Yes its been pretty wet tbf, good on them for sticking with it.Maybe I should change the title to ‘the wettest walk of a lifetime’
They’ve had a torrid time in the downpours - apparently wettest summer for some time.
Tne trail is treacherous in parts, rivers uncrossable and many walkers are just holed up for a few days to try and get dry.
Our two have kept going so far but, fair to say, they were a bit down last night.
Every morning for the last 6 days or so the have to pull on their wet boots and go again.
Currently 880km down and they’ve climbed the equivalent of Everest twice.
The NZ hospitality has been wonderful with ‘Trail Angels’ in most towns to offer comping in gardens, rooms, food etc.
Some decent landmarks to help them:
1000kms not far off
A further 700km finishes off North Island
All downhill after that
If you're not already up here for the bike race, pack your raincoat, it's been torrential these last few daysAh the Castlepoint lighthouse. Hope you enjoyed the wines in Martinborough! Did you get as far as the Lake Ferry hotel and enjoy their fish and chips.? The Wine Fair is one of the best events you could ever go to. A real drinking, music extravaganza.
That's the one. BDO sponsored. Starts and finishes in the Town Centre. There's a real tough climb at Hatepe Hill after 80 ks.~11.4% at its steepest.
Kiwi Boro am driving up Tom morning - such a disappointment as last time I did it it rained then too.
Finny where exactly are they now do you know? The weather patterns are definitely changing and the Taupo bike ride should really be moved to March in my opinion. Better weather then to be precise it’s still officially Spring here until next week and Summer kicks off in December. Hopefully the weather starts to pick up for them as they pass the beauty of Tongariro and Ruapehu
Good stuff. They are in Waikato region just south of Waitomo. I wonder if they managed to see the glow worm caves there. They have some pretty awesome terrain to meet in the next section as they go toward Tongariro and the amazing Tongariro crossing. The scenery there will be very familiar to fans of Lord of the Rings and Mount Ngauruhoe which was Mount Doom in the series.Currently about 30km south east to Te Kuiti ?
Was staying in the Martinborough hotel just a few weeks ago BR. You may recognise this view from the balcony.Hi Abel, yes we did make it to Lake Ferry. I have to say some of the best fish n’ chips I’ve ever tasted. I believe the fish was Dory, bloody tasty whatever it was. During our second visit to NZ, we stayed one weekend at the Martinborough hotel, where many of the cast from Lord of the Rings stayed, in fact, they renamed the rooms after hobbits etc. We love NZ wine, so the main purpose of our visit was to see the local vineyards. I remember my first visit to Martinborough a year or two earlier, we were visiting one of the vineyards with our host, who was the CEO of Met Service NZ. They were erecting a stage and a temporary seating stand, and I asked them what it was for, and it turned out that they had a Joe Cocker concert on that evening. In the middle of nowhere!! You couldn’t make it up…
Brilliant mate, thanks for that.Was staying in the Martinborough hotel just a few weeks ago BR. You may recognise this view from the balcony. View attachment 48193
A fabulous place. One the days of my life was canoeing Lake Mapourika. Hope Finny's family get to walk nearby. It was beautiful beyond belief.Good stuff. They are in Waikato region just south of Waitomo. I wonder if they managed to see the glow worm caves there. They have some pretty awesome terrain to meet in the next section as they go toward Tongariro and the amazing Tongariro crossing. The scenery there will be very familiar to fans of Lord of the Rings and Mount Ngauruhoe which was Mount Doom in the series.
Exactly that and the streets are named after British towns as well.Brilliant mate, thanks for that.
I might be wrong, but is the layout of Martinborough in the shape of the Union Jack?
Hey AT, be careful you don't get overtaken by this lot tomorrow mate. At least there'll be plenty of help there if you do have an accident:Exactly that and the streets are named after British towns as well.
Good luck to them 1finny! A walk of 3000 km over mountainous terrain..that’s awesomeProbably
My son and partner planned to do this in October 2021 - for obvious reasons it tanked.
They worked, they sold up and eventually left UK in Jan this year.
In 4 days they start their dream 3000 km walk.
It was wonderfully emotional chatting to them this morning knowing they are going to fulfill their dream.
What an experience
The other exciting bit is they are about to book their homeward flight after visiting Japan for early April next year.
Te Araroa - New Zealand's Trail — Home
Te Araroa is NZ's walk of a lifetime. The 3000km route stretches from Cape Reinga in the north of New Zealand to Bluff in the south.www.teararoa.org.nz
Back at base. Job done. Absolutely shattered but thankfully weather wasn’t as bad as feared. At least I could see the Lake this time. We had a small quake this morning in Taupo itself. Bit wobbly for a time. 3.2.Hey AT, be careful you don't get overtaken by this lot tomorrow mate. At least there'll be plenty of help there if you do have an accident:
Crocodile bike team lines up for Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge
It will be a long day on the road and physically demanding, but they’re raring to go.www.nzherald.co.nz
Back at base. Job done. Absolutely shattered but thankfully weather wasn’t as bad as feared. At least I could see the Lake this time. We had a small quake this morning in Taupo itself. Bit wobbly for a time. 3.2.
View attachment 48296
Tremendous effort Abel. Enjoy your big meal tonightBack at base. Job done. Absolutely shattered but thankfully weather wasn’t as bad as feared. At least I could see the Lake this time. We had a small quake this morning in Taupo itself. Bit wobbly for a time. 3.2.
View attachment 48296
Awesome effort: you only felt the one quake? we felt two 30 minutes or so apart Hope the wind wasn't too much of a botherBack at base. Job done. Absolutely shattered but thankfully weather wasn’t as bad as feared. At least I could see the Lake this time. We had a small quake this morning in Taupo itself. Bit wobbly for a time. 3.2.
View attachment 48296