Night in the Pinnacles mountains 🌄

Our name day ended with a spontaneous decision - to spend the night in the mountains. A quick online search and a booking later, we were on our way to Pinnacles Hut, the largest mountain hut in New Zealand. The hike took about three hours, starting with a mandatory shoe-cleaning stop. This region is home to the ancient kauri trees, which are threatened by a deadly fungal disease, so special cleaning stations help prevent contamination.

The trail itself was stunning - swing bridges over rushing streams, small waterfalls hidden in the forest, and an endless number of steps. Luckily, we made it before dark. Since we don’t have sleeping bags, we carried a duvet instead, along with some basic gear - a plate, a mug, a knife, and a bit of food. The hut was cozy, and we quickly bonded with a friendly Kiwi couple traveling with their baby.

Sleeping in a proper bed (without the cramped van space) was a luxury, even if the night was disturbed by Maciek’s wild visions - whatever that means! Before dawn, we started the final push to the summit. The climb to The Pinnacles was steep, with ladders and metal rungs fixed into the rocks. The effort was worth it - the view from the top stretched over the Coromandel Peninsula, with the coastline to one side and layers of misty peaks on the other.

From there, it was a straight descent back to our JUCY - sadly, our last drive with it, as we had to return it in Auckland. I’ll miss this little home on wheels!

The day ended on a dramatic note - back in the hospital, this time with a broken toe and I took it pretty hard😓. But I guess that’s just part of the adventure🧐.Leggi altro