Te Araroa 3/11/25

Day 40, Ngaherenga to Camp Epic (1000)

A cold night with a heavy dew in the morning but the sun soon appeared over the trees to dry things out.

Getting ready to go

Today was very different as I had hired an E bike for the next two days to cycle the Timber Trail. The bikes were delivered to the start of the trail in the morning and after a briefing we were on the way.

The Timber Trail 

The start of the trail is through native bush but it is a cycle track even if it is a bit rough and the gradient is reasonable everywhere.

The trail

I left the bike at the bottom of the path up to Pureora, at 1275m the highest hill so far. The bush path was fairly dry and it wasn't long before it climbed above the bush into scrub and eventually to the bare hilltop.

Hawk over the hill

Snow covered mountain in the distance 

Amazing views all round including a snow covered mountain, Mount Ruapehu. There was little wind on the top and it was great to sit in the sunshine eating my lunch and enjoying the view.

High point 

Back down to the bike then and continue the Timber Trail through various thickness of forest depending on which areas had been logged in the past.

The trail

There were two amazing, long, suspension bridges to cross over very sleep wooded valleys that I was told were almost devoid of vegetation twenty years ago.

Bridge number one

Bridge number two 

The trail descended some steep, scary gravel paths that I had to be careful with before leveling out near Camp Epic.

On the way

I decided to do some Glamping here and stayed in a nice bed in a hut / tent and had a good meal in the outdoor kitchen where I met two new people from the Netherlands.

Marshmallow toasting

It was a beautiful sunny evening and we all sat out round the fire pit toasting marshmallows keeping warm in the ponchos provided.

Te Araroa 2/11/25

Day 39, Mangaokewa to Ngaherenga (964)

A good night's sleep and there wasn't too much condensation in the morning for another day's walking in the sunny intervals

Evening clouds

The route for the day continues up beside the river to its source, this time on a gravel road before meeting the main road, N30.

On the road again 

We found a Terry's Chocolate Orange on the road in perfect condition and after wondering how it got there and when, we ate it. Not roadkill but close.

Still following the river

It was a long steady climb up the track to the watershed but with no traffic it was a good walk.

Interest on the way

It was a long day but the good company, when I could keep up with them, and the scenery made the long distance today go relatively easily.

Abatoir by the road

The campsite at Ngaherenga is very basic, lots of space but no facilities other than a long drop toilet and a water tap.

Sheep country 

There were other TA walkers there as well as people biking the Timber Trail but best of all Peter, Ruby's father who had brought my new shoes.

But a long road

The real reason for Peter being there was to ride the Timber Trail with Ruby over the next two days.

Campsite 

The Kaka birds were quite noisy but didn't stop me from going to sleep.

Te Araroa 1/11/25

Day 38, Te Kuti to Mangaokewa (926)

A beautiful morning again and it was very hard to get away from the campsite. Much time was spent talking to the hosts and a couple who were staying for the day before we eventually got away.

Trying to leave the Trail Angels

After the walk back to the town the trail went up beside the Mangaokewa river through bush paths, farmland and bush bashing where the recent floods had washed out the riverbank path.

Lots of water in the Mangaokewa river 

It was a beautiful walk but slower than expected mainly due to diversions, especially when we had to go through steep trackless bush.

Through the bush by the river

There was still a lot of water coming down the river and it would have been decidedly unhealthy to fall in.

Negotiating the river

There were some massive Eucalyptus Trees and a number of Sequoias along the riverbank as well.

The campsite

We eventually arrived at an excellent campsite in time to get the tents up and dry before the sun vanished behind the hills.

Interested spectators 

It was nice to get horizontal.