North Bound by Naomi Arnold

Naomi Arnold’s North Bound is a life-affirming memoir that captures the raw beauty of Aotearoa and the even rawer journey of walking it solo.

Fuelled by a 20-year dream, Naomi set out to walk Te Araroa, the 3,000 kilometre trail that spans the length of New Zealand. She began her journey in Bluff on Boxing Day and finished the trail at Cape Reinga in September 2024.

“As I moved north into more populated areas and spring began to arrive my fitness and confidence grew, and I encountered more people. Although total solitude was my main experience, the many different people I met in towns and villages brought me alive and provided moments of great delight along with companionship and a renewed appreciation of the quirks and vagaries of humanity,” says Naomi.

During those months, she walked through every kind of terrain and weather imaginable including thick mud, blistering heat, thunderous storms and icy nights. However, the impressive physical challenge is only part of her story.  

“I learned a lot about myself, my body and fitness, people, New Zealand’s backcountry, nature, friendship and love. My husband stayed home during the journey and the trip brought us closer together. I learned a lot about the mental limits that women put on their own capabilities, and about how well your body and mind can respond to an incredibly high physical and mental demand,” she says.

What makes this memoir so special is Naomi’s storytelling and her ability to capture the essence of the people and places she meets along the way. From fleeting trail friendships to quiet moments of solitude, North Bound explores inner landscapes just as deeply as the geographical ones. Encounters with fellow walkers and generous locals add warmth and humour to her journey, while her reflections on love, loneliness and resilience are refreshingly honest.

This is an inspiring read for adventurers and anyone curious about why people travel from all around the world to walk Te Araroa.

Learn more about Te Araroa and follow Naomi Arnold online.

Reviewer: Andrea Molloy

HarperCollins