Te Araroa is in New Zealand, and the name refers to two closely related things: a small coastal town on the East Cape of the North Island, and a 3,000 km long-distance hiking trail that runs the full length of the country from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south.

Where is Te Araroa (the town)?

  • Te Araroa town is in the Gisborne Region on the northeast of New Zealand’s North Island.
  • It sits on the remote East Cape coast, about 175 km north of the city of Gisborne, along State Highway 35 between Tokata and Awatere.
  • The settlement is a rural Māori community, known as the birthplace of influential Māori politician Sir Āpirana Ngata and for its huge pōhutukawa tree, Te Waha o Rerekohu, near the local school.

Where is Te Araroa (the trail)?

  • Te Araroa, “The Long Pathway,” is New Zealand’s national long-distance tramping (hiking) route, roughly 3,000 km long.
  • It runs the entire length of the country, starting at Cape Reinga at the very top of the North Island and finishing in Bluff at the bottom of the South Island.
  • The route links existing tracks, new pathways, and some road sections, passing through beaches, forests, mountains, farmland, and cities, and usually takes several months to walk end-to-end.

Quick Scoop: travel and “latest news” angle

  • The Te Araroa trail has become a trending “bucket list” hike in recent years, with thousands attempting all or part of it each season and a growing ecosystem of blogs, vlogs, and guide sites around it.
  • Recent discussions often focus on trail impact on small communities, landowner access issues, and how to hike responsibly while still enjoying the wild, remote feel of the route.

In forum and social chatter, “where is Te Araroa?” usually gets answered with: “All over New Zealand – from Cape Reinga to Bluff – but if you mean the town, it’s that tiny East Cape spot north of Gisborne.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.