3RY Update Part:

16

Date:

23rd July ‘19

Day:

182

Title:

Fireball Meteor

KM Mark Start:

320

Start Location:

Whananaki

KM Mark Finish:

285

Finish Location:

Punaruku

Actual KM Today:

37

Weather:

Sunny

General:

Big day today. Was great to get into the bush again. Ended up taking a lot longer than expected due to the steep and slippery track. As a result I walked the last 2 hours in the dark… but as so often happens, when things aren’t going to plan, you’re rewarded with something unexpected. As I approached the place I was staying, a fireball meteor blazed across the night sky. I was mind blown by the size and brightness of it. I read later that others had seen the same thing as far south as Auckland.

Shout out to Caveman Candy for hooking me up with some of their fire sticks!

Body:

Sweet

Outlook:

Sweet as

Tune of the Day:

182. Screems from Da Old Plantation – King Kapisi

Day 182 Images:

3RY Update Part:

16

Date:

22nd July ‘19

Day:

181

Title:

Idyllic Coast

KM Mark Start:

346

Start Location:

Ngunguru

KM Mark Finish:

320

Finish Location:

Whananaki

Actual KM Today:

30

Weather:

Sunny

General:

Had to say good bye to one of the best rest stops & some of the best people I’ve met on this journey. Trail went through bush north of Ngunguru and over to Matapouri then followed coastal tracks all the way to the foot bridge that crosses the estuary into Whananaki. Lots of great surf and dive spots along the way.

Body:

All good.

Outlook:

Big few days coming up. Hope the weather holds.

Tune of the Day:

181. Chains – Ché Fu

Day 181 Images:

3RY Update Part:

16

Date:

20th, 21st July ‘19

Day:

179, 180

Title:

Home away from Home – Ngunguru (Tutukaka) x 2

KM Mark Start:

346 x 2

Start Location:

Ngunguru x 2

KM Mark Finish:

346 x 2

Finish Location:

Ngunguru x 2

Actual KM Today:

0 x 2

Weather:

Sunny

General:

179. Website updates all day

180. Hanging out with the ‘Tutukaka Fam’ 😆🍻🤙🏼and planning my next section. It’s a perfect spot here.

Body:

All good, rejuvenated.

Outlook:

Keen to see the Bay of Islands

Tune of the Day:

179. Style (Acoustic) – Sweet Babe May

180. Lydia – Fur Patrol

Day 179, 180 Images:

179.

180.

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

19th July ‘19

Day:

178

Title:

Float & Swim

KM Mark Start:

366

Start Location:

Taiharuru Walkers Camp

KM Mark Finish:

346

Finish Location:

Ngunguru

Actual KM Today:

28

Weather:

Heavy rain with patches of sun

General:

Early morning start to catch the tides at the right time for the two tidal river crossings. Rained heavily for most of the morn. The trail passed through Pataua, an awesome wee coastal holiday spot. Met a couple that had lived there for 60 years (he was turning 90). They gave me a quick-fire history lesson of the place. Loads of fish in the river – see photo.

After taking the road around the Taiharuru River I walked through marshland to access Horahora River but the only way across was to swim. I used my inflatable sleeping Matt as a raft for my pack which worked really well.

The next crossing was around 500m across the Ngunguru River. I had arranged to have my bag picked up on the southern side (Shout out to Carol! You’re a legend) so I could swim the deeper channels. The moment I started the crossing the skies opened up. Made it safely to Ngunguru…yussssss.

Body:

Feeling good

Outlook:

Stoked to have another crossing ticked off

Tune of the Day:

178. Let it Be – The Beatles

Day 178 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

18th July ‘19

Day:

177

Title:

Vertigo Shakes

KM Mark Start:

387

Start Location:

Taurikua Bay

KM Mark Finish:

366

Finish Location:

Taiharuru Walkers Camp

Actual KM Today:

26

Weather:

Sunny with the odd rain shower

General:

Spectacular walk around the bays and up to Peach Cove and Te Whara Track which are amazing walkways over Bream Heads. A few rock outcrop lookouts to climb up along the way & one in particular that got precarious enough to start my legs shaking and the vertigo starts to mess with the balance. Totally worth it though. Views are incredible. A Morepork was chilling beside my camp tonight, pretty cool to sit outside and watch. Fact of the day: Morepork are really eerie flyers (especially on a quiet, still night) because they have soft serrated fringes on their wing that reduce turbulence and let them fly silently (and quickly).

