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Eventyr i New Zealand
  • Gitte Jensen
  • Gitte Jensen

Eventyr i New Zealand

Et 175-dags eventyr af Gitte Læs mere
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  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    GlowwormsGlowwormsTeltnedpakning1Ind i varmen

    Ngaherenga campsite - Waitomo

    27.–28. okt. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Turen gik videre mod de kendte Waitomo Glowworm caves. Ormene lyser op i grotterne, når det er mørkt, for at fange insekter. Her var vi først på en rundvisning inde i grotten og derefter med en lille båd for at se rigtig mange glowworms. Man måtte dog kun tage billeder til slut, hvor der var knap så mange at se. Glowwormen lever i 11 måneder og reproducerer sig omkring 120 gange i løbet af den tid. Når der er helt mørkt, ligner det lidt, at man kigger på en klar stjernehimmel.

    Det havde regnet hele dagen, og vejrudsigten viste mere regn samt lidt blæst i løbet af natten. Vi bookede derfor en campsite, hvor vi kunne sætte vores telte op, da det ikke lignede, at det ville blive alt for slemt vejr.

    Vi havde begge lidt af en off-dag og havde brug for at slappe af, hvilket vejret også kun var til. Vi fik vasket tøj, og om aftenen begyndte vi at omplanlægge vores oprindelige plan for de kommende dage, da det regner for meget til virkelig at nyde vandring samt teltcamping i øjeblikket. Vi springer derfor en af de mange nationalparker over og tager mod Hamilton i stedet. Vi besluttede os derudover for at forlænge vores billeje med et par dage, da Aviaja flyver fra Wellington og til Sydøen på tirsdag, og derefter kører jeg tilbage mod Auckland. Vi tager derfor et par dage med afslapning og forhåbentlig godt vejr de sidste dage, vi er sammen i løbet af weekenden samt starten af næste uge.

    Da vi sad i køkkenet på campingområdet, kom to fra receptionen ind, som vi havde mødt ved check-in, og sagde, at der var varslet kraftig storm med tordenvejr i løbet af natten, og at de ikke ville lade os campere i teltene, da de ikke følte, det var ansvarligt mht. vejret – varslen var først kommet hen på aftenen og blev måske ændret til en kategori rød-varsel. Vi blev derfor opgraderet til en lille hytte og skyndte os at pakke vores telte ned. Det skulle vise sig at være rigtig sødt af dem, eftersom der var meget kraftige vindstød, regn samt tordenvejr. Da vi stod op næste morgen, var der, hvor vi tidligere havde vores telte til at stå, under vand, så vi havde nok endt med at sove i bilen, hvis ikke vi var blevet tilbudt hytten. Men så var vi nok ikke kommet væk derfra til morgen.

    ————

    The trip continued to the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The worms light up in the caves when it’s dark in order to catch insects. First, we joined a guided tour inside the cave, and afterwards we went on a small boat to see a huge number of glowworms. However, we were only allowed to take pictures at the end, when there were fewer to see. The glowworm lives for 11 months and reproduces around 120 times during that period. When it is completely dark, it almost looks like you’re staring at a clear night sky.

    It had been raining all day, and the weather forecast showed more rain and some wind during the night. Therefore, we booked a campsite where we could set up our tents, as it didn’t seem like the weather would get too bad.

    We both had a bit of an off-day and needed to relax, which the weather also perfectly suited. We did some laundry, and in the evening we started to replan our original route for the next few days, since it’s raining too much to really enjoy hiking and tent camping at the moment. Therefore, we are skipping one of the national parks and heading to Hamilton instead. We also decided to extend our car rental by a few days, as Aviaja is flying from Wellington to the South Island on Tuesday, and after that I will drive back to Auckland. So we are taking a few days to relax and, hopefully, enjoy good weather during the last days we have together this weekend and at the beginning of next week.

    While we were sitting in the kitchen area at the campsite, two people from the reception came in, we had met them during check-in and they told us that a strong storm with thunderstorms was forecast for the night. They said they wouldn’t allow us to camp in the tents, as they didn’t feel it was responsible considering the weather, the warning had only come in that evening and might even be upgraded to a red alert. Therefore, we were upgraded to a small cabin and quickly packed down our tents. It turned out to be incredibly kind of them, as there were very strong winds, rain, and thunderstorms. When we woke up the next morning, the spot where our tents had been standing was under water, so we probably would have ended up sleeping in the car if we hadn’t been offered the cabin. And then we likely wouldn’t have been able to drive out the next day.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    Hamilton Gardens
    1Hamilton GardensHamilton GardensHamilton GardensHamilton GardensHamilton Gardens1Hamilton Gardens2Hamilton Gardens2"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there"Afslapning med solnedgangTe Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & GalleryTe Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & GalleryTe Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery1Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & GalleryTe Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & GalleryTe Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

    Waitomo- Hamilton

    28.–29. okt. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Efter en våd og blæsende nat var der mange stormskader samt oversvømmelser på vejene, da vi kørte mod Hamilton. Her besøgte vi bl.a. Hamilton Gardens, som desværre endnu ikke var så farverig, som vi havde håbet på, men stadig flot! Vi nåede næsten at se det hele, inden det begyndte at styrtregne, og vi holdt frokostpause!

