our film: tramping te araroa

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

We, landscape architect and filmmaker Ties Blaauw and biologist and photographer Krista van den Heuvel, take you along on our adventure in this documentary about our trek through New Zealand's breathtaking nature. From the hiker’s perspective and from above, with aerial footage by Ties (known from DroneWageningen), we bring both the grandeur of the landscapes and the smallest details of the flora and fauna closer.

Tramping Te Araroa is a film about the art of observation. 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 way, from logistical hurdles to extreme weather conditions, we show that those who pay attention will discover a whole new world in the details of nature and the stories unfolding within it.

This film invites you to look deeply and learn from your surroundings, wherever you are. Because those who slow down and listen will discover a world that has always been there.