Te Araroa Resupply Guide
I thru-hiked the TA in 2022/23, and I was surprised by how little information there was about resupplying on the trail. So, I decided to put this guide together. Hopefully, you’ll find it useful!
Generally speaking, resupplying on the TA is pretty straightforward. The trail frequently passes through or is close to towns, and there are only a couple of places where you might want to send resupply boxes (I’ll get to those later).
Shops
Before I dive into the guide itself, here’s a quick rundown of the most common shops you’ll use for resupply (Kiwis or anyone familiar with New Zealand can skip ahead):
- Pak ‘N Save – My personal favorite. Pak ‘N Save is a chain of supermarkets that stocks everything you could possibly need at (relatively) affordable prices. They also typically have bulk sections. You’ll find these in larger towns and cities.
- Countdown/New World – I’ve grouped Countdown and New World together because they’re quite similar. These are the two major supermarket chains in New Zealand, so you’ll do most of your resupplying in one of these. They may vary in size, but they always carry everything you need for resupply, including a bulk section.
- FreshChoice – Another major supermarket chain in New Zealand, although less common, there are a few along the trail. They usually have a wide selection, so you shouldn’t face any problems when resupplying.
- Four Square – A chain of mini-supermarkets that offer a much smaller selection compared to the options mentioned above, and they tend to have higher prices. Avoid these if you have any other choice, but in smaller towns, especially on the South Island, they might be your only option. Keep in mind that Four Square stores often have shorter opening hours compared to the larger supermarkets.
- Dairies – In New Zealand, a “Dairy” is what they call independent convenience stores (similar to a corner shop, 7/11, or off-license store). Dairies come in different sizes but are generally more expensive than the options mentioned earlier. Typically, you wouldn’t want to rely on them for much more than a few snacks on the trail or a quick top-up.
So, that’s a rough guide to the shops you’ll be using for resupply on the trail. If you’re an international visitor, keep in mind that shops in New Zealand may have shorter opening hours than you’re used to, so it’s worth checking their hours online (even though they may not always be reliable). Most shops, especially those other than the big supermarkets, will be closed on public holidays.
Gas
Gas canisters are widely available in New Zealand as they’re a nation of outdoors-y people. I never had trouble finding gas when needed; it can be purchased at camping stores, hunting/fishing shops, hardware stores, and some petrol stations. More specific information will be provided in the guide below for towns with limited options.
How to use this guide
In the guide, I’ve listed the trail’s resupply options and their distances in kilometers (KM). For resupply points that are off the trail, I’ll also note the distance you’ll need to travel off the trail to reach them. Major resupply options are in bold, indicating places where a full resupply is possible. Minor resupply options are not in bold and may offer limited choices.
I recommend calculating the number of days it will take you to reach the next resupply by dividing the distance in kilometers by the number of kilometers you typically hike in a day. This will give you a rough estimate of how much food you’ll need. However, it’s essential to check this information against your maps because the TA route changes often. Study the maps to gauge the section’s difficulty and adjust your daily kilometers accordingly.
I’ve compiled this guide assuming you’ll follow the official route in its entirety. This isn’t necessarily a recommendation, but it’s the simplest way to create this guide. If you plan on taking alternative routes (which you should! more info HERE) or hitchhiking on roads, you’ll need to make adjustments accordingly.
Resupply Guide
North Island
0 km Cape Reinga
There’s not much at Cape Reinga besides a car park, toilets, water, and, of course, the lighthouse. Therefore, you’ll want to bring enough food with you for the initial stretch to Kaitaia. Due to camping restrictions, most people complete this stretch in four days. Depending where you coming from, you’ll likely do your first resupply either in Auckland or Kaitaia as you make your way to the Cape.
At the end of 90 Mile Beach, you’ll pass through Ahipara. It’s a relatively small place, but it does have a small supermarket, a fish and chip shop, and the campsite sells a few basics if you need some extra food to get you to Kaitaia.
115.6 km Kaitaia
Kaitaia is a decent-sized town with a large Pak ‘n Save supermarket. If you need any gear or gas, there’s a Hunting & Fishing and Riders Sports Depot. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and fast-food places to choose from.
A TA institution, stop here for a milkshake or a burger. You can also find additional snacks, but I wouldn’t recommend relying on it for a full resupply.
220.6 km Kerikeri
A tourist town with both New World and Countdown supermarkets. You’ll also find a few restaurants in town. I strongly recommend Burger Fiasco. For gas, you can visit Hunting and Fishing.