    Vi tog derefter hen mod det sted, vi havde booket, og gik en lille tur langs en af floderne, hvorefter den stod på afslapning.

    Dagen efter besøgte vi Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery, hvilket var en gratis oplevelse, så vi havde ikke så store forventninger til det. Men vi blev klogere på byen Hamilton og dens opbygning.

    Derefter kørte vi videre til Taumarunui, hvor vi den efterfølgende dag havde booket en oplevelse, som måske lå lidt uden for vores aldersgruppe.

    ————

    After a wet and windy night, there were many storm damages and road floods as we drove toward Hamilton. There, we visited Hamilton Gardens, which unfortunately wasn’t as colourful as we had hoped yet, but still beautiful! We almost managed to see everything before it started pouring down, and we took a lunch break!

    We then headed to the place we had booked and went for a small walk along one of the rivers, after which it was time to relax.

    The next day, we visited Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery, which was a free activity, so we didn’t have high expectations. But we learned more about the city of Hamilton and how it is structured.

    Afterwards, we continued to Taumarunui, where we had booked an activity for the following day, perhaps slightly outside our usual age group.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    11Mange år gammel fossil2Augustiner Bräu1

    Hamilton - Taumarunui

    29.–31. okt. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Vi blev om morgenen afhentet ved vores motel, hvorefter vi kørte knap 1,5 time i bus ad små, snoede veje for at køre 82 km i en gammel, ombygget golfvogn langs nedlagte togskinner i Forgotten World fra Republic of Whangamōmona til Taumarunui.

    Den 7,5 timers tur bestod af guidede stop ved forskellige tidligere eller mindre nuværende byer: Matiere, Ōhura, Tokirima, Heao og Tāngarākau Gorge, hvor vi hørte Māori-historier, og hvordan krig og minearbejdere ændrede byerne. Derudover skulle vi køre igennem 21 tunneller og 90 broer, hvoraf den længste tunnel var 1,5 km. Under turen ramte vi en topfart på 20 km/t, så der var god tid til at se omgivelserne.

    Vi bidrog med at hive aldersgennemsnittet ned på turen, da alle andre var 50+.

    Det var for en gangs skyld tørvejr! Men vinden var en smule kold, så vi var pakket godt ind langs turen.

    ————

    In the morning, we were picked up at our motel and then drove almost 1.5 hours by bus along small winding roads to ride 82 km in an old converted golf cart along abandoned railway tracks in the Forgotten World, from the Republic of Whangamōmona to Taumarunui.

    The 7.5 hour trip included guided stops in various former or now very small towns: Matiere, Ōhura, Tokirima, Heao and Tāngarākau Gorge, where we heard Māori stories and learned how war and mining workers changed the towns. We also travelled through 21 tunnels and over 90 bridges, with the longest tunnel being 1.5 km. On the trip we reached a top speed of 20 km/h, so there was plenty of time to take in the surroundings.

    We helped bring down the average age on the tour, as everyone else was 50+.

    For once, the weather was dry! But the wind was a bit cold, so we were bundled up throughout the trip.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    2111

    Taumarunui - Tūrangi

    31. okt.–1. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    I dag var en mere aktiv dag! Det skulle udnyttes, at vejret endelig viste sig fra den gode side.

    Vi startede ud med at gå rundt om søen Rotoaira i Tongariro National Park. Derefter spiste vi frokost i Tūrangi og lejede også her mountainbikes, hvor vi efterfølgende cyklede rundt, bl.a. langs floden. Da vi lejede cyklerne, sagde vi begge, at vi nok havde brug for nogle børnehjelme i størrelserne, hvilket damen ikke var så sikker på, hvorefter vi prøvede fem forskellige hjelme, før hun måtte indse, at vi begge havde nogle små hoveder og gav os begge børnehjelme.

    Vi var efterfølgende begge lidt færdige efter den aktive dag og skyndte os at køre til en campingplads ved Motuoapa, hvor vi satte vores telte op. Det blev en meget klar stjernehimmel og en kold nat. Jeg fandt om morgenen Aviaja i bilen, hvor hun havde sneget sig ind for at få lidt mere varme i løbet af natten.

    ————

    Today was a more active day! We had to make the most of the fact that the weather had finally decided to show its good side.

    We started out by walking around Lake Rotoaira in Tongariro National Park. Afterwards, we had lunch in Tūrangi and also rented mountain bikes there, after which we cycled around, including along the river. When we rented the bikes, we both said that we probably needed children’s helmets in our sizes, which the lady wasn’t too sure about, and we then tried on five different helmets before she had to admit that we both had rather small heads and gave us children’s helmets.

    After the active day, we were both a bit exhausted and hurried to drive to a campsite near Motuoapa, where we set up our tents. It turned into a very clear starry night and a cold one. In the morning, I found Aviaja in the car, where she had snuck in during the night to get a bit more warmth.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1PaniaMore about Pania111

    Tūrangi - Napier

    1.–4. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Vi kørte mod Napier, hvor vi skulle tilbringe de næste tre dage.

    Da vi ankom, havde jeg bare brug for at slappe af, eftersom det har været ret så hårdt at skifte fra at vandre til at være på farten hele tiden. Aviaja gik i mellemtiden en tur og så, hvad der var i området. Dagen efter tog vi ind til centrum af Napier og havde begge set frem til at spise på en thailandsk restaurant, som skulle være ret så god, men vi blev begge skuffede i forhold til, hvad vi havde forventet. Derudover så vi bl.a. Pania, “søsteren” til Den Lille Havfrue.

    Til om mandagen havde vi booket en tur med besøg på tre vingårde samt vinsmagning, da området omkring Napier er kendt for deres vine. Vi fik dog desværre en besked om, at turen var blevet aflyst, og måtte derfor finde på noget andet til mandag. Vi tog ind til byen og besøgte museet MTG Hawke’s Bay, hvor man kunne lære mere om jordskælvet, som ramte Napier tilbage i 1931 med en styrke på 7,8. På vejen dertil gik vi forbi havnen, hvor bl.a. træ bliver eksporteret.

    Om aftenen tog vi ud at spise for at få en god afslutning på turen. Dertil fik vi en smuk solnedgang, hvilket gjorde det perfekt.

    ————

    We drove towards Napier, where we were going to spend the next three days.

    When we arrived, I just needed to relax, as it had been quite exhausting to switch from hiking to constantly being on the move. Meanwhile, Aviaja went for a walk to see what was in the area. The next day, we went into the center of Napier and had both been looking forward to eating at a Thai restaurant that was supposed to be really good, but we were both disappointed compared to what we had expected. In addition, we saw Pania the “sister” of the Little Mermaid.

    For Monday, we had booked a tour visiting three wineries with wine tasting, since the area around Napier is known for its wines. Unfortunately, we received a message that the tour had been canceled, so we had to come up with something else to do that day. We went into town and visited the MTG Hawke’s Bay Museum, where you could learn more about the earthquake that struck Napier back in 1931 with a magnitude of 7.8. On the way there, we passed the harbor, where timber was among the things being exported.

    In the evening, we went out for dinner to end the trip on a good note. We were treated to a beautiful sunset, which made it perfect.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    11

    Napier - Arohena - Hamilton

    4.–6. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I dag skiltes vores veje, og Aviaja tog bussen mod Wellington, og jeg kørte nordpå for at aflevere bilen i Auckland dagen efter. På vejen stoppede jeg ved et større vandfald, Waipunga Falls, et godt sted at holde en lille pause, hvilket flere turistbusser også gjorde.

    Jeg overnattede på Arohena Campsite, ned til en større sø, hvor jeg fik en smuk solnedgang. Det var dagen inden fuldmåne, så månen lyste flot op på himlen. Det blev dog en utrolig kold nat.

    Dagen efter kørte jeg videre mod Auckland, hvor navigationen sagde, jeg kun havde to timer. Jeg tænkte derfor, at jeg ville have god tid, inden jeg skulle aflevere bilen, så jeg kørte kl. 09. Jeg endte selvfølgelig ikke med at have god tid, da jeg sad en masse i kø omkring Auckland og nåede at blive lidt presset tidsmæssigt, men fik afleveret bilen inden kl. 14.

    Derefter tog jeg bussen til Hamilton og overnattede der, inden jeg begynder at vandre derudad igen.

    ————

    Today our paths parted, and Aviaja took the bus towards Wellington, while I drove north to return the car in Auckland the following day. On the way, I stopped at a larger waterfall, Waipunga Falls, a great place for a short break, which several tourist buses also took advantage of.

    I spent the night at Arohena Campsite, down by a large lake, where I enjoyed a beautiful sunset. It was the day before the full moon, so the moon shone brightly in the sky. However, it turned out to be an incredibly cold night.

    The next day, I continued towards Auckland, where the navigation said it would only take two hours. I therefore thought I’d have plenty of time before returning the car, so I left at 9 a.m. Of course, I didn’t end up having plenty of time, as I got stuck in traffic around Auckland and started to feel a bit stressed about the time, but I managed to return the car before 2 p.m.

    After that, I took the bus to Hamilton and spent the night there before starting to hike again.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1
    1

    Hamilton - Whatawhata

    6.–7. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Jeg havde set frem til at komme ind i en rytme igen efter vores roadtrip. Jeg havde en kort og nem dag i dag, og tog derfor sent afsted fra Hamilton. De første 8 km var langs vej ud af Hamilton, og det blev til et is-stop på vejen. Derefter gik det langs græsmarker med en masse søde kalve! Jeg endte med at slå telt op ved en café efter lukketid (med tilladelse), imellem deres borde og bænke. Kort tid efter dukkede en canadier op, så jeg var ikke helt alene.

    ————

    I had been looking forward to getting back into a rhythm after our road trip. I had a short and easy day today, so I left Hamilton late. The first 8 km were along the road out of Hamilton, and I stopped for an ice cream on the way. After that, the trail went past grassy fields with lots of cute calves! I ended up pitching my tent by a café after closing time (with permission), between their tables and benches. A little later, a Canadian showed up, so I wasn’t completely alone.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1
    🐮🐮11

    Whatawhata - Kaniwhaniwha campsite

    7.–8. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    I dag havde jeg en længere dag, som var præget af en meget kraftig sol, få skyer og alt for lidt skygge.