Body:

Tired but good

Outlook:

Still loving the coastline

Tune of the Day:

177. Rocket Man – Elton John

Day 177 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

17th July ‘19

Day:

15

Title:

Marsden to Whangarei Heads – ✅

KM Mark Start:

391

Start Location:

Marsden Point Oil Refinery

KM Mark Finish:

387

Finish Location:

Taurikua Bay

Actual KM Today:

15

Weather:

Windy and rained off and on

General:

Walked to Taurikura Bay & grabbed a kayak that I had prearranged. Started the journey up the coastline to the narrowest point between Marsden Point and Whangarei Heads. Made it 2/3rds the way across the channel and the outgoing tides and weather started to work up the choppy water something wicked. I was thrown out twice and by that stage the tide was just too strong to work against. So i needed to think of a way I could get the last bit completed to “connect the metres”. I called a contact I had to drop me on the other side so I could use the tide and wind in my favour. I was physically exhausted by this stage so found the going tough. I eventually made it to the point I’d failed at on the first attempt and that was that…last major water crossing all done!

I laughed nervously when the skipper of the boat mentioned he was glad I hadn’t fallen out here (pointing to a spot), as there is a Great White that patrols the seal colony. Unbeknownst to him, that was exactly where I’d fallen out. I know sharks unfairly get a bad wrap and the chances of anything going wrong are slim, but it was a moment I won’t forget.

Body:

Tired

Outlook:

Happy it’s done…now for more walking

Tune of the Day:

176. Selling the Drama – Live

Day 176 Images:



3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

16th July ‘19

Day:

175

Title:

Marsden Point Crossing Eve

KM Mark Start:

402

Start Location:

Ruakaka Beach Holiday Park

KM Mark Finish:

391

Finish Location:

Marsden Point Oil Refinery

Actual KM Today:

11

Weather:

Sun, Rain, Sun, Rain etc etc

General:

Kicked off the morning with a kayak crossing of Ruakaka River! (Thanks Simon for the use of your Yak).

Rest of the day was beach walking until I walked under the oil pipes and Marsden Point Oil Refinery. Great to catch up with Carol Whitfield! Thanks for being today’s support crew…makes life 100% easier. Crossing Marsden Point to Whangarei Heads tomorrow… apprehensively looking forward to it.

Body:

All gd

Outlook:

Enjoying the coast still. Can’t wait to know I’ve successfully crossed all the major water bodies.

Tune of the Day:

175. Times they are A-Changing – Bob Dylan

Day 175 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

15th July ‘19

Day:

174

Title:

McLeod’s Brewery

KM Mark Start:

419

Start Location:

Waipu Cove

KM Mark Finish:

402

Finish Location:

Ruakaka Beach Holiday Park

Actual KM Today:

19

Weather:

Sunny

General:

Dream day…walked the road to the beach and Tahuna Coastal Walk. McLeod’s Brewery in Waipu took me in and fed me beer. Was a great motivational stop…hard to keep going though 😆.

Body:

All good

Outlook:

Starting to focus on this Marsden Crossing.

Tune of the Day:

174. Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz

Day 174 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

14th July ‘19

Day:

173

Title:

Waipu Cove – Good Beach

KM Mark Start:

441

Start Location:

Dani’s House – Mangawhai Heads

KM Mark Finish:

419

Finish Location:

Waipu Cove

Actual KM Today:

22

Weather:

Sun for an hour then heavy, heavy rain for the rest of the day.

General:

Followed the Waipu Coastal Track to Waipu Cove. It’s an awesome new track with some amazing views and really interesting geology along the way.

Body:

Great

Outlook:

Would be great to get a few weeks of no rain.

Tune of the Day:

173. Hear comes the Sun – The Beatles

Day 173 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

13th July ‘19

Day:

172

Title:

House Party!

KM Mark Start:

469

Start Location:

Pakiri Beach Holiday Park

KM Mark Finish:

441

Finish Location:

Dani’s House – Mangawhai Heads

Actual KM Today:

30

Weather:

Sunny all day

General:

Kicked off the day with crossing Pakiri River. The rest of the day was walking the beach. Watch the surfers at Forestry Bay, then up over the Heads to continue on the beach until Magic Mangawhai! Stayed at Trail Angel Dani’s House. They happened to be attending a house party. Didn’t need much convincing to tag along, and it was well worth it! They know how to party and I had a wicked night. Cheers to Dani and her crew for being so welcoming!

Body:

All goods

Outlook:

Loving the beach walking

Tune of the Day:

172. Freaks – Timmy Trumpet

Day 172 Images: