Day 1/50 🥾Te Araroa Trail - The North Island 🇳🇿
📍Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
ℹ️Stats: Date: Wednesday 1st November
Weather: hot and sunny with a little cool breeze later on
From: KeriKeri by bus to Anwani, hitch 1️⃣ -10km further down the road, hitch 2️⃣ 40 mins down the road, hitch 3️⃣ all the way to Cape Regina and then dropped off at the Te Paki Stream car park.
Start time: 12.35pm from KeriKeri, 2pm at Anwani, 5.20pm - final hitch to Cape Regina arrived at 6.30pm
To: Te Paki Stream car park
End time: 7.30pm
Accommodation: camped 🏕️
Terrain: road - little walking done today. Bus & car.
Total Km: 19/1600
💰Costs: 0 (+ $50 donation from the French (hitch 3️⃣) 🙏)
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 5/10
Fatigue: 1/10
Ease of terrain: 1/10
Highlights: getting to lighthouse. Having my photos taken in front of the sign. Just being where I needed to be! I didn’t think I was ever going to get there!!
Challenges: Hitching was more stressful than I thought it was going to be. It took so long to be picked up and it’s a long drive down the length of the cape (Approx 90 mins).
It got to around 5pm and I was only half way down still with a long way to go. Not much traffic coming though. Plus I wouldn’t hitch a ride in the dark. I found a hotel down the road about 30 mins away and was walking there to get a room for the night and start again in the morning.
On this walk a group of 3 lovely French people picked me up and took me all the way to the cape!
It was awesome- they were so friendly and nice and also said they would drop me off at the Te Paki Stream car park. So basically what could have been an expensive, frustrating day - where I wasn’t going to get where I needed to. All turned out great.
Plus they gave me €50 to treat myself (which was super kind). It all worked out! The trail provides!)
Day 2/50 🥾Te Araroa Trail - The North Island 🇳🇿
📍Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
ℹ️Stats: Date: Thursday 2nd November
Weather: Sunny & hot ☀️
From: Te Paki Stream car park
Start time: 7.50am
To: Maunganui Bluff campsite
End time: 2.20pm
Accommodation: camped 🏕️
Terrain: flat beach walking, crossed a few streams
🥾Km: 25
🦶Steps: 32,144
Total Km: 40/1600 2.5% ✅
💰Costs: $0
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 9/10 - super solid day - so happy 😀 to be out here.
Fatigue: 1/10 - feeling strong 💪
Ease of terrain: 1/10
Highlights: 🦶walking barefoot down the Te Paki Stream to the beach - super cold water which was gorgeous on the feet.
🌊Listening to the waves crashing on the shore. Being out in wide open nature.
Only 4 other people on the beach and they were all walking in the opposition direction.
Challenges: the back of my left calf hurt a little towards the end of the day. Otherwise really pleased.
The distances on this first section are set - as you need to camp at the campsites on the way. So it’s a good way to get back into hiking again. Tomorrow will be a 30k day.
Day 3/50 🥾Te Araroa Trail - The North Island 🇳🇿
📍Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
ℹ️Stats: Date: Friday 3rd November
Weather: 🌧️ Rain all morning. Then hot & sunny!
From: Maunganui Bluff campsite
Start time: 7.50am
To: Hukatere Lodge / Campsite
End time: 2.20pm
Accommodation: camped 🏕️
Terrain: flat - hard sand beach walking
🥾Km: 31.2
🦶Steps: 40,921
Total Km: 70/1600 4.4% ✅
💰Costs: $25 camping
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10 having a great time, what a privilege to be out here on this walk 🥳
Fatigue: 2/10 feeling all good at the moment. but have just started my period so will probably feel like crap tomorrow
Ease of terrain: 3/10 i’m fine walking on the beach. If it was soft sand for 30 km it would be a different kettle of fish. But it’s hard sand so it’s like walking on road but slightly more forgiving. Plus there’s no change in elevation so you can go fast.
Highlights: ☀️Sun coming out around 11 o’clock. Was perfect timing. 😀
🏕️Getting to the campsite around 2:20 pm. Allow me to dry thing out. Use the Wi-Fi etc.
🦶Feet are still in great condition. No issues.
💪Feeling really strong. Only one more 30km beach section to do tomorrow.
Challenges: 🌧️torrential rain in the morning. I wanted to get going. The rain wasn’t gonna stop until 11 o’clock and when you’re wet you’re wet. it makes no difference when you start, you are just delaying the inevitable. Which is you’re gonna get wet.
It’s very exposed when you’re walking on the beach and the rain was cold as well, but I knew it wouldn’t last would only be for a few hours and then the Sun would be shining.
Day 4/50 🥾Te Araroa Trail - The North Island 🇳🇿
📍Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
ℹ️Stats: Date: Saturday 4th November
Weather: sunny ☀️ & hot (I didn’t realise how hot due to the breeze from the ocean)
From: Hukatere Lodge / Campsite
Start time: 8.20am
To: Ahipara Holiday Park
End time: 2.50pm
Accommodation: camped 🏕️
Terrain: hard sand, beach walking
🥾Km: 36.8
🦶Steps: 47,190
Total Km: 101/1600 6.3% done ✅
💰Costs: $24 camping, $3.50 ice Lolly
= $27.50
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10 - it’s so great being out here. I love the walking, I love the ocean, I love the space and the freedom. It’s a great start to the trail. 🥳
Fatigue: 2/10 - I was expecting to feel horrible today (due to period 🩸) but actually feel pretty ok
Ease of terrain: 2/10 - I didn’t find the beach section that tough. I think it helps being fit. I thought I’d lost most of my fitness from the Camino Primitivo which I did in September. But it’s come back and I feel great doing these distances- I hope it continues!!!
Highlights: ☀️ stunning weather. Reaching the end of the beach section, passing 100km.
Challenges: none….. so far!!
Day 5/50 🥾Te Araroa Trail - The North Island 🇳🇿
📍Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
ℹ️Stats: Date: Sunday 5th November
Weather: hot & sunny ☀️
From: Ahipara Holiday Park
Start time: 9.20am
To: Saddle Road Campground
End time: 5.20pm
Accommodation: camped 🏕️
Terrain: 23km road, 5k gravel path, 9km road, 2.5k track
🥾Km: 39.5
🦶Steps: 49,880
Total Km: 137/1600 8.6% ✅
💰Costs: $11 resupply - snickers, sweets x2, drink.
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 7/10
Fatigue: 2/10
Ease of terrain: 2/10
Highlights: stunning views, hearing all the birds and wildlife. Heading off into the hills at the end of the day.
Challenges: a long day of road walking. The toilet at the campground- I don’t even want to talk about it 💩🤢🤮 gross!!!
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