Find your way
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 9 Jan 2025):
Garmin Connect users should use the individual GPX files below (Connect can't cope with the single large file above).
GPS files sliced into more, smaller parts
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:
http://www.kennett.co.nz/maps/tour-aotearoa/files/parts/ or
http://www.kennett.co.nz/maps/tour-aotearoa/files/parts/individual-GPX-files/
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.)
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. The number of possible permutations is staggering.
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 preferred system. This is another one of those challenges that the TA requires you to overcome, just to reach the start-line. Good luck!
Also:
- The route between Clevedon and Kaiaua (south of Auckland) requires you to go via the coast on weekdays and the Hunua Traverse on weekends
- The notorious Arataki Swing Bridge has been fully rebuilt! It is now wider and smoother. So the standard route between Mangakino and the Timber Trail is back in action - no detour required
- 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.
GPS files sliced into more, smaller parts
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:
http://www.kennett.co.nz/maps/tour-aotearoa/files/parts/ or
http://www.kennett.co.nz/maps/tour-aotearoa/files/parts/individual-GPX-files/
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.)
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. The number of possible permutations is staggering.
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 preferred system. This is another one of those challenges that the TA requires you to overcome, just to reach the start-line. Good luck!
