite town as well. Hope you enjoyed it.
@toughgirlchallenges 18 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! How wonderful that you and your wife got to experience the Cotswold Way too-it’s such a special walk, isn’t it? I'm so glad I filmed it and will be able to look back on the gorgeous little villages. I hope you have some more UK walks planned for the future. Another beautiful walk you may enjoy could be the Coast to Coast or the Anglesey Coastal Path! Keep hiking!
@johneikenmeyer8100 17 күн бұрын
@@toughgirlchallenges The coast to coast is something I have watched some you tube videos on and it looks to be very challenging and beautiful. The Cotswolds were amazing of course, but I believe next summer we were going to do the Kerry Way in Ireland or go to Scotland and do both the West Glen and the Great Glen Way.
@TheDibs66 19 күн бұрын
Mervs accent 😂
@toughgirlchallenges 16 күн бұрын
Brilliant - such a character!!!!!
@Caroline604 19 күн бұрын
Not sponsored by MSR then?😂. With hindsight, which tent do you wish you had taken?
@toughgirlchallenges 19 күн бұрын
To be fair - I do think MSR is a great brand, it's just this tent has not been good at all. It hasn't worked for me. I know so many people who do have MSR tents and love them. I wish I had got another terra nova - my last tent was epic - it lasted me so well, 6 years of hard expeditions, but I was trying to go lighter. The problem with going lighter is - the tents just can't withstand the wear and tear from how often I'm using it.
@chilli-peppa 20 күн бұрын
Well done. Let's be honest though- 1,500 less all the hitches.
@toughgirlchallenges 20 күн бұрын
Thank you! I’ve made a point to be transparent about any hitching I’ve done, unlike some others who document similar trips. Walking along state highways with cars whizzing by at 90km/h isn’t exactly my idea of fun, and safety always comes first. I’ve also shared my reasons openly in the vlog, as I believe in keeping it real for anyone following along. Appreciate you watching and engaging with the journey!
@chilli-peppa 19 күн бұрын
@@toughgirlchallengesTotally understood. It's remains an incredible achievement. I think my only point is that your video title is misleading.
@toughgirlchallenges 19 күн бұрын
@@chilli-peppa Thanks for your comment! I don’t think the title is misleading, as it reflects both the milestone and the varied experiences of the trail. "1,500km DONE!" is accurate, covering all aspects of the trail-hiking, canoeing, cycling, and yes, some hitching, which I’ve been transparent about throughout the series. With a 100-character limit for titles, it’s hard to include every nuance, but I’ve aimed to summarise the milestone and the vlog’s key moments. "Halfway There" highlights progress, while "Tramping, Sarcasm, and Trail Angels" reflects the mix of experiences. Out of curiosity, what do you think would be a better title? I’m always open to ideas for making things clearer! Thanks for watching and engaging-it really means a lot!
@hrd9686 20 күн бұрын
I would do the same with the hitches😊
@toughgirlchallenges 20 күн бұрын
I hear you - it's so bad and people just don't know - because it's not shared or talked about. You do have hikers who walk every mile and fair play to them. I didn't feel safe doing that - it felt so dangerous walking on these roads. I hope the vlogs and videos show people what they can expect on this thru -hike - as it's not a thru hike in the traditional sense of the word.
@hansoloization 21 күн бұрын
Hi watched the entire series it was brilliant. I’ve only cycled from Chester to Anglesey on the Coastal Path. Quick question how do you keep your fresh food fresh whilst you are doing a section of the path and it’s warm? 😂🙂
@toughgirlchallenges 20 күн бұрын
thank you so much for watching and for your kind words - it's so much effort not only doing the challenges, but also sharing the journey as well. To be honest, I probably don't carry a huge amount of fresh food - but things like hard cheeses are ok, I've boiled 6 eggs before and had 2 per day, so they last about 3 days, If they are in the centre of the pack, they are normal ok in there. Taking a packed lunch - the food will be good at lunch time. I'm probably not that fussy and if it's a bit warm, I would probably still eat it as I'm that hungry!! Calories are calories!!! best of luck with your next hike/adventure! thanks again for your support!