    Jeg startede med at få en æg/bacon-sandwich med fra caféen og gik derfra langs en flod om morgenen. Senere ankom jeg til fåreland, jeg har aldrig set så mange får før. Da der kort var overskyet, tog jeg mig en pause midt i fåreland. Herefter gik turen videre mod mit campsite. På vejen stoppede en bil og sagde, at han boede i nærheden, og at jeg kun havde omkring 30 min, til jeg var fremme - han var nok det, man kalder en tidsoptimist. Det tog mig lidt over en time at komme frem til campen, som vrimlede med sandfluer. Jeg tændte bål sammen med to andre vandrere for at holde en pause fra sandfluerne. Direkte ned til campen var der en flod, som man kunne tage en dukkert i. Jeg var mindre begejstret, da det vrimlede med ål!

    ————

    Today was a longer day, marked by very strong sun, few clouds, and far too little shade.

    I started off by getting an egg and bacon sandwich from the café and walked along a river in the morning. Later, I arrived in sheep country. I’ve never seen so many sheep before. When it briefly got cloudy, I took a break right in the middle of the sheep fields. After that, the trail continued toward my campsite. On the way, a car stopped, and the driver told me he lived nearby and that I only had about 30 minutes left to go, he was probably what you’d call an optimist when it comes to time. It took me a little over an hour to reach the camp, which was swarming with sandflies. I lit a fire together with two other hikers to get a break from the sandflies. Right below the campsite, there was a river where you could go for a swim. I was less enthusiastic, though, as it was full of eels!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1

    Kaniwhaniwha campsite - Pirongia

    8.–9. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    I dag var en kort dag på kun fem timer, men i de fem timer gik det kun opad - 900 hm! De første fem km. startede fint ud med noget nem skovbund, derefter blev det mere mudret og tættere buskads med meget stejle stigninger og træer, der skulle passeres. Her kom min nye vidundersnack i brug “Really Fruit Stick” som er et godt skud sukker og vingummi agtig!

    Da jeg ankom til campen på toppen, kunne man desværre se røgskyer ude i horisonten sydpå, og det viste sig at være den berømte Tongariro National Park, som var gået i flammer i løbet af eftermiddagen, og røgen bredte sig til store skyer. Den er også en del af Te Araroa ruten, som jeg passerer om cirka en uges tid, hvis den bliver genåbnet inden da. Der er brændt 2.800 hektar smuk nationalpark ned.

    Trods alt fik vi en smuk solnedgang med en god udsigt!

    ————

    Today was a short day of only five hours, but during those five hours, it was all uphill - 900 meters of elevation gain! The first five kilometers started off nicely with some easy forest ground, but then it became muddier with denser vegetation, very steep climbs, and trees that had to be crossed. That’s when my new wonder snack came into play the “Really Fruit Stick,” a great shot of sugar with a gummy-like texture!

    When I arrived at the camp on the top, you could unfortunately see smoke clouds on the southern horizon, and it turned out to be the famous Tongariro National Park that had caught fire during the afternoon. The smoke spread into massive clouds. It’s also part of the Te Araroa Trail, which I’ll reach in about a week’s time, if it reopens by then. A total of 2,800 hectares of beautiful national park have burned down.

    Despite it all, we had a beautiful sunset with a great view!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1

    Pirongia - Jo’s funny farm

    9.–10. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    I dag skulle jeg gå det meste af dagen ned ad, med enkelte stigninger. Jeg havde hørt, at strækningen skulle være præget af en del mudder, men heldigvis var det relativt tørt, så jeg kunne nøjes med ankelmudder i stedet for knæhøjt mudder.

    Da jeg endelig kom ned til en grusvej og en lille flod, kunne jeg holde en længere pause, inden det gik 8 km langs en grusvej, inden jeg stoppede ved den fantastiske Trail Angel Jo’s Funny Farm. Der gik ikke lang tid, inden man forstod, hvoraf navnet kom! Der var forskellige ænder og høns, som gik frit rundt, en gammel gris, kaniner, hund, kat og to køer, alle med deres egen lille historie om, hvorfor de var havnet på gården.

    Her blev vi tilbudt aftensmad, som var fortræffelig, i stedet for den sædvanlige wrap med couscous.

    Jeg var der sammen med to fra USA, og vi endte med at lave en dartturnering sammen med Jo fra gården!

    Den ene af amerikanerne var den første, jeg har mødt her på trailen, som er ligeså mærkelig som jeg, hvad angår mad, da han også cold soaker. Dvs. vi bruger koldt vand til at opløse maden og har ikke en brænder med til at koge vand. Vi lod os inspirere lidt af hinanden, hvilket var ret interessant!

    ————

    Today I walked mostly downhill, with a few climbs along the way. I had heard that the section was supposed to be quite muddy, but luckily it was relatively dry, so I only had ankle-deep mud instead of knee-deep.

    When I finally reached a gravel road and a small river, I took a longer break before walking another 8 km along the gravel road, stopping at the amazing Trail Angel Jo’s Funny Farm. It didn’t take long to understand where the name came from! There were ducks and chickens roaming freely, a old pig, rabbits, a dog, a cat, and two cows, all with their own little story about how they ended up on the farm.

    We were offered dinner there, which was excellent, a real treat compared to the usual couscous wrap.

    I was there with two people from the US, and we ended up having a dart tournament together with Jo from the farm!

