Te Araroa Trail – Day 135

Thursday March 21, 2024
Distance/ Total: 27.1km / 16.8 mi

We were up and on the trail before 7:30am this morning. We walked back down the driveway and rejoined the trail where we got off yesterday. The trail started with a road walk on a gravel road before turning off and heading across a farm field.

The trail continued following fence lines as it made it way up the steep Twinlaw Hill. The hill had an array of antennas on top and we joined the service road. The trail continued on the service road for a couple of kilometers and then joined a nice trail through the forest.

The trail was pretty good and climbed up a small hill and then climbed down the other side. It ended in a nice pine forest where we enjoyed our lunch on a downed tree.

After lunch we continued through the pine forest and soon joined a 4WD track leading out to a gravel road. We followed the gravel road and turned of to join the Island Bush track as it climbed up through a clear cut forest area. The trail then entered the forest and continued down a gravel road until it ended in the forest.

There was a short single track section that joined the end of the road to another farm road and we worked our way toward our last road walk for the day on a paved highway.

We walked the highway for about 2 kilometers and turned off on Merivale Road and finished our day at Merriview Hut.

Several other hikers were there and Shaun and I were able to get bunks inside the 5 bunk cabin. We enjoyed the afternoon visiting and cooking dinner.