Romain Groleau - The New Zealand Great Walks - 2025-01-05

The challenge began on Stewart Island with muddy conditions that immediately tested footing and pace control. Stress levels ran high throughout the run as I worried constantly about catching the last flight off the island, creating unnecessary mental pressure on what should have been an enjoyable start. The relief upon finishing with plenty of time to spare was immense, allowing for a celebratory meal at the local pub before departure. This remote wilderness setting provided the perfect backdrop to launch the ambitious under 10-day challenge, though the psychological pressure of tight logistics would become a recurring theme.

2. Hump Ridge Track (Fiordland)

Learning from the previous day's anxiety, I approached the Hump Ridge Track with a more relaxed mindset that immediately paid dividends. The spectacular views across Te Waewae Bay genuinely impressed me, while the extensive boardwalk sections provided excellent running surfaces through otherwise challenging terrain. The diverse landscape transitioned beautifully from coastal forests to alpine environments, showcasing Fiordland's dramatic range. As the highest elevation gain day of the challenge, it tested physical endurance early but built confidence for the bigger mountains ahead.

3. Milford Track (Fiordland)

Persistent wet weather and low visibility plagued the world-famous Milford Track, yet even in poor conditions the stunning views at McKinnon Pass remained impressive and iconic. Time pressure mounted steadily as the boat departure deadline approached, creating mental stress that compounded the physical challenges of the soggy terrain. The final stretch required digging deep both mentally and physically, ultimately pushing hard for 2 hours 30 minutes over the final 25km to make the exit boat. This day marked the first real test of racing against fixed departure times, a logistical challenge that would intensify throughout the journey.

4. Kepler Track (Fiordland)

The brutal 2am start came just 10 hours after completing the Milford Track at 4pm the day before, allowing minimal recovery time and marking the beginning of serious sleep deprivation. The combination of darkness and exhaustion created an overwhelming need for human interaction during the long night hours, leading me to play loud podcasts (needed human laughs) in the forest to maintain alertness and combat the growing sense of isolation. When severe weather hit, I sought shelter and fell asleep briefly in a storm shelter, though the conditions remained harsh. Finishing completely exhausted, this day represented the challenge's first major low point and a preview of the mental battles ahead.

5. Routeburn Track (Mount Aspiring/Fiordland)

Starting just four hours after finishing the Kepler Track, the Routeburn became what was likely the most difficult day both physically and mentally of the entire challenge. Severe blisters developed from new shoes I bought in Te Anau right after the Kepler Track as I forgot a pair of shoes at the Hump Ridge track finish, creating constant pain with every step, while the accumulated sleep deprivation began taking a serious toll. During the final 10km, I experienced hallucinations in the forest that left me completely disoriented and questioning my ability to continue safely. This day pushed me to the absolute edge of what seemed possible, marking the psychological nadir of the entire adventure.

6. Paparoa Track (West Coast)

I nearly quit the entire challenge before even starting this track, suffering from a severe headache, exhausted legs, overwhelming hunger, and complete mental confusion that made continuing seem impossible. However, everything miraculously fell into place once the run began, transforming what seemed like certain defeat into one of the most memorable days. The amazing 10+km ridge section provided panoramic views of both the inland mountains and the Tasman Sea, while great conversations with other trampers at the huts helped restore flagging morale. This became the crucial turning point that reinvigorated the entire challenge and proved that perseverance through the darkest moments could yield unexpected rewards.

7. Heaphy Track (Kahurangi National Park)

The night before proved rough with aggressive sandflies in the tent seemingly waiting for their breakfast feast, while mental fog was so severe that it took a full hour and 30 minutes just to pack my gear in the morning. Despite the difficult start, I loved the trail's unique cross-country feel that encompassed diverse ecosystems within a single day's journey. The first 30km brought severe struggles with blisters, forcing a crucial 30-minute recovery nap in the bush to continue. Distracting but mood-lifting satellite phone messages with my daughter provided emotional support. The final 20km descent proved cruel in thick fog, requiring me to hold my torch at knee level just to see the track as it wound down the mountain, before finally sleeping at the finish hut where violent body spasms wracked my exhausted body for an hour before sleep finally came.

8. Abel Tasman Coastal Track (Tasman Bay)

Strategic planning forced a south-to-north route to catch the crucial low tide crossing at the 40km mark, adding logistical complexity to an already demanding day. Surprisingly, my legs felt strong for the first 10km despite the accumulated fatigue from seven previous days, offering a brief glimpse of the body's remarkable adaptation capacity. However, the constant steep climbs and descents took an unexpected toll on increasingly tired legs, forcing two strategic 10-15 minute power naps to maintain forward progress. The beautiful coastal scenery of golden beaches and turquoise Tasman Sea provided stunning visual rewards, though the long drive back to accommodation followed by minimal sleep before the North Island flight kept the logistical pressure relentless. Bernd caught up with me and ran the last 10k with me, or should I say sleep-ran the last 10k as I was zigzagging my way up and down the last hill.

