Day 12 - Russell Rd to 306km freedom spot

Back on the trail people. 

Its hard to leave such a paradise. Camping by a stream spins its own magic.

We passed by Whangaruru School. 

Signs warned if you happened to be a dog. Don’t dress up as one! (See pic).

Today would see us walk a somewhat lesser distance of 19km. Not to be dissed, but it had its elevation challenges, and the section of trail that crossed ‘The High Chaperelle’ made your tongue stick out and your chest heave!

The Helena Bay ridge track was the main feature of the day. Again, some beautiful examples of kauri. Tui and Kereru birds featured along the way. (You’d love seeing them Mrs Hampton and Mrs Vester).

Awesome new marae on the trail.

Sad to see so much roadside rubbish. We even made a song up for green bottles on the roadside.

We camped at a freedom spot which thankfully had a small tank of water.

Water is the best asset you can have I reckon.

Day 11 - Paihia to 2999 Russell Rd

Greetings all.

Paihia is a beautiful place to wake up to. 

A cruise ship had pulled into the bay. It made other boats look like toys. Once we had tickets we boarded the Bay Balle vessel and headed across to Russell.

This quaint historic settlement was once the capital of NZ. It was also labelled at one point as the ‘Hell hole of the Pacific’. Hard to believe now!

Once on the road out of Russell we encountered a boardwalk over a mangrove bay. We then headed along a forestry road with native trees in abundance. It was lush and stunning. Nikau palms were lining the roadside in patches. They reminded me of Venetian blinds with their swordlike leaf structure.

A slight navigational miscalculation on my part and we had to work a total of 34 km for the day. 

The reward was to camp beside a tranquil river with mature totara trees shielding our tent from high above. Flowering hydrangeas grew alongside the riverbank.

Tammy was our host. A long, but rewarding day in the end.

Day 10 - A re-start from Kerikeri.

Our adventure of walking the length of NZ resumes after celebrating the New Year at home ( Karl at Whangamatā).

We also celebrated Brianna’s 21st birthday with a special family dinner in Hamilton.

A 3am wake-up with an Inter City bus departing from Hamilton at 4.20.

Fast forward 8 hours and we’re in Kerikeri once again.

Within 50 metres of walking with packs on we had a man pull up in a huge pink Cadillac asking if we were all good for accomodation in Kerikeri. Astounding to have such a generous offer so quickly.

Our destination of course - Paihia.

First things first though. Retrieve my trusty hiking stick from down at the Stone Store.

Low and behold, it was still propped up in a flax bush.

More road walking eventually turned into a forest walk - minus the forest. Most of it had been cut down for milling. Slash offcuts lay everywhere. The exposure to the sun here made you wish the trees were still growing.

The Bay of Islands came into site as we wound our way down into Waitangi. A beautiful site. Manicured golf course. The Treaty Grounds (closed now that it was after hours). The one lane bridge across to Waitangi settlement. A real sense of history and mana. Yes, the land here holds mana. You feel it. It makes you break into a waiata or chant verses from a haka you know.

Karl considered popping a manu off the bridge, however, we still had walking to do to reach the Peppertree backpackers in Paihia.

That evening we enjoyed a meal at the ‘Tipsy Oyster.’ The security guard got talking. He came from Te Kao in the far north. We explained our hikoi. Amazing how quickly you can make connections with people who are prepared to listen.

Day 9 - Puketī Forest to Stone Store Kerikeri

An earlier start to the day and away by 7.30.

A couple of k’s down the forestry road and a clear Te Araroa Trail sign points the way down through farmland. ‘Caution’ it says. ‘You are entering a working farm with electric fences and bulls.’ Let’s hope they like harmonica playing and imitation moans and bellows from Karl, just to see if he can get a response.

The trail weaves its way through scenic spots of scrub and bush, streams, waterfalls and boardwalks. Paradise ducks circle with their distinctive calls. One honking what sounds like “wait” and its partner a deep sounding “go!”

We begin the Kerikeri Riverwalk trail at Rainbow Falls. People a swinging in the lagoon. Karl washes his face in the shallows. I take my turn where he was, only to see a broad silvery tail curl away and move under the embankment. The swimmers mustn’t mind eels.

After cleaning and squirting boot disinfectant at a Kauri Dieback booth, we were awed by the beauty of this track alongside the river. Mature tōtara trees and lush grass paved the spaces between river and backyard properties.

As we emerged near the carpark opposite to the stone store a familiar voice called out. Sandie was waiting to welcome us. 

She also had pies :)

After a visit to the stone store and a few snapshots I placed my trustee walking stick companion in a nearby flax bush. Ready to continue the journey on or about the 5th of January.

Today we had covered a distance of 26k. A total trail length of about 225k in the last 9 days.

