Start – Camp Waipu Cove
Finish – Riverside Holiday Park, Mangawhai
Daily Distance – 30km
TA Distance – 456km
It is becoming noticable that week-by-week, if not quite day-by-day, that the parts of NZ I’m passing
through are becoming busier. I’m not sure if it’s because of my approach to Auckland, in which case it
may drop off again afterwards, or if this is how the remainder of the North island will be. At any rate, it
makes me cherish the early morning hours, leaving camp at 07:00 when the world is still quiet. I’m
finding myself deeply ambivalent with regard the increasing frequency of towns. On one hand it’s lovely
to be able to buy an apple or iced cream for the road, but on the other hand I do find myself missing being
out in the beautiful wilderness the country has to offer. I think more than anything it’s just taking me some
time to adjust from the very remote nature of the first few weeks.
On a more positive note, the walking today was pretty easy and the Mangawhai Heads cliff-top walk was
superb. This part of NZ certainly boasts some beautiful coastline. It has often been a struggle these past
few weeks to get up and start walking again after my lunch stops. It would be all too easy to have a
second coffee and spend hours idly watching the world go by. I imagine at some point that will happen,
but just not today…
