Te Araroa, Day 15

It has rained all night. It is still raining. It looks gloomy outside.

I get myself to leave at 8:15 am

I walk the road towards the Te Araroa and on the way also pass the fish and chips shop that fed me last night.

Today’s 36 km journey begins with a road walk to Helena Bay.
Subsequently, there is a 9 km trail primarily through rainforest, as described, taking 3-4 hours.

Personally, it takes me four hours due to the undulating terrain.

The forest is damp, and both ascents and descents are slow as the wet, muddy ground proves extremely slippery.

After 2.5 hours in the rainforest, I continue for another 1.5 hours through pastures before reaching a gravel road.

The sun comes out at about 2:30 pm while I am walking on that gravel road. After gravel another 13 km paved road follows. A lot of road walking...

A car stops along the road and the driver asks if I am Ok. He tells me it is not far anymore and describes the road ahead. People are very nice. Many wave from their cars.

I finally get to the Holiday Park and the cabin there at about 6:50 pm.