Day 96 - Greenpoint to Bluff (Stirling Point signpost)

 18th April

The final walking day is here! A beautiful blazing sunrise to begin. The wind was fierce throughout most of the night as we enjoyed the comfort of the cabin.

Farewell to Jasper for hosting us. We strode along the edge of State Highway 1 for a km before hooking out over farmland to the coast. The wind gave us a hearty buffing here!! Sand stung our faces. The sea raged against the rocky coastline. Sea spray fluted up the hillside. A final test by Mother Nature and a reminder to stay humble in her presence. We soon weaved our way through a scrub trail. An outline of a sleepy Stewart Island, peeped out from a grey blanket of cloud. 

We paused at a rest area knowing that family were making their way to Bluff. Their flight landing just after midday. The ‘all clear’ came through by text and they were ready and waiting.

A ‘chur woo’ through the bush by Karl, with a hundred metres to go, received a ‘chur woo!’ reply.

Sandie came into view smiling from ear to ear. Marks girlfriend Taya watching on. Mark and Brianna stood beside the signpost and proceeded to perform a haka for us. Strong, clear, heartfelt. It was an emotional ending to complete such an epic journey.

Sandie had baked cookies in the shape of NZ. A medallion which acknowledged walking from Cape Reinga to Bluff was placed around my neck by Mark, and Karl’s neck by Brianna. A stubby of Speights beer was enjoyed and shortly after we popped a bottle of champagne. I placed a small stone I picked up at Cape Reinga beside the signpost. I had carried it in the pocket of my shorts all this time.

Our journey on foot was done. A calculated distance of 2865 kilometres over 96 days of walking. Approximately 5 million steps. A total of 61 nights spent in a tent. 2 pairs of shoes each and an unknown number of pies eaten. 

To all the people who have supported our journey, a huge THANK YOU! To family who have endured our absence, we couldn’t have achieved this without you! Thank you so much!

To my son Karl. My walking buddy. Thank you for your positivity, humour and determination. We have so many special shared memories from this journey together.

Thank you readers of this blog, from wherever you are in the world. Perhaps walking NZ one day is a goal for you. Make the journey your own, as we have.

To the land that is New Zealand,; Aotearoa, Papatuanuku - the Earth Mother. We have a deepened sense of gratitude for traversing you. In all your beauty and awe. 

Sunrise … magic!

A cool cabin made of palettes for our final night.

Large metal arrow points to Stewart Island.

A pile of oyster shells.

Sign at the entrance of Bluff settlement. The track from here heads across farmland.

A tough time walking against the coastal wind.

Boggy times!!

Rugged and raw south sea.

Stepping through arches of Manuka scrub.

View beyond to Stewart Island.

Chilling out with just 2k to go.

Arrival!!

Proud moment.

This stone was picked up at Cape Reinga and has been with me until Bluff. I placed it beside the Stirling Point signpost.

Cookies baked by Sandie. So funky and crunchy.

A bottle of bubbly to celebrate.

Family time! ❤️

Day 95 - Invercargill to Greenpoint

17th April 2024

Two rest days allowed us to pause and recuperate. We were in the tent at the central campground for two nights. On the third night, we bunked down at Andy’s house in Invercargill. It was great to reconnect with him after our time in Queenstown just over a week ago.

Today the weather was showery; tap on, tap off. The wind was constantly blowing in the 20-25 kph zone. Enough to blow your cap hat off and swivel the pack on your back.

We met a couple of TA walking pairs. Both finishing today. Jason was from Gisborne and was about to complete the South Island. He may do the North Island next year. It was great to chat as we walked, comparing thoughts and ideas about our TA experience.

While we stopped for a rest break in a driveway, we noticed a white car pull roadside up ahead. Two people were then walking back towards us. Crikey, it was Aloma and Jenny! We house-sat for Aloma 10 years ago, when travelling NZ in our motorhome. Jenny and husband Colin, were Morrinsville Intermediate Principal and DP, back in time. 

Aloma and Jenny claimed to have tracked us down with the help of Sandie and her location finder for my phone. How lovely to have them seek us out.

After 27k for the day, we made contact with a trail angel by the name of Jasper. He had a small block of land 60metres off the highway. He was happy for us to use the small cabin built just last December. It was small, simple and quirky. For a nights stay it was going to suit us perfectly! We chatted with him for quite awhile, hearing his stories, and he, ours.

Tomorrow would see us re-connect with family and complete our hikoi from Cape Reinga to Bluff. The finish is becoming an incredibly surreal feeling.

State Highway 1. Main centre round-a-bout.

Trolley Time… no injuries now Karl Haddock!

Heading back onto the Te Araroa Trail out of Invercargill.

The silhouette of a cabbage tree. The symbol of the Te Araroa Trail. 

Invercargill estuary walk.

On the shared walk / cycle trail, Invercargill to Bluff.

There’s a pot of gold out there somewhere.

