Monday 26th OctDecided to stay at Waipapakauri 90 Mile Beach Holiday Park and have two half rest days instead of one full rest day at Ahipara. Cabin sleep over and a hot shower very revitalising. Next section of about 14 km to Ahipara tomorrow is the last stretch of 90 mile beach. Nearly there!
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Sunday 25th OctWoke early packed up and started walking by 5.30am. Was such a beautiful sunrise and a head start on a long walk that turned into a strong head wind. Walked 30km to Hukatere. Found Utea Campsite which was an oasis of water, hot showers and a cabin. Paul and Tania run this place and are very welcoming to weary travellers. Paul met me at the door with a glass of water - magic. Also they are always on the look out for walkers who have been caught short on water along a very dry ninety mile beach. Cabin, hot shower and great shared kitchen. Fantastic reviving stop over. Saturday 24th OctNot in a rush to move today as still light showers and wanted to wait to see if tent could dry off. No luck with that as rain stayed on. Not too much in a rush as also ahead of expected trip to Bluff beach. Had an eating day. Waited for the rain to ease off and then packed up in dry spell about 3.30pm. Started walking at 4pm and got to Bluff just after 7pm. Was a very wet walk but no rain at the Bluff campsite and and no water! Pleased that I still have about a litre with me to get through to to Hukatere. No cell phone range either.
Friday 23rd OctPacked up the tent and walked through to Twilight Camp. Beautiful walking day. Filled up Camel Backs with water at the camp spot and boiled up hot water for 2 Miso soups and Electrolyte drink to have something warm. Hot walking day. Te Paki Stream came up quickly, so walked 10 more km and camped over the other side of the sandbanks on a grassy spot. Happy to be a little ahead of schedule. Light showers overnight.
Thursday 22nd OctMy lift to Spirits Bay was with a friend of the Te Araroa Trail. Arthur met me outside the hotel at about 8.30 and is a man with a firm handshake and a whiff about him of rural farmland and manuka. If there is anything you want to know about the Far North in NZ , Arthur is your man. He was able to give me a clear history of the area and helped me to the nearest Mitre 10 for camping fuel and a post shop to send the dive bag back to Wellington (used for bringing up my pack and other bits to Kaitaia). I got dropped off at Kapowairua with another couple and walked around Spirits Bay to the Pandora camping spot which was just stunning views along the walk. Stopped for a break, then up the Pandora track to the main road to Cape Reinga as the Tapotupotu track was closed and suggested a detour up to the main road and loop back around. Did not want to add time with the detour so decided that I would carry on to Cape Reinga instead of camping overnight at Tapotupotu. So pleased I did as was a lovely night at Cape Reinaga point by the lighthouse and I also filled up Camel Back water bladders with water back at the toilet block. Started the Te Araroa trail that night ahead of schedule and stayed the night at Te Werahi Beach. Life felt great.
Wed 21st Oct 2015Left Huw at the Wellington Airport this afternoon and flew into Auckland. Got into Kaitaia on a 7 seater plane from Auckland at about 6.30pm and a shuttle to the motel. Staying at the Orana Motor Inn which has a restaurant attached and the food was just fantastic tonight. Steak and seafood for me - pretty much the last supper of good food for about 5 days. Getting a lift through to Spirits Bay early tomorrow so will not be seeing much of Kaitaia. Certainly is warmer up here in the far North and very still. Getting closer to starting that walk on Friday.
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