We have learnt a number of things that will help us with future sections. We have pride in the fact that we have walked it all, even though there had been a number of genuine offers to give us a lift.

We look forward to the continued journey of walking the length of New Zealand in the New Year and all the adventures yet to be.

Day 8 - Rangiahua to Puketi Forest Campground

A lovely time was spent for Christmas at Otamure; Sandie, Karl and I. Our motorhome shifted from Kerikeri NZMCA park to the DoC Otamure site. 

Beachside under flowering pohutakawa trees. We even had turkey on the BBQ. Reminds me of the verses in the Hi 5 song - ‘Santa wear your shorts’.

On return to the exact spot we left was a solid hour and a half drive in the x-trail. The hiking sticks still leaning on the fence post.

After farewells, we began the next segment of 8km along Highway 1 before reaching the Puketi Rd turnoff.

We had already received an offer of a lift by a local, which was really kind and considerate.

We politely declined as when all is said and done we want to be able to say whole heartedly we walked the length of NZ. (Apart from obvious water crossing parts!)

The Puketi Rd climbed steadily to a plateau. The weather deteriorated and we donned on our jackets to keep us warmer and drier.

After 13km we met the point where the TA trail emerged from the forest. A couple of k’s backtrack and we were at the DoC campsite.

With plenty of time before darkness we had a great feed - roast chicken and mash, a Back Country feed (thanks Tahere family).

Day 7 - Makene Rd to Rangiahua

The seventh day.

A roadwalking day today. 

Last night was the most morepork (Ruru) calling I think I’ve ever heard. Half a dozen were all kicking off at once. Both lovely and annoying.

Upon leaving Makene Rd, going left towards the north was a closed State Highway 1 due to huge slips in the Mangamuka Gorge. Thankfully we were heading south. The traffic was understandably low with only 2 vehicles passing by in the first 10 minutes. You don’t get that often on NZ’s main route through the entire country.

We happened to find a roadside rugby ball and gave kicks down the highway.

Oh dear, no steak and cheese pies from the Mangamuka dairy, because… it’s closed. On a Saturday too!

The decision was made in order to be accessible for Sandie to pick us up for Christmas we wouldn’t head inland through the Puketī forest. Instead we would take the Puketi Rd which bypasses the forest and meets the trail at kilometre 200. 

So, Sandie picked us up off State Highway 1 at the Waihou River crossing near Rangiahua. We placed our walking poles against a strainer post and would return to the exact same spot on Boxing Day.

We had achieved a 21 kilometre road walk for the day.

Day 6 - Takahue Hall to Makene Rd

An overcast morning and we are up and packed by 7am. The light of day brings clarity around last nights arrival site. With an ashfelt court area, toilet block and an entrance way, typical of an old school site. Sure enough as we caught up with hosts Ethan and Connor from last night, Ethan explained how it once was Takahue Native School and his grandmother had been a teacher here. We chatted for a while, provided a koha, bidded our hosts farewell and headed out on the road again through the now less used turnstile. The Takahue Hall stood proudly on the adjacent corner at the road intersection.

Onwards and upwards the metal road took us. We passed ‘Krishna Sanctuary’ which was a property graced with many fruit trees. We paused to admire a lovely bunch of green bananas dangling like thick fingers from under tropical glossy leaves.

This place was a paradise in nature!

Tiny homes with an off grid appearance came next. What appeared to be abandoned boats, cars and tractors all trail side and tucked in the bush. 

Around another corner and a festival of oriental flags were on display. 

We caught up with Yumi, another trail walker. She couldn’t believe we’d walked the road from Ahipara the previous day, which equated to a 35km distance.

Breakfast was a cook up perched on a small campsite in the bush overlooking the valley. Yumi continued.

By 10.30 we were fed and rested, ready to cross the Mangamuka Range.

The trail turned off its 4WD width and narrowed upwards over exposed tree roots and patches of thick mud. Some spots took some negotiating to get across or around. We had to make like Tarzan and swing by tree branches or vines to cross the trickiest parts.

On reaching the summit at 740 metres ( one of the highest points in Northland ) we were disappointed that cloud masked all views. Light rain fell constantly and the wind came in gusts.

Eventually, after hours of toil, we reached farmland on the other side of the range. A blare came from the bush edge and it was clearly a bull making its presence known. Karl gave his own groaning reply to which I said “it’s in the paddock we’re in, so how fast can you run?”

Nothing more came of it and soon we were passing by the farmers house following the orange triangle markers. Dogs barked continuously until we were well down Makene Rd. There we were so grateful to have a patch to pitch our tent.

Light rain continued to fall as darkness came.

We were so drained of energy we skipped dinner and went straight to bed.