As adventurers, I believe we have a duty of care to the planet around us. While we revel in its beauty, we should be doing what we can to protect it. And during the planning stages, I was determined to make my Te Araroa hike as sustainable as possible.
Here are nine things I did to try and reduce waste and my impact on the environment. Given I’m currently on trail – writing this while on a week-long surf break, from a lovely beach holiday park – I know things won’t always be perfect or go to plan. And I’ll keep updating this blog as I go along.
1 – Beg, Borrow, (don’t steal) your gear
Long distance hiking is pricey. There’s always a balance between cost spent and making your pack as lightweight as possible. A potential answer to this conundrum with the added bonus of sustainability points, is borrowing your gear. Particularly if you are new to thru-hikes like I – and many others – on Te Araroa are. There’s no use wasting money and resources on new gear when you might not even like it.
Ask family or adventure friends. Ask on facebook groups or research outdoor gear hire facilities such as Outdoor Hire. New gear requires a lot of natural resources, sometimes unethically sourced, and there are issues with ethical labour practices too. Second-hand for the win.
2 – Think carefully about your travel choices
A tough one given how far away New Zealand is. Reality if you’re walking Te Araroa will be that you need to fly. However, researching airline practices and greener choice flights can help reduce your emissions, even if it’s only by a small amount (pennies turn into pounds, right?).
A top tip is choosing a journey with the least layovers. A lot of fuel is used in the takeoff and landing process (similar to driving a car), and reducing your stops en-route will reduce your emissions.
3 – Make use of refill stores
I’ve been seriously impressed with the refill options in New Zealand. I had full intentions of visiting specific refill stores in Auckland when I arrived, but jetlag got the better of me. However, while doing my first resupply at the Pak n Save in Kaitaia, I was delighted to find a refill section!
Turns out this is common in several supermarket chains, and is worth looking out for. If you were to buy packaged items, you’ll probably repack them into ziplock bags anyway, so why not skip the messy, wasteful middle step? Check the refill sections for staples such as nuts, dried fruit, trail mix / scrummy, quinoa, couscous and spices. Bonus that you can control the exact amount you need for each leg of your journey!
Fellow blogger Ethically Kate has a great blog about low waste hiking food too!
4 – Toilet waste management (look after Te Araroa!)
Not something I have had to contend with on Te Araroa yet, but I am carrying a spade for burying waste. If caught out on trail, don’t leave behind a mess. It’s not nice for other trampers to stumble across and importantly, as humans our poop is full of nasty stuff that is not good for our water sources. Dig, dump and bury. Always stay away from water sources.
5 – Give back to the local economy
Sustainability isn’t just about emissions and plastic consumption. It’s about supporting local economies and on Te Araroa there are SO many wonderful opportunities for this. Even if you are hiking on a strict budget, try to leave some aside for supporting local dairies, cafes and accommodation providers. New Zealanders are incredibly friendly and generous, and giving back to the communities that support this amazing trail is an important part of the sustainability of the route.
6 – Repair before you replace
When I was doing research for my expedition, I was amazed at how many people replaced gear at the slightest bit of use. Get creative with that needle and thread, and repair as you go! Often you won’t have a choice: if you’re shoes give in while you’re days away from a store, you’ll need to get comfortable with backcountry fixing.
On a trail this long, understandbly there will be gear that needs replaced. But if you can fix it, it feels rewarding (and you’ll save that money for more fish and chips along the way!). If you do replace something, make an informed decision by thinking about the sustainability and ethics of the brands or stores available.
Things I’ve had to mend on trail include: broken internal tent attachment, tent holes, resizing baggy shorts, broken walking poles and a hole in my camping pillow.
7 – Follow only Te Araroa: Stick to the trail
Going off-trail is not recommended at home and the same applied here. We’ve all seen trails where unique and fragile environments are being destroyed by hikers cutting corners and going off route. This is just as – if not more – important in New Zealand. Kauri Dieback is a disease spreading through forests and killing the towering Kauri trees across the country. New Zealand already has a fragile ecosystem with many native and endemic species, due to its isolation. As adventurers enjoying and being granted access to these incredible areas, we need to stick to the trail, stop the spread of disease and help protect the delicate ecosystems of the country.
8 – Responsible camping on Te Araroa
Similarly, responsible camping is encouraged on Te Araroa. New Zealand generally allows freedom camping in many areas, but there are important exceptions that affect a lot of the trail. Firstly, no camping on private land. Secondly, there are camping restrictions in place in many areas due to disease spread, so these need to be researched and respected. And if you are asked to clean your gear, especially boots and tents, give them a good scrub.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has great info about responsible hiking and camping.
9 – Reduce waste
Lastly, make simple choices to reduce waste. Refill centres, mentioned above, are a great option. A bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic alternative. Refillable water bottle (bonus point if its a smooshable one for packing points!). I even use a pee-rag (specifically, this one) for mid-hike bush wees or middle-of-the-night, right outside my tent!
I hope this helps makes your Te Araroa 2023 hike more sustainable! Have any tips to add? Reach out to me on Instagram! And if you enjoy my content, please share with fellow adventure souls, or coffee donations are always appreciated 🙏
Other posts you might enjoy:
Cilmbing Kilimanjaro: The Ultimate Kit List — 10 Eco-Adventure and Travel Tips — How I budget my adventure funding