So cool to have Aloma and Jenny pull up roadside for a hearty hug and ‘how ya doing’.

Bluff Hill is the lump of land on the horizon. Tiwai aluminium smelter is left of centre on the horizon line.

A view from Jaspers cabin.

The place we spend our final night on the traverse of NZ.

Day 94 - Winton to Invercargill

One thing is for sure, farms grow pretty lush grass down this way! It wasn’t long before a herd of deer were looking our way. One in particular, not too deterred by our human presence.

The road-walking continues south of Winton, and it’s straight. Music from our devices suspended in our neck scarves, helps keep us upbeat. An app called ‘Map my Run’ also speaks out the km we’ve covered and our average pace. Something different to motivate our minds that we are progressing.

When an Invercargill sign comes into sight, we know it is a false sense we are there. The central campground according to Google maps is still a further 10k onwards.

The housing intensifies. A number of these, two stored, tiled with plastered exteriors. Some, have a sense of grandeur about them.

Finally, into the central campground we stride and confirm our arrival at the reception. Darkness is closing in and there’s a chill in the air, but very little wind. 

It felt a long 32k effort for the day. The thing is, it will be the last of our 30+ km days for walking NZ. In the South Island alone, we have had 20 days of walking further than 30 kilometres. Of those, 10 days were greater than 35 kilometres.

A white cat approaches in the half-light to oversee our tent pitching. Later we take note of a sign on every wall of the dining / kitchen area (see below). Obviously a cat of notoriety!

Dear oh deer.

It’s a sign!

To the Ruru class I teach, did you know there was a Ruru School?

Bluff is now on the radar!

Mighty buildings.

World Famous Invercargill- Burt Munro and the Fastest Indian.

Campground cat. Friendly as!

Explains it all…

Day 93 - Dipton to Winton

The only interruption to last nights settled sleep was a midnight scowl of a possum lurking nearby. It was probably wondering what a funny foreign dome shape was doing in its territory. 

By 8.30 we are packed and ready for the walk to Winton 30k away. The usual ritual continues by thanking the spot that has been our rest for the night. We check all tent pegs are bagged, and no escaped pieces of rubbish have been left in the environment. Only leave footprints. It’s another strong value we hold true to. In fact, there have been a number of times we have picked up litter left around rubbish bins.

The road curves and crosses back over the Ōreti River. The water level has dropped by half a metre since last night when we crossed. Still silty and brown coloured water flows fast.

The scenery in this area can be likened to the Waikato in many ways. The highway stretches on and we chip away at the kilometres.

By mid afternoon we enter the town of Winton. The Railway Hotel is our destination for tonight. There’s something special about staying in these time enduring buildings. We get settled in and tidied up for a special dinner with Trevor and Anne. They are down this way, staying with family in Drummond, so the coincidence of us passing through at this time was perfect. What a lovely time we had catching up. A hearty meal to keep us going too!

An off-grid spot sheltered and quiet.

These Southland sheep are everywhere!!

‘Boggy Burn’ - another stand out place name!

Skies = blue, grass = green.

Nice highway, The area reminds us of Morrinsville.

The Railway Hotel.

A lovely evening with Trevor and Anne at the Middle Pub in Winton.

Day 92 - Lumsden to Dipton

Yesterday was a rest day at the Lumsden campground. Rain was steady through the day. By early afternoon we took a walk to the local four square for food supplies. Back at camp we indulged in a cook up of sausages in bread and cans of spaghetti. That’s right. Spaghetti’s back on the menu colleagues (only when you don’t have to carry the can).

At the kitchen / dining area, we got talking to Patrick who was a cyclist based in Christchurch. He was counting his blessings that he hadn’t got himself stuck on the West Coast. He came through that way only a couple of days ago. There was also a family from Israel touring in a motorhome for a month. They had 3 children aged 15, 12 and 9. The wet weather was a ‘test’ claimed the mother. ‘You could walk down through Israel next,’ she said. ‘It’s only 1000 kilometres.’ Just a lot less water available because of the desert’ she added. 

Today, the road to Dipton was quieter than expected. Mainly due to road closures from the West Coast. It gave a chance to photograph some common objects that occur during our everyday walk.

Dipton has no campground. A park / reserve across on the eastern side of the Ōreti River became our ‘go to’. It allowed us to see the result of plenty of rain from the relative safety of a bridge. What was no doubt a sedate flowing river 2 days ago, was now a swift and raging torrent.

A 22km walking day, with light in the day to select a suitable tenting spot.

Our 2.2 x 3.6 cabin to see out the weatheris horriblis.

There seems to be quite a few of these white things in paddocks down this part of the country.

We’ve walked past a few of these over 92 days.

I call them ‘wake-up bumps’. They make a great noise when car tyres zoom over them.

Evidence of a wet 48 hours, but, nothing too serious.

A swollen, brown and swirling Oreti River.

Tonight’s tent pitching area.