@hansoloization 16 күн бұрын
Nice one, and thank you 🙂
@amdelorey 21 күн бұрын
Sorry but I can't help laughing every time the cows see you!!! I do worry about your wet feet so happy to see a change of socks on the way!
@toughgirlchallenges 21 күн бұрын
I understand!!!!! It's so funny when they start to follow me!!!! With feet it's the hard thing to get across in the videos - but having wet feet all the time isn't super fun!!! I probably should have tried out some waterproof socks!!
@WyeExplorer 22 күн бұрын
Good going Sarah. As a woman (not me) I get the security issue - you deal with it well. Yeah, a broken ankle - a nightmare. As for nice farmers - love em as I do that food. Humorous as ever. All the best. Mark
@toughgirlchallenges 16 күн бұрын
Thanks Mark! Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment!
@WyeExplorer 16 күн бұрын
@@toughgirlchallenges A pleasure Sarah - I'm following happily mate. Peace.
@flatandsplat 22 күн бұрын
So nice to know you had a nice relaxing day and a bottle of wine on my birthday 🎉 That beach was very intriguing with all the wood. And that accommodation at the end was super cute! Just started listening to your podcasts. 😊
@toughgirlchallenges 21 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 It was a lovely, relaxing day, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Hope you had a super HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!. The beach was definitely unique with all that driftwood. ! I’m so happy you’re enjoying the podcast too! 🎧 Let me know if you are looking for any particular type of adventure or challenge and I can give you some recommendations. Your support means the world to me! 💕THANK YOU!!!!
@flatandsplat 21 күн бұрын
@toughgirlchallenges Thanks. I love solo hiking but have only done day hikes in the past, except when I did the Cape to Cape multi day hike self guided but with a company. This year I'm challenging myself to camp as there are so many multi days I want to do but it's too expensive to go with a company. I'm also planning to do some of New Zealand's Great Walks with my son in Jan 2026 and head to UK in 2027 to do a couple of the National Trails. I'm particularly keen on the Cleveland Way. Would love to do the uk ones with a tent.
@toughgirlchallenges 20 күн бұрын
@@flatandsplat That sounds like an amazing journey you’re planning! The Cape to Cape is such a great intro to multi-day hikes, and I think it’s awesome that you’re challenging yourself to camp more-it really opens up so many opportunities to explore at your own pace. If you’re new to camping, it might help to ease into it by setting up camp in your garden or a local campsite first, just to get familiar with your gear and the routines. Going with friends for the first few trips can also make it less daunting and a lot more fun. Once you’re comfortable, solo camping becomes such a rewarding experience. The Great Walks in New Zealand will be such a fantastic adventure, especially sharing it with your son. And heading to the UK for the National Trails sounds like a dream! The Cleveland Way is absolutely beautiful, and camping along the trails will give you a real sense of freedom. Wishing you all the best with your adventures-sounds like 2026 and 2027 are going to be unforgettable!
@flatandsplat 19 күн бұрын
@toughgirlchallenges Thanks for the great advice 💚🌱
@davidrogers3875 23 күн бұрын
A great interview 😊
@toughgirlchallenges 23 күн бұрын
@@davidrogers3875 thank you so much 😊
@WyeExplorer 23 күн бұрын
Superb Sarah - your character is not in question. Roads can be dodgy - you have a good way there. A video I recommend - 3 minutes. Truly give it a watch. This is what I do on mental roads without a verge. Copy and paste, What to Do When Hiking Dangerous Roads/wyeexplorer. Well, muddy mental mate. Ah, good going. Mark
@SmithyGolfandSmithyWalks 24 күн бұрын
Just watching your vid again on this atage. I did it a few weeks ago and its really funny watching someone else get frustrated. Those fields with the brick walls and then the caravans were a complwte waste of time. I wished Id just continued along the beach to Barmouth. I did get the cows challenge at one of the kissing gates though.