    One of the Americans was the first person I’ve met on the trail who’s as odd as I am when it comes to food, since he’s also a cold soaker. That means we use cold water to rehydrate our meals and don’t carry a stove to boil water. We exchanged a few ideas and inspired each other, which was quite interesting!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    11Carbon free skov11

    Jo’s funny farm - Waitomo

    10.–11. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Den længste dag hidtil, samt det mest varierende landskab! 11,5 timer blev det til i dag og 38 km.

    Det startede ud i regnvejr og nogle km langs en grusvej, efterfulgt af græs, skov, carbon-free plantet skov samt mere skov med en lille flodkrydsning med små stigninger her og der. For derefter endelig at ende ved en låge ud til en grusvej, den bedste følelse fra hele dagen. At vide, at der endelig var ved at være en ende på dagen. Derefter var jeg igen i Waitomo, dog med mindre regn denne gang end da vi var på roadtrip.

    I løbet af dagen så jeg mange fasaner og vilde geder og en enkelt, jeg nåede at filme. Da jeg kom til floden, som jeg skulle krydse, stod der to rådyr og drak vand. De forsvandt dog hurtigt, da de fik øje på mig.

    ————

    The longest day so far, and the most varied landscape! Today ended up being 11.5 hours and 38 km.

    It started out in the rain, with a few kilometers along a gravel road, followed by grass, forest, carbon-free planted forest, and more forest with a small river crossing, with gentle climbs here and there. Eventually, I reached a gate leading out to a gravel road, the best feeling of the whole day. Knowing that the end of the day was finally near. After that, I was back in Waitomo, though with less rain this time than when we were on our road trip.

    During the day, I saw many pheasants and wild goats and managed to film one of them. When I reached the river I had to cross, two deer were standing there drinking water. They quickly disappeared when they spotted me.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1
    11

    Waitomo - Te Kūiti

    11.–13. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    I dag gik det over marker samt meget glatte stier i skove. Efter at have gledet to gange, kort tid efter hinanden, indså jeg, at det bare var en af de dage, hvor det går mindre godt, og jeg satte tempoet gevaldigt ned.

    Det, som skulle have været en relativt nem dag, blev bare lidt af en øv dag. Senere på dagen fik jeg migræne, hvorefter det hele gav mening.

    Jeg overnattede i Te Kūiti hos en Trail Angel i hans garage og havde planlagt en hviledag dagen efter, hvilket passede ret godt, eftersom det skulle regne en del om aftenen samt om natten.

    Dagen efter fik jeg vasket tøj og købt ind til de kommende fem dage. Derudover ankom otte andre, som også skulle overnatte der og søgte ly for det dårlige vejr. Jeg mødte til min overraskelse Felix, som jeg havde gået med i halvanden uges tid, inden jeg tog på roadtrip med Aviaja.

    Den sti/vej, vi skulle være gået af, da vi skulle gå fra Te Kūiti, fulgte bl.a. en flod. Men eftersom det havde regnet en del, var den gået over sine bredder, og vores søde Trail-host kørte os i stedet hen til starten af Timber Trail, 40 minutters køretid. Vi kæmpede lidt med at få plads til vores tasker i bilen, men det lykkedes!

    ————

    Today the route went across fields and very slippery forest trails. After slipping twice, shortly after each other, I realized it was just one of those days where things don’t go so well, and I slowed the pace down considerably.

    What was supposed to be a relatively easy day turned into a bit of a “meh” day. Later in the afternoon I got a migraine, which suddenly made everything make sense.

    I stayed in Te Kūiti with a Trail Angel in his garage and had planned a rest day the following day, which turned out to be a good decision since it was supposed to rain quite a lot in the evening and during the night.

    The next day I did my laundry and bought food for the upcoming five days. Later, eight other hikers arrived who were also staying there and seeking shelter from the bad weather. To my surprise, I met Felix, whom I had been hiking with for about a week and a half before I went on a road trip with Aviaja.

    The trail/road we were supposed to take when leaving Te Kūiti followed a river, among other things. But since it had rained a lot, the river had overflowed, and our kind trail host drove us to the start of the Timber Trail instead — a 40 minute drive. We struggled a bit to fit all our bags into the car, but we made it!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
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    Te Kūiti - Ngaherenga Camp - Bog Inn Hut

    13.–15. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Vores trailhost havde kørt os til starten af Timber Trail ved Ngaherenga Campsite. Timber Trail kan man enten vælge at cykle med mountainbike eller selvfølgelig gå den. Hvis man vælger at cykle, tager det to dage, og vælger man at gå, tager det fire dage. Jeg valgte at gå, eftersom jeg gerne vil have nogle lette km i benene efter at være startet igen for en uges tid siden, og denne sektion i skoven er på lette stier. På Timber Trail kan man opleve mange forskellige fugle, herunder papegøjer som jeg dog kun hørte.

    Dagen efter gik det afsted, og jeg valgte at tage en smuttur over Pureora-bjerget, hvilket ikke bød på en så smuk udsigt som håbet, grundet skyer og regn. På vejen op mødte jeg to newzealændere, og vi fulgtes ad, indtil vi ankom til hytten. Vi fik taget den forkerte vej ned ad bjerget, så vi gik i lidt udfordrende terræn midt i regnen.

    I Bog Inn-hytten var der plads til fire, men vi fik gjort plads til os fem, som havde valgt at gå turen i stedet for at cykle. Det var en meget hyggelig lille hytte! Men meget dybt inde i en skov!

