Cancer survivor Duncan Smith is resting after his 1700km trip hiking the length of the North Island.

The 79-year-old Whakatāne resident chose to do the North Island section of the Te Araroa Trail – a trail covering the length of New Zealand – over a few years.

“It’s really tough, you’ve got to be pretty fit or stupid, or both, especially at my age to do it,” Smith joked.

He started the journey on January 30, 2021, in Wellington where he did the first few days with his wife and sons before continuing on his own.

Smith was originally from England where he fell in love with hiking around age 40. He moved to New Zealand in 1989.

“I really enjoyed it and got hooked into it. There are lots of long trails over there.”

Duncan Smith, 79, taking a break from walking the 90-Mile Beach section of Te Araroa Trail.

A bout of bowel cancer three years ago didn’t stop Smith from doing a huge hike seven weeks after surgery three years ago.

“I had a bowel cancer surgery here in New Zealand.

“Seven weeks later, I flew over to England to do the longest trail over there, the 1100km South-West Coast Path.”

Smith said he had his heavy backpack carried forward every day to prevent busting the staples in his intestines following surgery.

“It was a bit silly doing such a walk, but it was a good decision. The scenery was fantastic and the villages I passed through were really charming.”

After having bowel cancer surgery, Smith decided that he wanted to give back.

“So, I decided to do Te Araroa to raise money for the New Zealand Child Cancer Foundation.

Duncan Smith, 79, at the Drachophylum Hut in the Tararua Mountain Range on the Te Araroa Trail.

“I’ve raised about $6000 so far, and money is still coming in. It helped to keep me going throughout the journey.”

It took him 52 days to complete his journey, finishing it on December 10, 2024.

When asked if he had done the track before, he replied, “I don’t think I’d do it twice. It’s really hard, especially at my age.”

Duncan Smith, 79, near Comic Hill on Te Araroa Trail.

Smith joked that his pack was very heavy and he started to believe that other walkers were secretly putting some of their stuff in his backpack and retrieving it later at the campsites.

He said he met some amazing people on his journey, saw some incredible scenery and faced many tough challenges.

In the Raetea Forest, near Kaitāia, he had waded through 18km of ankle-deep mud over two days. “I’ve never seen so much mud in my life.”

Duncan Smith, 79, in the Goblin Forests in the Tararua Mountain Range on the Te Araroa Trail.

A couple he met in the Tararua Mountains were carrying out a bird survey for Cornell University in the United States.

They were recording every bird they saw or heard along the trail, in one-kilometre sections.

“The hardest part of the North Island for me was these mountains near Wellington. It took me nine days to walk them.”

One of Smith’s favourite memories from his journey was his trip with the postal lady in Whanganui whose job was to deliver mail to the community spread thinly along the Whanganui Valley.

“At each stop she chatted to residents, and as we drove, she explained about some of the valley’s history.”

He was dropped off at Pipiriki where he had to take a jet boat along the Whanganui River to reach the Bridge to Nowhere and carry on walking through the bush from there.

Duncan Smith, 79, at the Makene Rd Junction on Te Araroa Trail.

Other favourite parts of his journey were walking the Tongariro Crossing, the T42 Central Plateau and 90-Mile Beach sections.

While walking he didn’t listen to any music, podcasts or audio books. “I listen to nature instead, birds calling and the wind through the trees.”

Smith encouraged everyone to take on Te Araroa Trail. “It really is a life-changing experience.”

Duncan Smith, 79, hiking the Tararua Mountain Range section of Te Araroa Trail.

When he took on this challenge it was important for him to get out of his comfort zone and
also give back to the New Zealand Child Cancer Foundation.

“Their important work supports the families of children that are stricken by this terrible disease.”

To donate, head to Smith’s Givealittle page at https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/78-year-old-cancer-survivor-walking-1700-km/