243.5 km Paihia
Another tourist town with a Countdown. The Countdown in town (Countdown Central) is pretty small. There’s another one on your way into town called Countdown Waitangi which is way bigger and maybe only 300 metres off trail down Puketona Road.
Note: after Paihia you have the option of Kayaking to Waikare, taking a ferry to Russell or taking a ferry from Opau to Okiato. Tides and weather might make the decision for you so I would plan on being flexible here.
249.9 km Opua
Small local general store, expensive, probably better off resupplying in Paihia.
321.3 km Whananaki
Small dairy and takeaway. Not enough for a full resupply but you can get snacks and some basics. The takeaway closes early and has a very small selection (stuff with chips). Wait until Nguruguru to resupply.
345.7 km Nguruguru
Big dairy which has enough to get you to Ruakaka but it’s expensive and has limited options.
398.7 km Ruakaka
Full size FreshChoice supermarket and a couple of takeaways.
413.4 km Waipu
Four Square and a few cafes. Logan McLean gives TA hikers free coffee!
Note: you can also take a side trip from here to see Waipu Caves which have glow worms (free entry).
443.7 km Mangawhai Heads
There’s a Four Square at Mangawhai heads but there’s a big New World just before Mangawhai proper.
445.9 km Mangawhai
A big New World with everything you need to resupply. There’s also a Bunnings for gas.
Warkworth is a town with a Countdown and New World if you need it, but it’s off trail and it’s not much further to Puhoi.
523.8 km Puhoi
Small and expensive general store but has the basics for a resupply. Definitely enough to get you to Orewa. Puhoi hotel is a cool pub which serves food.
540.4 km Orewa
New World and Countdown, plenty of restaurants, cafes and outdoor stores.
From here to Auckland you’ll pass shops very regularly. There really isn’t a need to carry more than one day’s worth of food. I’ve listed the bigger supermarkets below.
545.9 km Silverdale
Silverdale Mall has a Countdown there’s also a Pak N Save down the road.
570.3 km Browns Bay
New World and a Countdown. Loads of cafes and restaurants.
573.6 km Mairangi Bay
Countdown
578.3 km Milford
Countdown
589 km Devonport
New World
590 km Auckland
New Zealand’s biggest city has everything you could imagine! Replace any gear, buy new shoes and eat everything. Don’t worry about packing much food out of Auckland because there’s plenty of shops coming up.
605.6 km Mangere Bridge
FreshChoice slightly off trail.
622 km Auckland Airport
Countdown and Mini golf…
645.9 km Papakura
Pak N Save, Countdown, New World, Fast Food.
732.1 km Huntly
Countdown
750 km Ngaruawahia
New World and a few cafes.
771.5 km Hamilton
Big city with everything you could need.Trek N Travel is a great outdoor store.
786.7 km Whatawhata
As a small store in the petrol station, a cafe, a liquor store and a pub.
868 km Waitomo
You’ll pass through Waitomo which is a small tourist town that only seems to exist to serve Waitomo caves. There’s a small general store that’s expensive. Get some snacks if you need but wait until Te Kuiti to resupply.
882.4 km Te Kuiti
New world and a Supervalue (cheap small supermarket). There’s also a few cafes and takeaways in town.
1042.5 km Taumarunui
New World and a four square. A few cafes/restaurants and a pub. Small outdoor store called seriously outdoors.
Here is where most hikers will organise their canoe rental for the Whanganui river section. Most hikers use Taumarunui Canoe Hire as they let TA Hikers stay for free and offer shuttles in and out of town everyday. Other providers are available. You will want to resupply for the Whanganui river section here and leave it at the canoe rental place, they will then transport your resupply with the canoes to Whakahoro to start the river section. They will talk you through all this when you book, they’re very helpful! There’s limited resupply options between here and Whakahoro.
1069.3 km Owhango
There’s canoe hire companies here but not much else.
1143.5 km Whakapapa
The campsite in Whakapapa has a small selection of the usual hiking staples (ramen, oats, bars etc) expensive but would definitely be enough to get you to National Park.
1163 km National Park
A confusingly named town in Tongariro National Park which has a four square with enough to get you to Whakahoro and any extras or fresh food you want to pick up for Whanganui river.
1215.6 km Whakahoro
There’s nothing but a small cafe and a basic campsite in Whakahoro. Your Canoe rental company will bring the resupply you left with them here.
