Walking 100km in one stretch isn't the most commonly recommended way to see Lake Taupo, but it certainly must be one of the most rewarding.

I spent the weekend there for Trailwalker, Oxfam's main fundraising event of the year, which saw almost 1200 intrepid trekkers set out from the town in the early hours of Saturday morning and returning, sore and weary but proud, up to 36 hours later.

My main training had consisted of walking the 6km to work and back, plus a few hikes in the Waitakeres, so I was into unchartered territory after the first 16km leg. But somehow, through determination, teamwork and lots of hot, sweet tea, I managed to put one foot in front of the other and cross the finish line.

The main key to success was to treat the whole as a series of shorter walks - 100km is daunting, but eight walks ranging from 20km to 7km is certainly do-able.

The track Trailwalker follows has taken years of hard work from charity bods to liaise with land owners, strike deals with the local council and persuade community groups to create a unique experience across land you wouldn't get near otherwise.

We were given a karakia at the start by local iwi Ngati Tuwharetoa as we were to cross culturally significant land - and even received a haka from local kids as we reached our first checkpoint.

Our first leg began at Taupo Domain in the freezing fog but we were soon on a cycle track besides the stunning Waikato, heading for Huka Falls. Sadly the fog hadn't quite cleared by the time we got there but the churning turquoise waters still took our breath away.

From there we headed through forest filled with the scents of pine and eucalyptus to the incredible Craters of the Moon, a deservedly-popular geothermal spot full of billowing steam, and on to Wairakei for our first rest.

After a short break and a cup of tea, it was time for the second leg which remains my favourite. First we climbed high to a trig point which, at 635m, overlooked the lake bathed in sunshine, and then we meandered through woods and farmland - cheered on by local kids we met - to Whakaipo Bay.

Almost 16km of cycleway lay between there and our next stop at Kinloch and the track swooped up and down the hills, occasionally opening up to offer tantalising glimpses of the stunning views across the water.

Part Thai islands, part Mediterranean, this stretch was spectacular and the views helped keep our spirits high; by this stage, we passed several people already falling by the wayside from joint injuries and blisters.

Leaving our support crew behind with their chilly bins of roast chicken, roast potatoes and salad to head into the gathering dusk wasn't easy but our toughest leg awaited as we left Kinloch. From there to the pony club at Oruanui was a whopping 19km so with head torches on and thermals layered, the groups trooped ahead of us in a battery-lit procession through hill and dale - the starry sky helped highlight what I'm sure is truly dramatic scenery by day.

The queue for the St John's Ambulance was almost as long as the line for the solitary portaloo when we reached the aid stop halfway through but we pushed on - some killer hills awaited.

Then it was down into the valley where freezing fog left our breath blocking our view at times. We arrived, weak and exhausted, at our rest stop at midnight but were soon revived by hot tea and our cheery crew.

Again though, this was no time to linger in the warmth, especially as the joints of my older teammates were threatening to seize up so we headed on.

Luckily from this stage on, the legs were all mainly a much-more-manageable 7km or so, meaning frequent arrivals at the van for hot chocolate and muffins to keep us going. By 5am, things were really tough but we knew dawn couldn't be far away...

The sun broke over the horizon as we arrived at our final checkpoint for hugs and porridge and tea and encouragement before what was my hardest leg. Though the ground was now flat and the air was warming, every bone was crying out for rest. And while after 24 hours of walking five more might not seem like much more, it was also the slowest progress of the journey.

But it wasn't long until we were finally heading back into Taupo. The finish seemed so close, just the other side of the bay, but there was another 5km to cover before we got there. The concrete path made my already aching feet and knees cry out in pain but not far now, nearly there.

So many people we passed wished us well and cheered us on that as we neared the finish line, the lump in my throat was almost unbearable. I kept my sunglasses on to hide my tear-filled eyes as we entered the domain and the final few hundred metres with supporters on all sides. Just a few more steps and we had made it - 100km in 28 and a half hours, blistered, bruised and battered but definitely not beaten.

I'm looking forward to returning to Taupo now I've appreciated just a small part of its beauty, but I certainly WON'T be doing any walking!

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