Iain's Great Adventure - Te Araroa

Garmin Connect The day started with gravel road to forest, then forest road. Forest of mostly eucalyptus trees, very tall and straight, past felling activity stripping trunks. Onward through forest up to Bald Hill, without trees funnily enough, and a big mast. I was very windy being blown off the track at times. I stopped for a bit behind building sheltered from the wind for a wee snack. View of Bluff Hill, The END is in sight. Continued down from the mast on forest road, coming across this serious gate. Felt like i was coming out of a maximum security secret location. I found the spikes protruding from the front of the gate a little excessive, more like something from mad max 2. Back off road and into muddy forest, hard to keep out of it. Arrived at Martin's Hut, which is an older 4 bed hut, already occupied by 3 NOBOs. I had been feeling really good over the past hour or so, and was already considering continuing on and doing a do

Garmin Connect Woke to a beautiful sun rise through the mist of the morning. The shearing quarters at the Birchwood Station provided a great stay for the night. The day started with a calf busting 400m vertical climb followed by a nice gentle forest road section through pine forest before entering native forest. finishing with some road before the merivale hut. Nice sentiment from locals, although not sure if the upsidedown flag is significant. The hutwas set on a wee plot of land next to a field of horses. 5 bunk hut with narrow bunks and large mattresses, risk of rolling off in the night. Mouse appeared interested in content of packs. Trap with peanut butter very effective.  Morning horses grazing.