When we moved back to New Zealand after 10 years in Asia, it felt like everyone—well, most of our friends—was raving about the Tora Coastal Walk. It was the height of Covid and with the borders closed, Kiwis were exploring their own backyard. The Tora Coastal Walk seemed to be at the top of everyone’s list. A fully catered, boutique walk across private farmland in the Wairarapa and New Zealand’s oldest private hike—what’s not to love? We were hooked on the idea straight away.
The only catch? The waiting list. It’s long. When the 2025 season bookings opened 18 months in advance, we jumped in and booked our spots right there and then. It felt like a lifetime away at the time, but sure enough, time flew—and earlier this year we finally laced up our boots and headed off. Three days and three nights later, we were buzzing. It absolutely lived up to the hype.
First Night: Whakapata Cottage
The Tora Coastal Walk experience starts at Whakapata Cottage. You arrive in the late afternoon, settle in and meet your fellow walkers. There were 14 of us in total—people from all over New Zealand—and they were an easygoing, like-minded bunch, which made the whole adventure even more fun.
The first evening is all about relaxing and easing in. We were given maps and a briefing, then left to enjoy dinner at our leisure—everything was waiting in the fridge, ready to heat and serve. Super easy. We had a glass of wine (or two), caught up with some friends who joined us from another part of the country and turned in early, excited for what was to come.
Day One: Whakapata Cottage to Stony Bay Lodge
15.5km | 5-6 hours
After breakfast (provided and you help yourself), we set out on the first leg of the hike. The day was stunning—blue skies, rolling farmland and views that made us stop in our tracks more than once. We wandered along coastal ridges and through sheep paddocks, stopped for a picnic lunch and eventually made our way down to Stony Bay Lodge, our home for the night.
Stony Bay was a little slice of heaven. After a solid day of walking, a homemade chocolate was waiting on the table, it was bliss to shower, pour a drink and relax. Some of us took a short stroll up to The Crow’s Nest behind the lodge for even more sweeping views. Dinner that night was another highlight. By this point, we were all swapping stories like old friends.
Day Two: Stony Bay Lodge to Greentops Farmhouse
10km | 3-4 hours
Day two is a bit more leisurely. We lingered over breakfast and made our way towards Greentops Farmhouse via The Trip, a high point with spectacular views for miles across the land & ocean. Some of the group took a detour to check out the Opua Shipwreck.
That night at Greentops, we were treated to yet another delicious meal, a few more laughs and a chance to soak up the peaceful, remote beauty of the place.
Day Three: Greentops Farmhouse to Whakapata Cottage
13km | 4-5 hours
Our final day was a lovely mix of bush and river walking. We followed the Otoroi River through regenerating native forest, winding back inland towards Whakapata Cottage. We had a little rain on the last day and ended up being rather muddy, but it was a fairly easy hike nevertheless.
Waiting for us? Our luggage (transported by the local postie—yes, really), a hot cuppa and a well-earned shower. There’s a small merchandise shed at Whakapata if you want to take home a souvenir.
A Few Things That Make The Tora Coastal Walk So Special
- The food!! Every meal was amazing—fresh, local, home cooked and packed with flavour. It’s pretty much the first thing we mention when the walk comes up in conversation!
- The logistics. You only carry a day pack. Your bags (and even your wine) are transported by the local postman to the next lodge each day and popped straight into the fridge for you. It’s luxury in hiking form.
- Sustainability. Linen is reused between lodges and everything about the experience feels thoughtful and light on the land. Lots of the produce used for those delicious meals is grown right there.
- The people. From the hosts to our fellow walkers, there was a genuine sense of warmth and camaraderie.
If you’ve been thinking about walking the Tora Coastal Walk or dipping your toes into multi-day hiking, I say do it. It’s the perfect combination of exercise, indulgence and connection—with nature, food and people. We came home refreshed, happy and already plotting which hike we do next.
We booked our hike directly with Tora Coastal Walk.
Further hiking inspiration: click here.
Read here about the Pahi Coastal Walk, another private hike in New Zealand.
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