Tuesday 29th March - Farewells to the walking crew this morning and made sure we got some photos together before heading off again. Beach walking was in front of us today and lots of it. Felt fantastic to be by the sea again. Has been a long time since Queen Charlotte track, so having the ocean close by felt wonderful. The views were beautiful and better than I was expecting.
Not sure if it was the steak I had last night or the sea air, but when I got to Riverton at about 2pm, I wasn't ready to stop walking. It had started to shower with rain so the others decided to stop at the campground. I wasn't sure how much further I would go but thought I'd make a start on the next beach walk anyway. Well the afternoon and early evening just got better and better weatherwise. Still feeling full of energy I just kept going up the beach and by about 8-30pm had reached the Oreti Beach settlement. Got a cabin at the campground up Dunns Road and had to pinch myself that I had come so far today. 40km on the clock and getting very excited to be nearing Bluff.
2 Comments
Monday 28th March - Awoke to no rain today so it felt like a big improvement to yesterday from the start. Everyone headed off from the hut at their own pace and we said our farewells.
The track started off much better than yesterday too and led down to a forest road before entering the bush again. Felt like real NZ bush again too as there were lots of punga trees and very lush. The track followed a water race and also involved crossing the water race / trench many times on well placed treelogs or boards. Some a bit too slippery looking so extra climbing up and over fallen trees or muddy banks was needed. Got more challenging as the day progressed. Lots of old machinery along the was too. The track notes said the trail came out to the Big Hilly Track, but the orange markers actually take you out to a dairy farm and direct you along Ward Road. When walking out of the farm the owners were very excited to see another Te Araroa walker and are thinking of getting a guest book set up by their gate for us to write in. Got to the Colac Bay Tavern and camp ground and was met out front by Natalie and Andrea. Nice welcome, nice spot. Checked into a cabin room and had a steak dinner and a couple of wines - great end to a challenging section. Sunday 27th March - Today was a mission of a day that started off so pleasant and ended up being one of my hardest days on the trail.
After packing up from my lovely camping spot on the beginning of the forest I headed up the 4 wheel drive track very easily. About a half hour later Erin caught me up and said she had a great night in Otautau with a kiwi family. We walked together for a bit then I left her to her food break and I started up the next section of the track. From here it was mud, boggy track and more mud. Tough going and then more challenging up on the hilltops with the weather closing in, low mist and cold wind. Pure slog at the end just to get to the hut. Was a joy to smell smoke at the top of the final steep muddy descent as it meant someone was already at the hut with a fire going. Got to the hut and it was Andrea, Mario and Natalie there - horray - and also a spare last bunk. Martin's Hut is a very old and basic hut but it felt like a Hilton hotel tonight. So pleased to be warm by the fire and eating dinner with friendly company. Saturday 26th March - Felt recharged and ready to go after a night in a real bed and good food. Dave dropped us back to where he picked us up yesterday and Erin and I headed off.
I loved the next stretch of walk and took my time through the next forest and farm section enjoying the views back over the country side and to the small collection of houses over Ohai way. Said farewell to Erin and hopefully we catch up again nearing Bluff. The cell phone and internet coverage is the best I've found in the South Island outside of the bigger towns so spent lunchtime and other breaks catching up on the blog and general catchups with home. Decided I would keep going to the beginning of the Longwood forest section instead of going out to Otautau as I have plenty of food again after the 4 Square stop yesterday. Loved the farmland and surroundings on the way and is reminding me of a mixture of the Waikato and Martinborough. Got to the Longwood forest up Merrivale Rd about 8pm after 30km of walking so am very happy with that. Pitched the tent and did a bit more on the blog. All up to date now. Friday 25th March - Awoke to a clear but cold morning. Not in a rush to get on the track as not such a long day to the end of the section today. Once the sun came over the hill it helped warm up the fingers to be able to pack up the tent and move on.
I headed off on the next farm section which included crossing a bridge with a caution sign that made me laugh as it was one of the most stable things I had walked across. Met Erin again later in the day at lunch time after a bit of steep gravel road walking. We walked together the rest of the day which ended up being easy walking down the farm road and out to the road to Ohai. Dave from Taylor's Lodge came and picked us up from that junction and very kindly also took us on further to the Nightcaps 4 Square so we could top up food supplies. Being Good Friday we couldn't get wine at the shop so Dave sorted us out a bottle of wine too. Yay! Taylor's Lodge is the old pub building in Ohai that now is the home of Dave and his wife. It is no longer a pub but they do accomodate Te Araroa walkers and gave us full use of their kitchen as well as eggs from their hens. A great easy going night and very hospitable people. A comfy bed and a great nights sleep. Thursday 24th March - While it looked like the day was going to hold off raining to begin with this morning, it soon became a very wet walking day to start with. Quite a challenging day initially through more marshland and then onto rolling beech forest that seemed to have endless climbs up and down to streams. Got to the Lower Wairaki Hut where three of the other walkers decided to stay for the night and dry off. I decided to push on to the Telford Campsite so as to catch the same accomodation pick up Erin had arranged for the next day. I had left a message with the lodge to see if I could tag along too for the Friday night.
