A Mt Pirongia Mud Bath

Are the mythical fairies of the mountain and weather gods on our side as we head down Mt Pirongia?

Mt Pirongia

I head up the first real mountain of Te Araroa's North Island section

The trail has a bit of everything today in terms of terrain

After some deserted TA tracks, I suddenly have a lot of company for the first part of today

The Okura River proves almost impossible to cross, but then I head into familiar territory

I look back on Northland, walk through Dome Forest, and swerve off the trail for tonight

Today's route includes a trail opened by Sir Edmund Hillary

If you've got Te Araroa FOMO, don't worry this will help!

A clear day with lots of views of the trail to this point, and the trail ahead

It seems to be my lucky day as lots of nice people stop to chat