tramping new zealand

I happened to go outside early on and saw the magnificent orange sunrise. I hoped that augured well for a smooth and wonderful day.

After the previous days, yesterday was stress-free, and I needed that. Plus, two bouts of eight hours of sleep. Something that’s rare these days.

The last of the forest walking came to an end relatively quickly, but unlike the previous few days, the wind was fierce, and the ridge to the top of Napoleon, 802 m, was exposed.

I was now on a farm track with sheep about. From Point 732, I followed the track along a fence line, but it wasn’t clear the best route to take once I was halfway down, around 400 m, and I elected to get on the other side of a great cleft in the landscape and followed down the true right of the creek. That worked, as a quad bike had recently been along and they usually either came from or went home, and this proved correct.

Suddenly, I was on Highway 1, at a decent hitching point with room for a car to pull over safely.

I needed to take my raincoat and gaiters off, but before I was even ready to go, my thumb was out, and a car stopped. He was happy to take me the six or so kilometres up to the turn off at the Waima River.

I walked 100 m, just over the railway line, and an elderly gentleman took me to his house, which was almost 1 km up the gravel road. Not much help, but I asked if I could leave my pack and he obliged. I confused him, as he had never heard of Sawcut Gorge.

That left me to walk the 7 km up to where I’d left my car. A warm, windy afternoon but I noticed a stray pear tree along the way and snaffled three ripe fruit.

Having walked over 25K steps already, I wasn’t keen on the night up at Hapuku Hut, which I learned was another four-hour walk in.

Kaikoura, a shower, and fresh food seemed a better option.

Moral of the story, remember to take both power cables and the power bank!