    ————

    Our trail host had driven us to the start of the Timber Trail at the Ngaherenga Campsite. On the Timber Trail, you can choose either to bike it on a mountain bike or, of course, to walk it. If you choose to bike, it takes two days, and if you choose to walk, it takes four days. I chose to walk, as I wanted to get some easy kilometres into my legs after starting up again about a week ago, and this forest section is on easy trails. On the Timber Trail, you can experience many different birds, including parrots although I only heard them.

    The next day, we set off, and I chose to take a small detour over Mount Pureora, which did not offer as beautiful a view as hoped due to clouds and rain. On the way up, I met two New Zealanders, and we walked together until we arrived at the hut. We had taken the wrong path down the mountain, so we ended up walking through some slightly challenging terrain.

    At the Bog Inn Hut, there was space for four, but we made room for the five of us who had chosen to walk the trail instead of biking it. It was a very cosy little hut!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    12

    Bog Inn Hut - Piropiro Camp

    15.–16. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Det regnede det meste af natten samt om morgenen, så jeg ventede med at tage afsted til kl. 10 sammen med en anden. Vi spillede forskellige spil, indtil vi forlod hytten, som efterhånden var blevet ret så kold.

    Vi krydsede i dag en masse broer!

    Dagens højdepunkt var at komme frem inden kl. 16.30 til et sted, hvor man kunne købe pizza. Det var så tiltrængt! Derefter fortsatte vi til vores campsted.

    ————

    It rained most of the night and also in the morning, so I waited to leave until 10 a.m. together with someone else. We played various games until we left the hut, which had gradually become quite cold.

    Today, we crossed a lot of bridges!

    The highlight of the day was arriving before 4:30 p.m. at a place where you could buy pizza. It was so needed! Afterwards, we continued on to our campsite.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende

    Piropiro Camp - #10 campsite

    16.–17. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    I nat var den hidtil koldeste, med kun 2 grader! Det var lige på grænsen til, at jeg kunne holde varmen. Jeg ventede derfor, til at solen var kommet frem, inden jeg gik videre.

    Det gik endnu en gang over en masse broer, hvoraf den længste var 141 m.

    Jeg mødte på vejen en større gruppe af mountainbikere, og heriblandt en pige på omkring 10 år, som råbte op ad bakken bagfra: “Highfive!” – hun fik en kæmpe highfive. Senere havde de pause, og jeg overhalede dem og fik en kæmpe highfive igen senere!

    Da jeg kom frem til mit campsted, fik jeg set en flot solnedgang, og da det blev mørkt, gik jeg lidt længere ned ad vejen for at gå på en sti med høje klipper på hver sin side, men desværre var der ingen glowworms at se.

    ————

    Last night was the coldest so far, with only 2 degrees! It was just on the edge of what I could handle in terms of staying warm. I therefore waited until the sun had come out before I continued.

    Once again, the trail crossed a lot of bridges, the longest of which was 141 m.

    On the way, I met a larger group of mountain bikers, including a girl of about 10 years old who shouted from behind while riding up the hill: “High five!”, she got a huge high five. Later, they took a break, I passed them, and I got another huge high five afterwards!

    When I arrived at my campsite, I got to see a beautiful sunset, and when it turned dark, I walked a bit further down the road to go onto a trail with tall cliffs on each side, but unfortunately there were no glowworms to be seen.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    3
    1

    #10 campsite- Ongarue

    17.–18. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    I dag blev det sidste stykke af Timber Trail gået, og det gik mest ned ad bakke i dag.

    Efter ikke at have haft mobildækning de seneste tre dage holdt jeg en længere pause ved skiltet, da det vitterligt kun var inden for to meter af skiltet, at der var dækning. Her erfarede jeg, at mit danske Visa-kort var blevet spærret, fordi jeg til forveksling var kommet til at bruge det en enkelt gang, og Nets spærrede det. Så det skal jeg have genåbnet, når jeg når ind til byen i morgen.

    ————

    Today, the final section of the Timber Trail was completed, and most of the day was downhill.

    After not having mobile reception for the past three days, I took a longer break by the sign, as there was literally only reception within two meters of it. There, I learned that my Danish Visa card had been blocked, because I had accidentally used it once, and Nets had blocked it. So I’ll need to have it reopened when I reach the town tomorrow.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
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    111

    Ongarue - Taumarunui

    18.–20. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 23 °C

    Det sidste stykke langs grusvej og vej blev gået til Taumarunui. Jeg tog afsted tidligt om morgenen kl. 06, da vejrudsigten viste regn til middag. Der gik dog ikke særlig lang tid, inden den første byge ramte.

    Jeg havde hviledag i Taumarunui, hvor jeg skulle have planlagt de næste 11 dage, som byder på Tongariro-vulkanvandring i en nationalpark den, som til dels brændte ned for noget tid siden – og en fem dages kanotur ned ad Whanganui-floden. Jeg fik også hentet mine nye sko, som heldigvis passede, men som jeg lige skal vende mig til at gå i, da de er lidt anderledes.

    Da jeg handlede ind til de kommende dage, mødte jeg til min store overraskelse Ana, som jeg startede 90 Mile Beach med i sin tid, men som jeg ikke har set siden Kerikeri.

