TA Day 34, Pahautea hut to Kaimango Road – 18 km
I’m rescued by a trail angel after a 5-hour hike from the hut down Mount Pirongia in deep mud.
TA Day 33, Whatawhata to Pahautea hut – 33 km
The trail is through swamp up into the Kapamahungas and muddy, moss covered Tawa on Mount Pirongia.
TA audio narrative: gratitude
I just happened to be passing through Auckland at Thanksgiving and have a lot to be grateful for.
TA Day 32, Hamilton to Whatawhata – 10 km
It’s farms, the cool Taitua Arboretum and finally Whatawhata, where the Backyard Bar allows camping.
TA Day 31, Hakarimata to Hamilton – 28 km
The Hakarimatas is a muddy bushwalk to beautiful stairs, the Te Awa Cycleway and Hamilton.
TA Day 30, Rangiriri to below Hakamarita summit – 29 km
It’s easy tramping to Huntly and a beautiful sculpture garden, then up steeply into the Hakarimata Range.
TA Day 29, Mercer to Rangariri – 27 km
The trail is through soggy bottomland and over electric fenced farmland to Rangariri.
TA Day 28, ‘slackpack’ Mangere Bridge to Totara Park – 36 km
The trail winds south through Ambury Park, reclaimed coastal wetlands and past the airport.
TA Day 27, ‘slackpack’ Auckland – 18 km
It’s a rainy day for slackpacking up Maungakiecke and through Jellicoe Park to Manukau Bay.
TA Day 26, ‘slackpack’ Auckland – 9 km
“Slackpacking” is section-backpacking while sleeping in the same place each night.