Auckland a milestone on The Big Walk for youth

Today adventurer Jamie Fitzgerald is taking a group of young people up Rangitoto. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Reaching Auckland at the end of the fourth leg of The Big Walk is a bit of an achievement for adventurer Jamie Fitzgerald.

"There's quite a way to go but this feels like a milestone," he said.

Mr Fitzgerald and veteran mountaineer Graeme Dingle are walking the length of New Zealand with groups of young Kiwis.

Today Mr Fitzgerald is taking a group of young people up Rangitoto.

The goal of the two adventurers is to raise awareness of the sobering national youth statistics and to raise funds for Mr Dingle's Foundation for Youth Development.

"The campaign is called The Big Walk but it's nothing like a normal trek," said Mr Fitzgerald on his rest day in Auckland. "We are travelling on our own steam but this can mean hiking, biking and there will also be some sailing."

Mr Fitzgerald began The Big Walk on November 30 in Cape Reinga while Mr Dingle began his journey on the same day in the Bluff.

The two men will meet up in Wellington in February. Each of the 27 legs is four days and covers between 80km and 100km.

"Every now and then Graeme and I give each other a call.

"I have a chat with him about the geography, the experiences and the weather - theirs has been worse then ours. It's great to see how far the youth have come."

For more information on The Big Walk or to read the blogs from the trail go to www.thebigwalk.org.nz