Saturday 19th Dec - Packed up and headed further up the road to start the next track section. Highlights included walking past the water reservoir and getting through to Poads/Gladstone Rd in a decent time to get picked up by Camille for a bonus shower and sleep at Waitarere before starting the Tararuas.
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Friday 18th Dec - Today's walk was all about stream and river crossings. Prior to starting Burtton's Track a pine forest area needed to be crossed and currently it is being logged so is closed during the week. I got there at about 2-30pm on Friday taking a guess that the workers would probably be finishing early. It turned out that yes, the guys were finishing for the day and also mentioned that they would let Te Araroa walkers through anyway. Very pleased that I could continue on and get through to the track. Was great to be on a bush track again after walking through the pine forest area. Finished late in the evening and camped down on a grassy spot at the track exit and start of tomorrow's walk.
Thursday 17th Dec - Fresh eggs for breakfast, yum. Thanks for the lovely stay Carmen and Shane.
Heading to Palmerston North via Bunnythorpe was a good section and while rain threatened for most of the day it didn't really come to anything, even after the thunder. The river walk around the outskirts of Palmerston's suburbs was a great start to what turned out to be a trip down memory lane. The trail goes through the lower grounds of Massey University including a small stream that I used to walk down to in my first year of living on campus when in the hostels. Couldn't resist popping up and checking out Egmont Court which has not changed at all. Great memories. I also had the fortunate experience of meeting Jan who approached me to see if I wanted to stay at her place for the night. Her and her husband are keen trampers and travellers and always like to help other walkers. I had a wonderful evening at her place and was well fed and looked after ready to carry on the next section of the trail. Wednesday 16th Dec - Fantastic to have Erin's company walking with me today. We finished off the rest of Brandon Hall Road and then went through Bulls to Mt Biggs school. Interesting character we saw along the way in the back country roads- a guy carrying a cross. God blessed us and we moved on.
Had lunch at Erin's car and it was another goodbye to her then moving on to Feilding. Thanks for the rolls and goodies Erin!! On the way in Feilding I walked passed some Cow Sculptures made out of roofing iron. Very cool. Carmen picked me up at the clock tower and I had a wonderful evening with her family. Lots to catch up on and another comfy sleep in a bed. Very spoilt for another night. Tuesday 15th Dec - Beach walking for the first 8km and it was a windy start. Great to be off the road for a bit and back on the beach front. From there it was walking forestry roads through to Brandon Hall road which leads into Bulls. Ann picked me up along that road and had a wonderful overnight stay on their farm. I was very well looked after and lovely to be in a family environment again. Ann has two sets of twins aged 6 and 7 and it was fabulous being in their company. A bonus was Erin arriving later that evening too. Great relaxing night.
Monday 14th Dec - So pleased I stayed where I did last night as when walking into Whanganui I could see that the Campground is actually on the other side of the river. It would be handy for those canoeing up the river but very painful to walk to as would need to walk along way to the bridge then walk the same distance back again to the campground.
The damage from the flooding earlier in the year still very visible with parts of the road washed away and the family park area still being repaired. Stopped in Whanganui for lunch then kept walking through to the Tirakina Beach and Koitiata settlement. A highlight along the way was the rose garden than is planted along the State Highway in the middle of a field. Good stopping area for a break. When getting to the Koitiata campground I discovered that the owners do not charge Te Araroa walkers if you sign their visitors book. Was a lovely welcoming gesture. Camped up in a sheltered area as the wind had got up, had dinner then crashed out. Sunday 13th Dec- We left the very peaceful cottage and headed further up Whanganui River Road. Electricity still not on and I feel sorry for the locals having to deal with any frozen goods they may have.
Longer walking day today and very variable weather with showers blowing through every now and again. Bumped into a young German family again who are cycling around New Zealand with a baby and another young child. So impressed with their cycling gear and back carrier that holds the children. Also impressed with the organisation and energy that must take when I think of just getting myself from the top to bottom of New Zealand, let alone little children too. We got to the place where Julie and Maree had parked the car and said goodbye. Really enjoyed their company so was sad seeing them hit the road to Wellington. Has been a great few days exploring with them. I carried on walking through to Upokongaru and found a rural hotel with accommodation and food. Another great day done. Saturday 11th Dec - Still no power this morning but no real impact for us as we still had camping gas for a hot drink with breakfast. Packed up and made our way off further up Whanganui River road. Really enjoying this stretch of road walking as the river is mostly always in view and time went quickly with my walking companions to chat to.
A great stopping point was the Matahiwi Cafe and Gallery. While there was still no power the owner boiled up water on her gas cooker for hot drinks. Great selection of home made biscuits too. They were busy getting cabins prepared ready for future guests as a new venture for the summer so that would be a great place to stay in the coming months for cyclists and walkers. We stopped off for another break at a Marae along the way and chatted for a bit with the guy who maintains the grounds. Very friendly people along this stretch. Got to Kohu Cottage that Julie had booked and it was just great. Still no power but there was plenty of hot water for showers. Another river swim later in the afternoon - well for me I can't say swim, more a slow paddle then cold plunge and then out to the towel. Lovely pasta dinner with the camping gas - thanks Maree - and another great sleep. Great day. Friday 11th Dec - No cell phone coverage for the last few days and not likely to have any till Sunday by the sounds of it. I was due to meet up with Julie and Maree in Pipiriki who were getting a lift with the mail lady that morning so was wanting to let them know where I was. Josephine who runs the campground suggested that I go with her to meet up with the mail lady as they catch up daily further up the road for the mail exchange. As we start driving up the road - there is Julie and Maree walking towards us with the mail. So it all worked out that we found each other ok. Wonderful seeing people I know.
Beautiful warm day for walking and an easy walk through to Jerusalem. Julie had organised accommodation at the old convent school that the nuns run for guests. It was fabulous and such an interesting place to stay. A place frozen in time and restored to retain that old boarding school look upstairs and everything you need downstairs. We walked down to the river for a swim then went searching for James K Baxter's grave back at the convent and church grounds. Finally found it after directions from one of the sisters. Felt like I was standing in the middle of a New Zealand history lesson being at his grave and then wandering through such famous grounds. While we were walking around there had been a power cut so that made things even more interesting with no electricity. Julie cooked up a lovely dinner on my camping gas so all Ok there then an early night once it started getting dark. Thursday 10th Dec - Amazing to think that this is day 50 of walking Te Araroa. Feels great to have come this far.
Had a lovely easy stroll up to the Bridge to Nowhere and glad I had lots of time to check out the sites where families had tried to make a go of the land in this area all those years ago. I was very early for my afternoon jetboat pick up and the guy suggested that I join an early trip back to the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge and have a relax for a couple of hours before going further up the river to Pipiriki in his late afternoon trip. Superb idea as it was a lovely afternoon and a glass of wine in the sun was such a treat. The Lodge has great views of the water and accommodation options looked great too. Nice few hours before moving further up the river to Pipiriki. The jetboat rides were so much fun and brought lots of memories back of the canoeing trip I did down this section of the river with my Christchurch walking friends. So pleased I've had the opportunity to do the walking and jetboating alternative to see the river from a different perspective. Got to Pipiriki at about 6pm and stayed in a cabin at the camping ground run by the Whanganui River Adventure people. They converted their old school buildings and grounds to camping facilities and I just loved it. Warm welcoming people who run the place. Very peaceful and quiet and pretty scenery. Slept very well in the cabin bunk room as was the only one there. |