    Og ja, det blev til en del snacks! Men kanofirmaet har fået de fem dages mad, som de opbevarer, indtil jeg starter. Resten skal snackes de resterende dage.

    ————

    The last stretch along gravel road and road was walked to Taumarunui. I left early in the morning at 6 a.m., as the weather forecast showed rain around noon. However, it didn’t take long before the first shower hit.

    I had a rest day in Taumarunui, where I needed to plan the next 11 days, which include the Tongariro volcanic hike in a national park, the one that partially burned down some time ago and a five-day canoe trip down the Whanganui River. I also picked up my new shoes, which luckily fit, though I’ll need to get used to walking in them, as they’re a bit different.

    When I went shopping for the coming days, I was very surprised to meet Ana, whom I originally started 90 Mile Beach with, but haven’t seen since Kerikeri.

    And yes, I did end up with quite a lot of snacks! But the canoe company has received the five days of food, which they will store until I start. The rest will have to be snacked over the remaining days.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1

    Taumarunui - wild River Camp

    20.–21. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Med mad pakket til de kommende syv dage og fem dages mad afleveret til Kanu virksomheden, gik turen afsted ind i buskadset på 42 Traverse.

    Om morgenen var jeg til Kanu “briefing”, og derefter var de så søde at køre os 20 km ned ad vejen til starten af 42 Traverse. Herefter gik det to dage ind i buskads, men af stier som hovedsageligt blev brugt af ATVer, så de var forholdsvis gode at gå.

    Vi overnattede ved floden, som vi dagen efter skulle krydse, da der ikke var mange egnede campsites på vejen.

    ————

    With food packed for the coming seven days, and five days’ worth of food delivered to the canoe company, we set off into the scrub of the 42 Traverse.

    In the morning, I attended the canoe “briefing”, and afterwards they were kind enough to drive us 20 km down the road to the start of the 42 Traverse. From there, we spent two days heading into the bush, mostly on trails used by ATVs, which made them relatively easy to walk.

    We camped by the river that we would have to cross the next day, as there were not many suitable campsites along the way.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1

    Wild River Camp - Tongario Holiday Park

    21.–22. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Jeg lærte en vigtig ting til morgen omkring at campere vildt, at det altid er en god idé at have gravet et hul til ens toiletbesøg aftenen forinden! Jeg havde fået spist noget, som måske havde haft bedre af at komme i køleskabet, og fik travlt med at komme ud af mit telt til morgen - jeg nåede det!

    Derefter startede dagen ud med at krydse den flod, som jeg overnattede ved siden af.

    Senere skulle jeg ned ad en bakke og krydse en større flod. På vejen kunne jeg høre, at der kom en ATV, og jeg ventede på, at den skulle køre forbi. Det viste sig dog at være 12 ATV’er, hvoraf to sad fast, og jeg blev derfor nødt til at vente med at gå videre, indtil de var kommet fri. Imellemtiden var der kommet en jæger fra den modsatte retning, og det hele blev lidt kaotisk, imens sad jeg på en træstamme og ventede på, at de fandt ud af det.

    Da jægeren skulle den samme vej og krydse floden, fik jeg et lift over floden og sad derfor på ATV’en sammen med jægeren, hunden og et dødt rådyr bagpå!

    Da jeg næsten var for enden af 42 Traverse-stien, mødte jeg to andre jægere og fik et lift af dem langs vejen ned til Tongariro Holiday Park.

    Her erfarede jeg, efter to dage uden net, at jeg havde modtaget en mail fra min professor omkring min beståede bacheloropgave, og jeg er nu endelig færdiguddannet!! Kæmpe wuhu!

    ————

    I learned an important lesson this morning about wild camping, it’s always a good idea to dig a hole for your toilet visit the evening before! I had eaten something that probably would have been better off in a fridge, and I was in quite a hurry to get out of my tent this morning - but I made it!

    After that, the day began with crossing the river I had camped beside.

    Later, I had to walk down a hill and cross a larger river. On the way, I could hear an ATV approaching, and I waited for it to pass. It turned out to be 12 ATVs, two of which were stuck, so I had to wait before continuing until they were freed. In the meantime, a hunter appeared from the opposite direction, and things got a bit chaotic while I sat on a log waiting for them to sort it out.

    Since the hunter was heading the same way and also needed to cross the river, I got a lift across and ended up sitting on the ATV along with the hunter, the dog, and a dead deer on the back!

    When I was almost at the end of the 42 Traverse trail, I met two other hunters who gave me a ride along the road down to Tongariro Holiday Park.

    There, after two days without reception, I found out that I had received an email from my professor about my passed bachelor thesis and I am finally graduated!! Big wuhu!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    🔷🔷1

    Tongario Holiday Park - Oturere Hut

    22.–23. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Indtil nu den værste nat. Jeg har lyttet til “possums” som har skreget og løbet frem og tilbage imellem træerne op ad mit telt. Selvom jeg havde pakket min mad dybt ned i min rygsæk, frygtede jeg alligevel, at de ville komme ind til min taske, hvilket de heldigvis ikke gjorde!

    De næste to dage går turen over Nordøens højdepunkt, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, hvor jeg går nord om. Turen går gennem vulkansk landskab med floder, gamle lavafloder, søer og varme kilder (der lugter lidt af rådne æg).

