• Te Araroa Day 24
• Reotahi to Waipu Cove – 31.6 km in 9 hours 15 minutes
• TA ice cream count: 4
• Chats with strangers: 5

Blair the boat man was a good sort, his property backed onto native bush and he is into pest control. He asked if we heard the kiwis last night, so I’m claiming that I did again!

Thanks Dad for emailing about your recollection of why the oil refinery is here, it prompted me to research a bit more… I wonder what will become of it? I’d also forgotten about the digger accident that caused all the problems with jet fuel supply to Auckland airport and resulted in flight delays – it happened just out of Ruakaka!

Speaking of which, it was just as well I checked the map on my phone after we’d walked down the beach a bit. We were already opposite the big NIWA base and needed to head into Ruakaka township, partly to get food and partly to cross a river on a bridge.

Ruakaka bakery delivered and I had a tasty pizza slice, donut, and three cups of tea. As we were eating, a lovely lady came up and asked if we were walking. After we chatted for a bit she offered a place to stay in Orewa! I got her number and hope to take up her kind offer.

The walk through town was on a footpath so not too bad, and soon we were at the holiday park. I said goodbye for the time being to Ian, who is going to wait there for his cousin who’s coming to join him.

I turned onto the beach to see it humming with activity. Today seemed to be a surf club IRB race day, and as the tide was high I stopped to watch for a bit.

While I was sitting down, another nice woman came up to chat and ask about the walk. She’d just done the Kepler Great Walk, and her daughter was in the IRB racing. Her husband came along too, and recounted a funny cricket story. I felt lucky more nice people had come up to chat to me!

It was quite breezy heading down the beach, and I didn’t encounter too many more people until towards the end. There were some nudists, a group fishing successfully, and a group of four who waved and cheered, asking how far today’s walk was. I waved hello at a guy in a car, then he stopped to chat later on his drive back. He told me about his holiday down south, asked all about the walk, and told me about his partner who ran Ruakaka Glamping – sadly not on my route. He told me to keep safe – it’s always a bit hard in these situations – trying to stay aware in case they’re not who they seem, but wanting to enjoy chatting to nice people at the same time.

Approaching Waipu it was time for another road bridge sprint, a bit longer than the last. A car drove past on the opposite side while I was running full speed across. I laughed at how crazy I must have looked, while puffing on the other side.

Waipu has a heavy Scottish influence from its founding settlers, so there is Gaelic on some of the town signage. I finally got the toastie cheese sandwich I’d been craving since a few days ago, and branched out to try a mango flavoured ice cream.

At the 4 Square I finally picked up the parmesan cheese I’d forgotten to get back in Ngunguru. A young boy inside asked me if I’d been walking. I explained but he didn’t know where Cape Reinga was… 400 km did seem to compute though and he scurried off with wide eyes. Just outside a cheery older guy greeted me and asked about the journey. He’s going to start sections from October, and normally has hikers to stay but has just moved house. He asked if I’d seen theRainbow Warrior memorial but I hadn’t and was gutted I may have missed it. Turns out the trail doesn’t go past it at Matauri Bay, but while reading about its final resting place I learned the boat was named after a native American (Hopi) proverb:

When the Earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come into the Earth from many colors, classes and creeds, and who by their actions and deeds shall make the Earth green again. They shall be known as ‘Warriors of the Rainbow’

Although the food certainly helped, the last stretch dragged a bit. There was a nice cycleway/walkway for some of it, but also some road. My hip flexors were sore & tight as usual on long days, and although Bernie blister is no more, the feet feel generally achey after 20 km.

The Waipu Cove holiday park was chocca! 270 people at least staying apparently, but yes I could have the surf bunk room and it was just me. There’s an odd aroma of CRC throughout, but other than that it’s a comfy set up right on the beach! This is also the cleanest, nicest holiday park since Ahipara. It has an immaculate kitchen and great showers. I dropped my one sliver of soap down the drain and it floated away at speed. That was unfortunate..

I bought some snacks and milk at the dairy, and dithered about whether to rest tomorrow or not. Press on and have a good sleep was the decision! It’ll be another big day tomorrow, but there’s a cool place to stay at the end of it, and only a little bit of farmland in the middle…