I was off early this morning. I knew this was probably going to be a very big day (or two smaller ones!) I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage this one (not going to comment here on my hip - trying to not be a sook). Today was playing on my mind though. Freedom camping wasn’t allowed through this section because of kauri dieback disease and I wanted to honour this arrangement and not cause any damage to these mighty trees.
I was fairly sure though that if time was moving quicker than I was, that I was unlikely to come across Kevin and Denise fishing in the forest! I didn’t have a strategy other than to just keep walking.
Anyway, a quick breakfast of cold soaked oats, packed up camp and I was off.
I ended on a dirt road for ages, through farm paddocks and then a bit of a climb (but nothing like what is waiting for me on the South Island!)
I stopped at a kauri dieback cleaning station, like the one I used at Waipoua Forest. The NZ government, through the dept of conservation (I really wanted to say dept of conversation - based on that earlier long yarn in Auckland while I waiting to purchase a hut pass) has done a tremendous job of trying to arrest this disease and protect the kauri trees. This has resulted in some tracks being permanently closed but that is a small inconvenience in the scheme of things.
And then down to the creek - which is actually the trail for this section! The water was colder than I thought it would be and in places, I had to watch my footing as it was a bit rocky. I followed this for ages and then the creek feeds into the Waipapa River. I crossed this without any trouble and then the track was along the bank. This was a bit full on. It wasn’t much of a track and it was a bit treacherous in some spots.
After an age, the track climbed up and away. And a big thanks here to the vols or doc staff who have built bush steps here. A little less slippery but a bit more grippy on the thigh muscles!
I followed the ridge for what seemed like an age and then on to a dirt track. I should have made good time on that track, but didn’t. I was really starting to feel the day.
And then, finally the day was done and I came out into the campsite at Puketi. Thank goodness for these long days of sunlight. It was not far off dark by the time my pack came off
I got camp and dinner (couscous, surprise peas, dried veggie packet and a packet of tuna ) sorted pretty quickly. I was done. So. Done. Big day.
Puketi Forest
Omahuta Forest
The never ending stairs
This is the track!
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