Start – The Trampers Inn (TA km 123)
Finish – Ratea Forest
Daily Distance – 17km
TA Distance – 140km
I’m not sure if the toilet at the Trampers Inn is, as its sign claims “World famous in New Zealand”, but it
should be! Even the excess of flies, spiders and rank odeurs didn’t stop me enjoying my morning toilet
stop. While humming a jaunty tune to signal occupancy of this 3 sided closet may seem like an unusual
system, with views like this morning I can understand why they felt a door was unnecessary. Anyway,
onto the walking.
Honestly, the walking was fairly dull today as it was really just a link section between the forests. As it
was mainly tramping down metal logging roads and through the occasional, cute little hamlet there wasn’t
all that much to see. Still, it was easy walking and the kilometres fairly flew by with occasional
donkey/mule/horse debates over animals in passing fields. For the record, they were all horses and
anyone who claims otherwise is clearly in need of glasses!
It was then a long slog to a wild camping spot just inside Raetea forest. It felt very exotic camping in a
rainforest, although not quite so homely now as I’m fairly sure I heard a large pig snuffling around near
my open tent. It seems to have left now, but I was fairly convinced for a while that I was going to end up
in an eyeball to eyeball Mexican standoff with an inquisitive porcine.
Highlight of the day – Taking a lovely, sunny lunch on the grassy bank of a small stream. This was made
possible through the generosity of a thoroughly decent old fellow named Fletch, who was out digging in
his garden and kindly allowed use of his land. Kiwis are certainly living up to their hospitable reputation
so far.
