Bridget Johnson, a woman from Wellington, has completed an incredible challenge: tackling all 11 of New Zealand’s Great Walks in just 11 days.
Her journey covered 550 kilometres on foot and an additional 150 kilometres paddling, including the recently added Hump Ridge Track in Fiordland National Park.
“There were little moments every day that just made me think, ‘I’m so lucky to be doing this,’” Johnson shared with 1News.
To prepare, Johnson trained for 25 hours a week, often finding the training tougher than the challenge itself. She was supported by a team of 20 people who helped with her transitions and meals. She even had a watch alarm reminding her to eat every 30 minutes to keep her energy up.
Her journey started in the North Island at Lake Waikaremoana and ended at the southern tip of the country, on Rakiura. Sometimes she ran late into the night, pushing herself to finish the trails.
“It wasn’t until the plane landed on Stewart Island that I really felt like, ‘Wow, we might actually pull this off,’” she said.
Johnson hopes her achievement inspires others to explore New Zealand’s natural beauty. She’s already thinking about her next adventure, hinting that it will be another big one.
“It’s a big world out there,” she said, “and there’s still so much more to explore.”
