Kahuterawa Car Park to Paraparaumu

Day 57
15 December 2019
Km 0
Cumulative Km 694

Today was a day of planning and relaxing as well as resupply.

We also checked out some street art and Maori totem carvings.

In the afternoon we did swing by the Pekapeka Wetland. It is a few kilometres out of Hastings and is fairly newly established. We were hoping to see a few birds but there weren’t too many varieties. Lots of ducks and one black swan.

Day 58
Km 21.5
Cumulative Km 715.5

We left Hastings at 7am and headed towards Kahuterawa Car Park. This means that I skipped all the road walking from Palmerston North to here. I also wanted to get through the first track before the large rainfall was due tomorrow. This worked partly, in that it started raining just prior to me setting off on my hike. I commenced at 10am.

So the first 1.5 hours were wet but then it cleared for most of the day. The trail was mainly through bush, then some newly planted pines before getting to one of the newest shelters on the trail. It is very nicely constructed and even had a pine Christmas tree in it with 2 ornaments!

An important milestone- passing half way point of the trail!!

A few kilometres passed the shelter I headed into the bush. The track went downhill towards the river. It was somewhat muddy. There were many stream crossings and muddy sections throughout the whole day.

A part of this trail is called Burtton’s Track, named after the farmer who cut it in. He died after sustaining injuries after the collapse of his suspension bridge. He got himself out through the bush track, despite having several broken bones. He eventually died in hospital.

I got to the Tokomaru Shelter at 17h30. There was some drizzle that started about 1 hour before my arrival. I got some water from the stream, ate dinner and then some decent rain set in. Really pounding on the tin roof at times. The rain was accompanied with a bit of thunder.

Day 59
Km 18.5
Cumulative Km 734

Set off on a 3km road walk first, dirt road past a dam used for hydroelectric generator. Before I left I checked the stream level next to the shelter to see if the water level had increased at all as there were many stream and river crossings today. All was good, no change noticed.

When I hit the start of the Mangahao-Makahika Track I didn’t realise how tough a day it would be. There was loads and loads of mud, not possible to avoid and I was covered in mud. The only relief from about half way was countless stream crossings where I could clean myself… to get dirty 20m later though.

There were 2 lookouts from where there were nice views and then the slog continued. I caught my shoe in a root and then just heard the ripping of material. The whole half of the front of my shoe was ripped- oops!

The last part of the trail was through farmland then dirt road to lovely trail angels where I could camp or take a simple cabin. With much more rain forecast I went with the cabin…and glad I did.

The trail angels are well versed on the weather and conditions for the Tararua Ranges section ahead- a short 45km- but very tough section. There were predictions of gale force winds, heavy rain and possibly snow. So I decided it would be safer to skip for the moment.

Day 60
18 December 2019
Km 0
Cumulative Km 734

Two months on the trail!!

With continued rain overnight I was glad to be in the cabin! John, the trail angel was going into Levin and took myself and Nadine- another TA hiker who arrived later in the evening.

Upon arrival we went to the isite, me to get a bus ticket to Otaki- where there are many outlet shops to hopefully find shoes- and then to Paraparaumu- where I would meet another friend from South Africa. Sulandi and I worked together at Voorspoed Mine.

Sulandi & kids picked me up from the bus station and she started preparing dinner when we arrived home. A feast of lamb, chicken, rice, potatoes, carrots, cream spinach and courgettes!!! Total yummy-ness! Many thanks!!

Then that evening I had a wine in the hot tub with jets going! Great!