Through the Pureoras

When it's pouring with rain and you have your hood over your eyes, it is easy to go the wrong way. Suffice it to say we actually managed to go to Te Kuiti 3 times on this trip. Once was on the train on the way to Auckland. Once we walked there from Waitomo. And once we returned there after going 16 kilometres up highway 3 instead of highway 30. Don't ask.

Everything turned out well as we found a brilliant B&B in Benneydale. Not another thing there, but our French and Dutch hosts were amazing and inspirational in their efforts to bring the world to Benneydale through music and art. Thanks Maurice and Monica.

We then spent 4 wonderful days in the Pureora Forest, kaka wheeling over our heads, blue duck whistling in the pretty Waihaha River, massive rimus and totaras, and birdsong all around. Add great huts (Bog Inn, Waihaha and Hauhungaroa) and a well-marked track with perfect weather, what more could we want?

Coming off the Hauhungaroas we went up Duck Creek without a clue where we were going. We turned around in despair at the mismatch between the track map we were given and the actual GPS trace we were following. Bu**er. Te Araroa Trail info is still far from perfect and navigation has been very tricky at times.

But then we found ourselves in lovely Taumaranui where we indulged in a great fat juicy steak at the RSA and scored a free guided night tour of the town by a local Maori woman, Gina. She gave us a wonderful account of the local history along the way. Wow.

Then we were due to head for Owhango and the 42 Traverse which we hoped would lead us to Ruapehu for the last leg of our trail. Once again the Te Araroa trail info was scanty, and we faced 42 kms in the middle of nowhere with some trepidation. We hoped our family and friends would hear from us again......

Notes

Day 14: Waitomo to Te Kuiti campground. 14.8 km
Day 15: Te Kuiti to Benneydale B&B. 26.8 km
Day 16: Benneydale to DOC field base cabin, Pureora. 20.1 km
Day 17: Field base ot Bog Inn Hut, Pureora. 12.9 km
Day 18: Bog Inn Hut to Waihaha Hut, Pureora. 19.4 km
Day 19: Waihaha Hut to Hauhungaroa Hut, Pureora. 12.4
Day 20: Hauhungaroa Hut to Taumaranui Campground. 22 km