Women from Penn walks across nearly 2k miles across New Zealand

Sophie Cresswell, who began her trek on October 10 last year, decided to take part in the Te Araroa challenge, which sees participants walk 3,000 kilometres/1,900 miles along the country’s two main islands.

Sophie went on her own but befriended four people out in New Zealand (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

Hikers begin at Cape Reinga in the north of the country, before heading towards Bluff in the south.

Sophie’s expedition lasted 145 days, where she revealed she had walked roughly 12-15 hours per day.

She told the Free Press: “I had heard of it a long time ago but had completely forgotten about it as it left my mind.

Sophie raised money for the British Heart Foundation (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

“I then heard of a hike that my friend did and I got obsessed with the idea of walking the length of a country.

“This one also appealed to me for than any other hike as my mum is half Kiwi.”

Sophie flew out on October 10, 2023 (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

On the hike itself, Sophie revealed the numerous challenges that came her way in the Pacific Ocean nation.

These included crossing roughly 200 rivers, rationing food and drink for days at a time, as well as lugging a rucksack that weighed 17 kg.

But there is one incident which sticks out.

Some of the views she saw (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

She said: “You’re on your own for the vast majority of it and one time, I was in the middle of this mountain range.

“Basically, I was lost in the woods for 17 hours.

“I was thinking, ‘well, this is it.’

"We relied on our phones as our map but I had a low battery, I was running out of food and water so that day was scary.

Some days were easier than others (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

“It was tough but you just had to keep on going.

“We would walk for 12 to 15 hours a day, you would meet your ‘trail family’, and you’d pretty much be with them the vast majority of the time.

"We also had all the seasons as it rained, snowed and sometimes, it was so hot we couldn’t even sit down for a break as there was no shelter.

A lot of friends were made along the way (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

“One of the hardest things about this hike is that you just need to carry on.

“It didn’t matter if you went to sleep in a soaking wet tent because there was no alternative and with the food, you’ll have to ration the food across 10 days because if you didn’t, you’d run out.”

In all, Sophie crossed around 200 rivers (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

Prior to Sophie’s adventure, she had worked as a graphic designer for two-and-a-half years, but admitted that the job ‘wasn’t what she wanted to do’.

She decided to leave her role before her journey, and has since decided to become a primary school teacher.

Having dry feet was never an option (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

The 25-year-old will study for the necessary qualifications at Cambridge University this September.

On finishing her hike, which lasted 145 days, she concluded: “The feeling at the end was everything all at once.

“You’re so happy as you’ve been walking for five months but it’s immensely sad as it was the end of an amazing journey.

“I hiked with generally the same people during that time, and I never had dry feet when I was out there!

An adventure to last a lifetime (Image: Sophie Cresswell)

“I loved it.”

During the trek, Sophie raised roughly £3,400 for the British Heart Foundation.

To see images and videos of her adventure, go to her Instagram page, www.instagram.com/sophsquarterlifecrisis.