Days 29-33 | km 760-871 | Mount Pirongia

There has been so many beautiful things enriching my senses in the past few days; sights, sounds, people, that without a doubt it’s been amongst my most favourite of the trail so far. I’m going to tell you about the last few days through photos, but even photos sometimes can’t do justice to what you see in the blink of an eye.

Mount Pirongia in the distance.

It only took one electrocution, one shin deep swamp walk, a dance with a goat, an army roll under a fence to escape a field of bulls and 3 sweaty hours of power hiking from the foot up to Pirongia’s peak. Mission accomplished.

Hihikiw was the name of the track taking me from Pirongia Peak to the Southern foot of the mount.

HIHIKIWI
(TO SHUDDER OR SHIVER) -

‘Māori legend suggests that it is not just cold weather that makes one shudder or shiver on Hihikiwi. It is one of the ancient ancestral homes of the Patupaiarehe (people of the mists). These fairy-like folk will only travel in the dark or under the cover of mists. Travellers caught by heavy mists or by nightfall, would have the eerie sensation they were being watched by a thousand unseen eyes - enough to make the bravest a little nervous.’

I’m pleased I had neither mist nor darkness on this trail. Unfortunately instead, an ash haze from the Australian bush fires gave me an eerie feeling of sorrow for my beautiful Australian friends. Xxx

Colours and creations of the forest…

The more domesticated wildlife of the trail…. And one very thirsty lamb!

The landscapes Pirongia - Waitomo -Te Kuiti

It’s at the foot of Mount Pirongia I met Tom, a press photographer working with the trail angels living either side of his house. He’s photographing and profiling Te Araroa hikers with the hope of publishing a book. After a little ‘speed dating’ session as he calls it, he followed me down the road with his drone as I ran off into the bush onto my next leg of my journey. I’ve seen the pictures and they do look pretty cool! I’ll wait to see if he profiles me before posting any pictures. His Instagram is The_Te_Araroa_project if your keen to follow his awesome and insightful work.

The help yourself vegetable garden at Hunts Farm Backpackers…

And their dog, tiny Tina..

The universe has spoken. I’m getting a dog.