So pleased I decided to carry on walking as the rain lifted and was dry for the rest of the late afternoon and early evening. Was a full on climb up to the Takitimu ridgeline, but what a fantastic view from up there. The mist was low but not a breath of wind and no rain. Absolute magic early evening and was one of my favorite sections on the trail up there. Lovely to be on dry rock again too. Climbing down needed some care and quite a descent down to the open grassed camping area where I could see Erin from a long distance away putting up her tent. Finally got there too and was wrapt with the second half of the day. Very pleased to get the tent up before dark too and have dinner. Great to finish the day on a high. Wednesday 23rd March - Everyone up for breakfast today and then off to the next hut. The day was cooler and more overcast than yesterday but good walking weather in the morning. Started out with a gradual climb up through a beech forest to a saddle and then the beginning of a slippery muddy stretch before getting out to tussock.
After lunch the rain started to close in and so was a soggy afternoon trying not to lose a leg down the many running stream holes in between the tussock. Made for a tiring afternoon and was fantastic to finally see the Aparima hut. Another new couple from the UK had already arrived at the hut from the other road entrance after fly fishing and they were very intrigued with the gradual arrival of those of us on the Te Araroa trail. The fire was soon lit so we could all dry off and wasn't long before the hut was very toasty warm and able to dry our walking clothes off too. Another interesting night exchanging stories then an early night. Tuesday 22nd March - Am now officially in Southland and can't get over how warm it is. Wonder how long this will hold for. Checking my food out I can see that I won't need to go off the trail into Te Anau to resupply as originally planned so decided to go straight into the Takitimu track. The day started with gravel road walking for the first stretch and along the way met a woman who is cycling the South Island. She gave me some of her home made muslie bars and an apple - yum some fresh fruit. The gravel road turned into the highway for a few kms, then it was up a farm road to Lower Princester Hut. What a fantastic spot and hut. Had a wash in the stream and also washed out my walking clothes and got them into the sun. Erin one of the walkers I had met earlier up the trail also arrived so was great to hear about her travels and additional sightseeing. Another group of three arrived later on bringing greetings from Mark, a cyclist I had met on the Whanganui River walk to the Bridge to Nowhere. Shame to have missed each other by days around the Greenstone track area. All good company in the hut this evening and nice to have a comfy mattress. Tuesday 22nd March - Am now officially in Southland and can't get over how warm it is. Wonder how long this will hold for.
Checking my food out I can see that I won't need to go off the trail into Te Anau to resupply as originally planned so decided to go straight into the Takitimu track. The day started with gravel road walking for the first stretch and along the way met a woman who is cycling the South Island. She gave me some of her home made muslie bars and an apple - yum some fresh fruit. The gravel road turned into the highway for a few kms, then it was up a farm road to Lower Princester Hut. What a fantastic spot and hut. Had a wash in the stream and also washed out my walking clothes and got them into the sun. Erin one of the walkers I had met earlier up the trail also arrived so was great to hear about her travels and additional sightseeing. Another group of three arrived later on bringing greetings from Mark, a cyclist I had met on the Whanganui River walk to the Bridge to Nowhere. Shame to have missed each other by days around the Greenstone track area. All good company in the hut this evening and nice to have a comfy mattress. Monday 21st March - Packed up and continued down the Mararoa River. Not such a lovely walk today as was a battle against tall grass, tussock and prickly bushes. At one stage the tussock was taller than me. Was hard not to look enviously at the lovely low grass in the paddocks on the other side of the tall fencing. Also some of the walkway has had a bit of erosion which made for a day of needing to concentate on foot placings. Had a break at one point and noticed my sleeping mat had been pulled off the back of my pack and I hadn't noticed - bugger.
Got to the end of the track before the rise to the road and camped down for the night. Very tired so didn't miss the sleeping mat too much. Sunday 20th March - So pleased I stayed in the hut last night. Woke up to a great day and lovely walking through to the end of the track around the Lake and onto the start of the Mararoa River track. Lots of big red toadstools on the way which were pretty. Walked on around the southern section of the Mavora lakes then onto a forest section that is a great track amd decided to take the last swingbridge out to the carpark area instead of going onto the next hut as the river looked to be a bit high for crossing where I was. On the otherside of the swing bridge there was a toilet and grass to camp down so stayed in my tent for the night there. Sunday 20th March - So pleased I stayed in the hut last night. Woke up to a great day and lovely walking through to the end of the track around the Lake and onto the start of the Mararoa River track.
Lots of big red toadstools on the way which were pretty. Walked on around the southern section of the Mavora lakes then onto a forest section that is a great track amd decided to take the last swingbridge out to the carpark area instead of going onto the next hut as the river looked to be a bit high for crossing where I was. On the otherside of the swing bridge there was a toilet and grass to camp down so stayed in my tent for the night there. |