Walking the Length of New Zealand for a Cause That Matters

Hi, we’re Aldo and Mark, two mates taking on the adventure of a lifetime — walking the entire length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail, starting in October 2025.

Te Araroa ("The Long Pathway") is a 3,000 km thru-hike stretching from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south. It crosses mountains, rivers, forests, and towns — a true test of endurance and spirit.

We’re not just doing this for the challenge — we’re walking for Tōtara Hospice, a South Auckland-based organisation providing free, compassionate palliative care to people facing terminal illness and supporting their families with dignity and respect.

Like all hospices in New Zealand, Tōtara Hospice receives only partial government funding. Each year, they must raise millions to keep their vital services running — services that touch lives in some of our most diverse and under-resourced communities.

Despite a few old injuries, we’re determined to finish — it’s a cause worth fighting for and a chance to experience NZ’s most remote, spectacular places.

We believe every step of this journey should help someone else take their final steps with care, comfort, and dignity.

Please support us if you can — every dollar makes a difference.

Together, we can turn every step into something meaningful.

📸 Follow our journey:

We’ll be sharing regular photos and videos:

🔗 https://www.instagram.com/aldo.coetzee

🗺️ Track us live on the trail:

You can follow our real-time location and progress (from Oct) via:

🔗 Mytrack URL Below