1374.6 km Whanganui
A small city which should have everything you need. New world, Countdown and Pak n Save are conveniently all within a few hundred metres of each other.
1439.1 km Bulls
Four Square, Mcdonalds, Subway, cafes and takeaways.
1460 km Fielding
Countdown and a New World but you’re so close to Palmerston North I’d recommend skipping.
1476.3 km Palmerston North
Big city with everything you need. Note, there’s a few options below if you don’t want to carry enough food to get you all the way to Waikanae (about 147 km away). Personally I carried enough food to go all the way since the first 3 days aren’t too difficult.
1547.4 km Makahiki Outdoor Pursuit centre
This outdoor centre allows TA hikers to camp here for a small fee. You can also arrange for New world to deliver groceries to this address – I didn’t do this so can’t comment on how well this works out. There’s more details in the official TA notes.
1551.2 km Levin (9km off trail)
Pak N Save, New world and Countdown. Loads of food and takeaway options. Another option to resupply before the Tararuas is to go into Levin. Its 9km off trail so you’ll probably want to hitch – again I didn’t do this so can’t really comment but met plenty of people who managed to hitch.
1622.9 km Waikanae
New World and a Countdown. A few restaurants, takeaways and cafes.
From here to Porirua you’ll pass plenty of small cafes and a few dairies.
1668.9 km Porirua
Pak N Save, Countdown and New World
1702.6 km Wellington
You’ve made it to New Zealand’s capital. Most people tend to spend the night here and then finish the North Island the next day before taking the bus back into Wellington. Wellington has everything you’ll need, and it’s the last place with decent gear stores you’ll encounter for a while, without traveling a long way off the trail. So, make sure you’re satisfied with all your gear (including your shoes).
Many hikers arrange resupply boxes in Wellington for some of the more remote resupplies in the North of the South Island. It’s common for hikers to send boxes to some or all of the following locations: St Arnaud, Boyle Village, and Arthur’s Pass. Personally, I chose to send two boxes, one to St Arnaud and one to Arthur’s Pass. This strategy worked well for me, and it’s what I’d recommend. I’ll provide more detailed options for each resupply location in the sections below.
South Island
1715.3 km Start of the South Island
Picton (not on Trail)
The ferry will drop you off in this port town. It’s not on trail but is where the ferry from the North island will drop you off and where you will take a water taxi to the start of the Queen Charlotte track which is also the Northern end of the South island section of the TA.
Picton has a FreshChoice and a Four Square; you could either resupply here or bring your resupply with you on the ferry from Wellington.
The Queen Charlotte track is a popular tourist trail so there’s a few resorts on the trail often with restaurants and bars if you have a bigger budget.
1805.7 km Havelock
Welcome to the South island, the towns are much smaller and you’ll quite often have to make do with resupplying in a Four Square. They’ll have everything you need but a much more limited selection compared to the big supermarkets and the prices will be higher.
There’s a fishing shop called ‘Bow to the Stern’ which sells gas and dehydrated meals, it closes at 12 on Saturdays and is closed all day Sunday. The four square also sells gas but only had the big canisters when I went through.
1872.4 km Nelson (28 km off trail)
Once you reach Hacket hut it’s possible to hike the Hacket track (5.5km each way) to a trailhead where you can hitchhike to Nelson. This helps to break up the long carry through the Richmond Ranges. I didn’t take it so can’t comment but met plenty of people who managed it.
1967.7 km St Arnaud
St Arnaud is a small settlement with not much to offer, you have two options for resupplying:
1) The Alpine Lodge accepts resupply boxes, allowing you to send yourself food for the next section. This process requires some organisation before your arrival, paying postage costs and paying a fee to collect the box. Details can be found here.
2) The Alpine Store is a general store with a pretty decent selection. If you’re not too picky and don’t have any dietary requirements, you could resupply here. There are no price tags on items in the store, and the prices are high, as you’d expect for a remote location. The opening hours also seem to be somewhat unreliable, although they are supposed to be from 8 AM to 8 PM in the summer.
I sent a full resupply box here. If I was to do the trail again I’d probably send a smaller box and top up at the alpine store.
The alpine store sells gas but it’s cheaper in the DoC visitors centre.
