The Te Araroa trail, running between Cape Reinga and Bluff, is one of the world’s most diverse long distance walks - and it's since inspired director Bart Schrijver.

The trail inspired his latest film The North  - in cinemas now - which has been referred to as the ultimate hiking film.

Schrijver says hiking the trail was an 'interesting' experience, and it helped inspire the journey of the characters in the film.

"When we were walking, I was 26, 27 - and still not really knowing what I wanted to do, and then Neil, my friend, did an internship and was looking for a job, we were on this point where we were diverging into different lives. And now...the lives of us were so different." 

LISTEN ABOVE