GPS Downloads
In addition to the TA Official Guide books we recommend you use a GPS with the full Tour Aotearoa route as it allows you to focus on the sights and sounds of the journey.
Download the whole route GPS files (updated 27 May 2026) produced by the Kennett Brothers:
Garmin Connect users should use the individual GPX files below (Connect can't cope with the single large file above).
GPS files sliced into smaller sections
If you are using Garmin Connect or an old GPS unit with a small memory capacity you may be able to use these routes sliced into smaller parts, however these files are updated less frequently than the primary files listed above:
www.kennett.co.nz/maps/tour-aotearoa/files/parts/ sliced into 6 parts (GPX, GDB and KML formats).
This 27 May 2026 version has some minor improvements (e.g., it follows the new path from Petone to Ngauranga and bypasses a bridge in Southland that is due to be removed). The last significant changes were in the 28 Jan 2026 version, which had major route changes.
Also:
- The section between Clevedon and Kaiaua (south of Auckland) has two options (coast or hills). The Hunua Traverse (hills option) is open 7 days until Sept 2026, when it becomes weekend only.
- The final few kms of the West Coast Wilderness Trail into Ross have been diverted onto SH6 due to the old Totara Rail Bridge being closed near the coast.
- The Kawarau Gorge Trail from Cromwell to Queenstown is set to open in September 2026. When that happens we'll (1) reroute the main route onto that, (2) remove the Crown Range option and (3) make the Nevis route optional.
GPS files sliced into smaller sections
If you are using Garmin Connect or an old GPS unit with a small memory capacity you may be able to use these routes sliced into smaller parts, however these files are updated less frequently than the primary files listed above:
www.kennett.co.nz/maps/tour-aotearoa/files/parts/ sliced into 6 parts (GPX, GDB and KML formats).
www.kennett.co.nz/maps/tour-aotearoa/files/parts/individual-GPX-files/ sliced into 82 parts and compressed/reduced by Richard Young (GPX format).
After clicking on the link above you'll need to:
Windows users: "Right-click" on each GPS file link with your mouse and "Save Link As".
Apple users: Click on the GPS file links, and "Download Linked File As". (If you use "Download Linked File" instead, it will append the filename with a *.txt extension, which will mean it won't be recognized as a GPS route.)
Android users: hold your finger on a file link for about 2 seconds - then you'll get an option to save the file.
After clicking on the link above you'll need to:
Windows users: "Right-click" on each GPS file link with your mouse and "Save Link As".
Apple users: Click on the GPS file links, and "Download Linked File As". (If you use "Download Linked File" instead, it will append the filename with a *.txt extension, which will mean it won't be recognized as a GPS route.)
Android users: hold your finger on a file link for about 2 seconds - then you'll get an option to save the file.
More troubleshooting info
GPS web/phone apps come out every few months and each one will have is strengths and weaknesses, some will work better with a particular brand of GPS, some will work better with Android or iPhone or online or on the desktop/laptop/tablet. There are a lot of permutations.
Also - the TA route is long. Longer than some apps can cope with. It also a has multiple options - which some apps don't know how to deal with.
Therefore we're not able to support you in your quest to load the GPS files into your particular system. This is another one of those challenges that the TA requires you to overcome, just to reach the start line. Good luck!