The Alpine Lodge has an overpriced bar and restaurant, and the Alpine Store has a fish and chip shop, which is only open on weekends. However, they will open for a large enough order, so gather all the hikers you can find and order together. Accommodation options include staying at the Alpine Lodge in a dorm or camping, but it can be quite expensive. Alternatively, there are three Department of Conservation (DoC) campsites on the outskirts of St Arnaud, which are much more budget-friendly.
2087.1 km Boyle Village / Hanmer Springs (55 km off trail)
Again, there’s 2 options here:
- Send a resupply box to Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre they charge a small fee to pick it up. They also have a limited supply of items for sale. Note they close at 5 Monday-Thursday and at 3 Friday to Sunday. More details here.
- Hitch into Hanmer Springs. It’s an easy hitch from the Boyle village junction to Hanmer Springs, it took me about 20 minutes to get a hitch. Hamner has a four square, plenty of restaurants and outdoor stores for Gas.
I hitchhiked to Hanmer and was happy with my decision. It’s an easy hitch and was good to have town food after a couple of remote sections.
2202.1 km Arthurs Pass (5 km off trail)
You’ve got three options here:
Send a box to The Sanctuary in Arthurs Pass. The Sanctuary is a backpackers in Arthurs pass run by a TA legend called Bill. He offers camping, dorms, a shuttle service and resupply boxes. You’ll have to hitch the 5 km into Arthurs Pass but Bill offers a shuttle back to the trail. If there’s enough people you might get lucky and he’ll pick you up from the trail. Details here.UPDATE: Unfortunately Bill has now retired, this is a a big loss for TA Hikers as Bill went above and beyond to help the community . I’m sure everyone who has the pleasure of meeting him would wish him all the best in retirement he’s earnt it! this leaves hikers with the following options, none of which I can comment on since I haven’t used them.- Send a box to the YHA in Arthur’s pass YHA Website.
- Send a box to the Bealey Hotel. The Bealey hotel is on the trail but they have limited opening hours. I didn’t hear anything good about this place from hikers that went.
- Arthur’s Pass Cafe sells a limited selection of basics. If you’re really not fussy and don’t mind over paying you could possibly make this work. Opening hours are very short and unreliable.
Gas is available at the DoC visitors centre.
2275 km Methven (40 km off trail)
Once you reach Lake Coleridge village the TA has a break in the official route due to the Rakaia river. Here you can Hitchhike or use a shuttle service to get to Methven. There’s no resupply options in Lake Coleridge village.
Methven has a Supervalue and a Four Square. There are a couple of outdoor stores/ ski shops with limited selections.
2345 km Potts Car Park / Geraldine
Once you reach Potts car park at km 2345 there’s another break in the trail due to the Rangitata river. You can hitchhike around or take a shuttle. You could take this opportunity to go into Geraldine which has a FreshChoice Supermarket.
2419.3 km Lake Tekapo
Huge Four Square and loads of cafes and restaurants.
2473.4 km Twizel
2 Four Squares for some reason, both close to each other, the one on Mackenzie drive is much bigger. An outdoor store and a hardware store both have gas.
2590.8 km Lake Hawea
Small general store for snacks or a top up, wait until Wanaka for full resupply.
2603.5 km Albert Town
Small Four Square if you need anything to get you to Wanaka. Also, don’t miss out on Pembroke Patisserie!
2615.5 km Wanaka
Tourist town with a New World and a few decent outdoor stores, here and Queenstown are good places to replace any gear.
2680.3 km Arrowtown
Has a convenience store and some cafes.
2699.7km Frankton
Frankton is on the edge of Queenstown and has much bigger and cheaper supermarkets, so I’d recommend resupplying here on your way into Queenstown. Pak N Save and Countdown.
2709 km Queenstown
There’s a FreshChoice 20 minutes from the town centre or Four Square in town, as mentioned above, there’s better options in Frankton. Queenstown has a lot of outdoors stores, Small Planet Sports is particularly good.
2805.8 km Te Anau (28 km off trail)
An easy hitch on the highway gets you to Te Anau which has a FreshChoice and Four Square. Also outdoor stores and a hardware store for gas.
2875.3 km Nightcaps (16 km off trail)
Nightcaps has a Four Square and a pub. I didn’t go so I can’t say much more.
2900.1 km Otautau (12km off trail)
Four Square. Again, I didn’t go there.
2960 km Riverton
Supervalue, a good sized supermarket will easily get you to Invercargill or the end!
2991.7 km Invercargill (1.5km off trail)
A big city with everything you need.
3026.4 km Bluff
And that’s it! The end of Te Araroa!
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