9. Lake Waikaremoana Track (Te Urewera)

A last-minute track switch from the Tongariro Northern Circuit due to severe weather with wind and heacy rain brought me to Te Urewera's remote wilderness, where very windy conditions were thankfully mitigated by natural forest wind protection. The excellent first 10km climb to the summit hut on soft, forgiving terrain felt manageable, but an overwhelming sense of loneliness pervaded most of the run through this isolated landscape. The night brought a terrifying encounter running alongside a wild boar in the darkness, followed by losing the track and breaking a trekking pole in a muddy section. The brutal reality of sleeping in an 8°C hut without a sleeping bag, with soaked feet and no spare socks, meant virtually no sleep due to cold, setting up what would be a punishing final day.

10. Tongariro Northern Circuit (Tongariro National Park)

Running with Jay provided much-needed company and support for the final track, while incredibly lucky weather delivered still conditions at Red Crater instead of the predicted gale-force winds that could have ended the challenge. Good pace was maintained through the dramatic volcanic terrain until the sunset dinner break, after which extreme fatigue set in during the final 25km as temperatures plummeted toward freezing. The night air became so cold that snow began falling just one hour after our completion, while an exceptional starry sky provided a breathtaking backdrop to the final push through this otherworldly landscape. The 2am finish felt anti-climactic in the moment - cold, tired, and hungry - yet deep satisfaction emerged with the realization that the entire challenge was complete, with eight days and 14hours of extreme experiences now permanently etched in memory.

Challenge Statistics

• Total GPS Distance: 528.3 km

• Total Official DOC Distance: 549.9 km

• Total Elevation Gain: 16,051 m

• Total Moving Time: 81 hours 12 minutes 51 seconds

• Total Elapsed Time: 8 days 14 hours (206 hours)

• Average Daily Distance: 52.83 km (GPS) | 54.99 km (Official)

• Average Daily Time: 8 hours 7 minutes

Challenge Details:

Great Walk #1: Rakiura Track
- Start Date: Dec 27, 2024
- Duration: 5h 13m 35s
- GPS Distance: 37.4 km
- Official DOC Distance: 32 km
- Elevation: 1,433 m
Great Walk #2: Hump Ridge Track
- Start Date: Dec 28, 2024
- Duration: 8h 26m 43s
- GPS Distance: 59.0 km
- Official DOC Distance: 60 km
- Elevation: 1,902 m
Great Walk #3: Milford Track
- Start Date: Dec 29, 2024
- Duration: 7h 34m 59s
- GPS Distance: 57.0 km
- Official DOC Distance: 53.5 km
- Elevation: 1,655 m
Great Walk #4: Kepler Track
- Start Date: Dec 30, 2024
- Duration: 9h 4m 26s
- GPS Distance: 60.1 km
- Official DOC Distance: 60 km
- Elevation: 1,996 m
Great Walk #5: Routeburn Track
- Start Date: Dec 30, 2025
- Duration: 5h 46m 12s
- GPS Distance: 32.1 km
- Official DOC Distance: 32 km
- Elevation: 1,308 m
Great Walk #6: Paparoa Track
- Start Date: Dec 31, 2025
- Duration: 8h 9m 44s
- GPS Distance: 53.4 km
- Official DOC Distance: 55 km
- Elevation: 1,552 m
Great Walk #7: Heaphy Track
- Start Date: Jan 1, 2025
- Duration: 11h 27m 10s
- GPS Distance: 76.0 km
- Official DOC Distance: 78.4 km
- Elevation: 1,769 m
Great Walk #8: Abel Tasman Coastal Track
- Start Date: Jan 2, 2025
- Duration: 9h 30m 24s
- GPS Distance: 61.9 km
- Official DOC Distance: 60 km
- Elevation: 1,773 m
Great Walk #9: Lake Waikaremoana Track
- Start Date: Jan 3, 2025
- Duration: 7h 38m 37s
- GPS Distance: 43.4 km
- Official DOC Distance: 46 km
- Elevation: 1,536 m
Great Walk #10: Tongariro Northern Circuit
- Start Date: Jan 4, 2025
- Duration: 8h 21m 51s
- GPS Distance: 48.0 km
- Official DOC Distance: 43 km
- Elevation: 1,963 m

Weather Conditions

Weather conditions varied significantly across the different regions and altitudes, from coastal storms in Fiordland to alpine conditions in Tongariro. The challenge encompassed the full spectrum of New Zealand's weather patterns: freezing temperature to NZ intense summer sun, with gale force winds, rain and a storm.

Equipment and Support

Challenge completed with support from Bernd Nordhausen (full time support crew), who provided logistical assistance including transportation between tracks, resupply coordination, and moral support throughout the 9-day adventure. The challenge required strategic planning for inter-island travel, accommodation, food and efficient gear management across diverse terrain and weather conditions.

Travelled in a campervan for the first 5 tracks then switched to a car hire travelling from one trail to the next sleeping in a tent (before Heaphy), in a hut (before Abel Tasman), in a motel (before Lake Waikeremoana), in a hut (in the middle of the Lake Waikeremoana).

Link to interview and report from RNZ:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/538352/marathon-man-completes-10-great-walks-in-nine-days

FKT: Romain Groleau - The New Zealand Great Walks - 2025-01-05