Re-started my great walk Sunday 10th December from the intersection of SH94 and Mavora Lakes Road.

Beautiful sunny day with a light breeze. Big improvement on the previous day which had gale force winds with gusts up to 120kmph and rain.

It was an easy long walk along the gravel road.

I had several offers of a ride which I politely declined. I did gratefully accept a top up of my water bottle from one commuter who had done the Te Araroa himself.

A DOC ranger pulled over and let me know that he had just cleared onenof three tree falls on the Kiwi Burn Hut Track from the previous day’s storm.

He suggested I could camp at the swing bridge if I didn’t feel like back tracking 1.5 hours to the hut.

Excellent advice!