@FreewheelingKiwi 24 күн бұрын
Great start Sarah. “It’s inevitable, I’m going to get my feet wet”. Welcome to Te Araroa 😂❤
@toughgirlchallenges 22 күн бұрын
thank you so much! hope things are good with you and you're planning your next adventure!!! x
@damianaday4658 24 күн бұрын
The other end of the road comes out at blue duck station (next to where you put in with the boats) at one point the ta trail used to use the old road from blue duck station to bridge to nowhere landing as part of the trail...
@damianaday4658 24 күн бұрын
Hi there.. Bit of history on the bridge to nowhere.. There is a road that was built to the bridge to nowhere..(part of a number of roads built in the area Its now a nz cycle trail.. After ww1 returned soldiers was given land in the area with the understanding that the government would build /mantan the road/bridges.. In short it took so long for them to build the bridge (and the land so difficult to farm) that the farmers walked off the land... The river landing where you went to walk the the bridge to nowhere was one end of the road.. Goods/people was brought up/down river by river streamer... There is at least one restored river steamer that runs on the river.. Some times all the way up river to the landing where you was when you did the farm Suff...
@toughgirlchallenges 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing more about the history - so interesting!
@flatandsplat 25 күн бұрын
Fricken awesome! This river section looks amazing!!!! How much did it cost to have the days on the river?
@toughgirlchallenges 25 күн бұрын
thanks so much! It was $300 for the canoe hire - about £150
@flatandsplat 25 күн бұрын
@toughgirlchallenges That's actually really affordable
@flatandsplat 27 күн бұрын
WOW!!! This is more like it! What an incredible experience. Thanks for another great vlog!
@toughgirlchallenges 27 күн бұрын
thank you so much for watching!!! It was such an amazing day!! So glad I got good weather for it!!!
@cecillenadela3752 28 күн бұрын
Is this the valcarlos route?thank you for sharing
@toughgirlchallenges 28 күн бұрын
thanks so much for watching. It was so long ago for me now - I've actually got no idea!
@cecillenadela3752 28 күн бұрын
@@toughgirlchallengesWe did the French way just this Sept I did the Napoleon route so this route is not familiar no Orrison refugee . I was hoping this is the Valcalros planning of doing this by bike but taking the low elevation the Napoleon is just too challenging for bike new Sub here
@flatandsplat 29 күн бұрын
I love this! I'm so inspired by you. You are such a trooper! I always look forward to your videos. Edit - BTW this video made me seriously laugh out loud.
@toughgirlchallenges 22 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your support x
@aprianto1985 Ай бұрын
great trip
@toughgirlchallenges 22 күн бұрын
thank you so much for watching!
@jcforshaw8221 Ай бұрын
Congratulations Sarah 👏. What an amazing adventure you are such an inspiration to women of all age's. Your strength and determination is phenomenal. You are a beautiful soul and motivator. JC.
@toughgirlchallenges 22 күн бұрын
Thank you so much, JC! Your kind words mean the world to me. I'm truly grateful for the support and encouragement. Here's to inspiring each other and continuing to lift one another up! 💕💪
@user-nx3ur6uc8t Ай бұрын
If you want well maintained paths then choose one of the Great Walks (there are many). They are designed for the general walker. Te Araroa is run on a shoestring and is also intended for people who want a bit of an adventure. There are much more challenging sections ahead. If you watch the videos others on KZbin they don’t even register the issues that are stressing Sarah. By the way, dairy cows are not going to hurt you.
@user-nx3ur6uc8t Ай бұрын
Just to clarify that my comment is not intended to criticise you Sarah, you are clearly an amazing person - but I think your expectations of Te Araroa are not quite lined up with the nature of the trail.
