Off the beaten track

Monday 15th February. 

Unfortunately we are offline again for a while unless we can find a local bar or cafe with wifi. This is slightly awkward for us as we haven't yet booked the next B&B! Still, not to worry, there seem to be vacancies in motels at the moment so we should be able to sort something out without too much problem. 

Today we drove as far north as we were able before running out of road. 

We drove through Mokihinui and Little Wanganui before arriving at Karamea. Even then we drove further north until we arrived at the Kahurangi National Park and the start of the Heaphy Track. This track is a four day hike through the park and before setting off you have to book your overnight stay at various huts along the way so that the wardens can monitor your journey and make sure that no one gets lost. 

We did a modest hours walk along the river and then up to a lookout point and, even though the path was clearly marked, you could see how easy it would be to get lost if you were to stray from the gravel path. 

During the walk we could hear a helicopter coming and going and when we reached the lookout point we could see it going even further north carrying supplies or materials up the coast. Without roads this is the easiest way to get things around. 

  

Thought we saw a Kiwi but don't think its beak was long enough. Will have to look it up when we get back online. Apparently it's called a Bushy. Found this out later. 

When we got to lookout point after 30 minute hike uphill, we found a picnic bench there. I'm not complaining, it was nice to sit there and have our lunch of snack bar and water. So thank you to whoever had the bright idea of carting a picnic bench halfway up a mountain. I wonder if that was airlifted in as well. 

On our way back down three rangers passed us on motorbikes going further along the track. With the gravelled paths they can quickly get along the track either to sort out any emergency or just to get to work. What a place to work! 

 

When we go walking we have sensible shoes on and yet others come tripping along in flip flops! We've got water, insect repellent, cameras, video and iPad and all they have is a mobile phone. Oh, and some of the Chinese have umbrellas. Although no Chinese today where we've been. Some Germans, French and an English lady from Somerset. 

On the way home we stopped at The Last Resort for tea and coffee and a sticky fudgey slice. That'll keep us going for the moment. 

Later we went to Miners on Sea for supper. Brigid had lamb shank and I had a Scottish fillet steak. The cafe was almost a beach shack and we sat watching the waves crashing into the shore. 

Went down to the beach to watch the waves for a little longer before returning home.