Challenging Trek Across New Zealand
Dougie Haynes, a caddy originally from Oxford, is undertaking a 3,000km (1,900-mile) trek across New Zealand while carrying two sets of golf clubs. He has described the past month as the most difficult part of his journey so far.
Having started his trek in October, Dougie now has fewer than 60 days remaining. His journey began near the northern tip of the South Island, at Havelock, and he has recently completed the stretch to Christchurch, a section he referred to as "infamous" for its difficulty.
Enduring the Hardest Sections
"The last three back-to-back sections are known for being the hardest, but with that comes the spectacular scenery and beauty,"
said Dougie, who works as a caddy at two of New Zealand's most prestigious golf courses.
"We've gone through probably the hardest four weeks of the trail and made it out the other side."
He emphasized that despite the difficulty, the latest stretch offered remarkable natural beauty.
"I felt like I was in a Microsoft screensaver - there were waterfalls, there were mountains, there was snow, there was rainforest."
Following the Te Araroa Trail
Dougie is following the Te Araroa Trail, which extends from Cape Reinga at the northernmost tip of the North Island down to Bluff at the southern end of the South Island.
He described the last four weeks as "pretty arduous," beginning with the rugged and mountainous Richmond Range and the summit of Mount Rintoul, which left him with "some very, very sore knees."
There was no easing in difficulty as he then faced the Waiau Pass, which is considered the hardest one-day section by those on the trail.
"You do a very steep ascent up some scree and come down the other side. It's basically pretty close to rock climbing,"
he explained.
"The golf bags had a bit of a clunky descent,"
he added, referring to the two sets of clubs he carries, each weighing up to 15kg (33lbs).
Support and Challenges
Dougie mentioned that his mother, who lives in Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire, has been concerned about the challenges he faces.
"My mum is probably having kittens when I tell her some of the things we're doing."
He noted that being in remote areas with limited phone signal helps ease her worries.
"But luckily when you're in some of these remote places you don't get signal for a week - so I tell her oh if you don't hear from me for 10 days then you can start worrying,"
he said.
Next Steps and Charitable Goals
After spending a week resting with friends in Christchurch, Dougie is preparing to tackle the highest section of the trail. This part will take him past Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest peak, before he continues south to complete his six-month journey.
He embarked on this challenge to raise NZ$50,000 (£22,000) for two charities important to him: Kids Can, a New Zealand-based organization, and Mind, a UK mental health charity.
Supporters can follow his progress through BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