@toughgirlchallenges Ай бұрын
Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate the opportunity to have this discussion. You’ve brought up a great point about Te Araroa being run on a shoestring budget. I think this might be one of the big misunderstandings for international hikers. Many people, myself included, assume that because the trail is such a showcase of New Zealand’s natural beauty, it must have significant government funding and maintenance. Knowing now that it’s not supported in the same way as the Great Walks adds a new perspective. I’m definitely up for an adventure-what I’m less prepared for is walking on state highways when I thought I’d be on a trail surrounded by nature. For new hikers, especially those without experience on long-distance trails, it might seem normal. But having hiked the Appalachian Trail in the U.S., which has more consistent trail infrastructure, my expectations were different. It’s interesting you mention that other KZbinrs don’t seem to register the challenges I’m sharing. My goal with my videos is always to show the full reality of the hike: the highs and the lows, what I love and what I struggle with. Social media often highlights only the good side of adventures, but I think it’s important to balance that with authenticity. For example, the bad signage, road walking, and yes, the cows-they all form part of my experience. And while I know dairy cows aren’t typically aggressive, they can and do injure people. I’ve personally been chased by cows, so when I see them, especially with calves, I tread carefully. On a long thru-hike like this, there are bound to be tough days. My hope is that by sharing honestly, I can help prepare others for what they might face, while still encouraging them to embrace the adventure. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment and for taking the time to engage. Conversations like this are always worthwhile.
@toughgirlchallenges Ай бұрын
Thank you so much for clarifying, and I really appreciate your kind words! I completely understand where you’re coming from, and you’re absolutely right-it’s possible my expectations for Te Araroa didn’t quite line up with the nature of the trail. If you’re interested, you might enjoy listening to a reflection podcast episodes I recorded about the TA (released March 2024). I go into detail about my expectations for the trail and why certain aspects of it felt so disappointing to me. It’s a topic I’ve thought about a lot, and sharing those reflections has been really helpful. Thanks again for taking the time to comment-I truly value these discussions and your perspective!
@user-nx3ur6uc8t Ай бұрын
@@toughgirlchallenges and thank you for your courteous and detailed response. I agree everyone dislikes walking on busy roads. I think the Trust continues to try and negotiate alternative off road access but it can be hard to convince landowners. It takes only a couple of negative experiences to counter all the hundreds of well behaved walkers. I will absolutely have a listen to your podcast. Best wishes.
@flatandsplat Ай бұрын
When you look at this trail - track quality, markers etc, then see videos of the beautiful Great Walks ie Milford Track with exemplary signage, beautifully maintained. It's clear which I would choose on a trip to New Zealand. No one wants to be stressed like that when hiking. Not on so many days in a row too. It costs a lot to fly to these places. It's an investment to hike places like this. It needs to be worth your while.
@toughgirlchallenges Ай бұрын
I totally understand, and I saw quite a few hikers doing exactly that on the North Island-picking and choosing which sections to hike and hitching the road stretches. For many, those sections just weren’t worth it, either because they felt too dangerous or because it’s not how you want to spend your time after coming so far. Things are definitely very different on the South Island. The Great Walks there are truly stunning! I also did the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (vlog coming soon!), and it was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Thank you so much for your support and for watching the vlogs-I really appreciate it!
@majellafergus3643 Ай бұрын
I agree, the countryside is phenomenal. If the ‘tourist board’ want more people to come and experience this they really need to up their game on maintenance of this walk 🤷🏻♀️
@user-nx3ur6uc8t Ай бұрын
The ‘tourist board’ do not run or maintain Te Araroa. It is set up by a private trust and its website and other information material clearly explain the nature of the walk. It is aimed at people who want an adventure.
@user-nx3ur6uc8t Ай бұрын
Just to correct myself - Te Araroa connects a whole lot of different tracks and some of these will be maintained by the Department of Conservation e.g. the Queen Charlotte track at the top of the South Island but Te Araroa itself is run by volunteers. It is not like the Camino in Europe and nor is it intended to be.