I was really fired up this morning. I checked the trail notes last night and worked out that if I hiked hard over the next few days, I can make it to Wellington in 3 or4 days. Maybe 3. Probably 4 :/)
So off I went, starting with a steady climb through a forest. (I am never going to tire of starting my days amongst trees. How do I get to do this for the rest of my life?)
There are great views of where I’ve been the last few days.
I follow the DOC orange blazes along the Pukeatua track uphill for about three hours (it’s always uphill. Even if it’s downhill it feels uphill and yes, I know that doesn’t make sense but my thighs and calves are jelly after the Tararuas!)
There is a really interesting section of trail. Side by side, there is a covenated native forest, protected by the National Trust and a private pine forest with signs of recent logging.
I pause here for a while, to try and picture in my mind what the whole area must have looked like pre logging.
I get going after a while and then emerge onto a 4wd track before heading over a bridge to a road for a 5k hike to Waikanae Village. I stop here for a late lunch after clocking up 25k.
It’s too early to stop for the day but I know I’m a bit tired after my epic Tararua effort.
The track notes say the next section is on an ‘easy tramping track’. I have about 7 hours of daylight left to hike another 22k and decide to press on.
I’m glad I did. It is pretty much flat walking (uphill! Hahahaha) nah, it is actually fairly flat, through the Kapititi district, with the Waikanae River, estuary and Kapititi Island in view.
Even so, it took me almost six hours. Wow. I’m soooo slow today. I will blame it on the 10k of beach walking, yeah, that’s what slowed me down.
I rejoin SH1 to get back to Paekakariki. Nothing like finishing the day at dusk with a bit of road walking along a state highway!
I straggle into the Holiday Park and book a tent site. It took me the longest time to throw my tent up. On a good day it’s probably a 3/4 minute job. Tonight I just couldn’t get my act together. Tired. Need food and sleep :-)
Track view. Tough underfoot!
Waikanae river
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