Tramping Te Araroa

Te Araroa is more than just a hiking trail across New Zealand.
This iconic long-distance walk takes you along vast beaches, through dense rainforests, past wild rivers, and over volcanic ridgelines. But above all, it is a journey of slowing down, wonder, and connection.

Landscape architect and filmmaker Ties Blaauw and biologist and photographer Krista van den Heuvel take you on their journey through New Zealand’s breathtaking wilderness in this adventurous documentary. From the hiker’s perspective—and from above, with aerial footage by Ties, known from DroneWageningen—they bring the awe-inspiring landscapes and the tiniest details of flora and fauna up close.

Tramping Te Araroa is a film about the art of observing. About the challenges of walking for months through rugged terrain, but also about the unexpected encounters along the way—with New Zealanders, fellow hikers, and nature itself. Despite all the obstacles on the trail, from logistical puzzles to extreme weather, Ties and Krista show that those who truly pay attention discover a new world in the details of nature and the stories unfolding within it.

This film invites you to observe with intention and to learn from your surroundings—wherever you are. Because those who slow down and listen will uncover a world that has always been there.