North Island

The North Island of New Zealand has a hugely varied landscape of beaches, volcanoes, bush and farmland, plus cities. The Maori culture is strong here.

TA Day 1, Cape Reinga to Twilight - 12 km
It’s pitch dark, the waves are crashing and the other six at Twilight are asleep, nestled in their tents. This
TA Day 2, Twilight to Maunganui Bluff - 28 km
I woke up early. Really early. To be expected after not feeling any effects of jet lag on yesterday’s mission.
TA Day 3, Maunganui Bluff to Utea Park - 30 km
The alicoop crashed in the middle of the night. First came torrential rain, then the wind. Then rain and wind.
TA Day 4, Utea Park to Ahipara, 32 km
Definitely a better night at Utea Park and I do feel a bit sheepish that I was so maudlin last
TA Day 5, Takahue Saddle Road to below Umaumakaroo - 16 km
What a delight to spend the evening at Peter’s overlooking Ahipara Bay. Wine under the olive trees, alicoop drying in
TA Day 6, Umaumokaroo to Apple Dam - 26 km
Just putting my things up to face a few more hours of mud til a road walk and – you
TA Day 7, Apple Dam to Puketi Forest camp - 36 km
Well this <expletive> sucks. It’s been pouring rain for the last few hours. Nothing is nastier than packing in rain.
TA Day 8, Puketi Forest to Kerikeri - 27 km
The morning came full of birdsong. The first few nights – especially going this hard – are tough. My legs
TA Day 9 - zero day, Kaeo
I’ve been invited to stay the night at one of the most extraordinary homes I’ve ever been to, in the
TA audio narrative: the start
https://youtu.be/6rK3Xh0-Ztg