    Vi tog med en shuttlebus om morgenen til starten af turen, som egentlig er det oprindelige slutsted for dem, der krydser ruten fra den anden side.

    Det gik en del op ad i dag, men i meget flotte omgivelser! Solen var dog ekstremt hård i dag, og der var undervejs de første tre timer rigtig mange turister. Derefter blev det bedre, da jeg gik en anden vej end dem.

    ————

    So far, the worst night. I listened to possums screaming and running back and forth between the trees next to my tent. Even though I had packed my food deep inside my backpack, I still feared they would get into my bag, luckily, they didn’t!

    For the next two days, the trail goes over the North Island’s highlight, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, where I am taking the northern route. The trail passes through volcanic landscape with rivers, old lava flows, lakes, and hot springs (which smell a bit like rotten eggs).

    In the morning, we took a shuttle bus to the start of the trail, which is actually the original endpoint for those crossing from the other side.

    Today involved quite a bit of uphill walking, but in very beautiful surroundings! The sun was extremely harsh today, and during the first three hours there were a lot of tourists. After that, it got better as I took a different route than they did.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende

    Otuere hut - Whakapapa

    23.–24. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Endnu en dag i vulkansk landskab. Jeg gik videre fra Otuere Hut mod Whakapapa, hvilket bød på en del nedstigninger det meste af dagen.

    I Whakapapa havde jeg booket et værelse sammen med to andre på et såkaldt Skotel fra 70’erne, som ikke var blevet renoveret siden. Et gammelt skihotel. Meget autentisk!

    ————

    Another day in volcanic landscape. I continued from Otuere Hut towards Whakapapa, which involved quite a lot of descents for most of the day.

    In Whakapapa, I had booked a room together with two others at a so-called Skotel from the 1970s, which hasn’t been renovated since. An old ski hotel, very authentic!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    12

    Whakapapa- Waimarino

    24.–25. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    I dag var bl.a. 15 km mudderland, som var udfordrende, men til dels også sjovt, da jeg var undervejs med en fra Hongkong.
    Jeg havde et mindre uheld, hvor jeg pludselig gled og slog hovedet ind i en busk, men heldigvis ikke noget alvorligt.

    Efter endt mudderland ventede der 7 km motorvej, som vi hitchhikede til Waimarino, hvor vi kørte med en hollænder, som var på roadtrip, imens hans kæreste var begyndt at vandre Te Araroa på Nordøen.

    ———-

    Today included 15 km of mud terrain, which was challenging but also partly fun, as I was hiking with someone from Hong Kong.
    I had a small accident where I suddenly slipped and hit my head on a bush, but fortunately nothing serious.

    After finishing the mud section, there were 7 km of highway ahead, and we hitchhiked to Waimarino, getting a ride from a Dutch guy who was on a road trip while his girlfriend had started hiking the Te Araroa on the North Island.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende

    Waimarino - Trailhost

    25.–26. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    28 km grusvej hele vejen til vores trailhost med forskellige dyr langs vejen. En meget stille og rolig dag.

    Ved vores trailhost var der varmt bad, gratis toastbrød med smør, en lille “butik” med cola, chokolade og andre gode sager til en god pris, samt et par søde hunde og kattekillinger. En god opladning, inden vi de kommende dage skal på kanotur ned ad Whanganui-floden. Dem på det sidste billede er alle dem, jeg sejler ned ad floden med.

    ————

    28 km of gravel road all the way to our trail host, with various animals along the way. A very calm and easy day.

    At our trail host, there was a hot shower, free toast with butter, a small “shop” with cola, chocolate, and other treats at a good price, as well as a couple of sweet dogs and kittens. A great recharge before the coming days, when we’ll be going on a canoe trip down the Whanganui River. The people in the last photo are all the ones I’ll be paddling down the river with.    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    11

    Trailhost - Whakahoro

    26.–27. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Endnu en dag med vej og grusvej, 26 km. Grusvejen blev benyttet af en del lastbiler, hvilket efterlod os en del støvede efterfølgende, når de kørte forbi.

    Vi ankom relativt tidligt til vores campsted og så, at der lå en lille café i nærheden, og gik derhen. Skuffelsen var stor, da vi så, at den ikke havde åbent om onsdagen, men åbnede igen dagen efter.

    De kommende fem dage byder på kanotur, hvilket bliver godt med en afveksling for benene!

    ————

    Another day with road and gravel road, 26 km. The gravel road was used by quite a few trucks, which left us covered in dust every time they passed.

    We arrived fairly early at our campsite and saw that there was a small café nearby, so we walked over. The disappointment was big when we realised that it wasn’t open on Wednesdays, but would open again the next day.

    The coming five days will be a canoe trip, which will be a great change of pace for the legs!    Læs mere

  • Gitte JensenEventyr i New ZealandRejsende
    1

    Whakahoro - Whanganui river

    27. nov.–1. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Dag 1: Whakahoro – John Coull Campsite (32 km)

    Dem, vi havde lejet kanuerne af, var punkteret på vejen, og vi måtte derfor vente et par ekstra timer på at komme afsted. Så snart folk havde pakket deres kanu, tog de afsted, og jeg tog afsted med de to, jeg havde vandret med de seneste dage, med forventning om nogle sjove dage. Vi ville ikke sidde tre i en kanu, så planen var skiftevis at sejle i kajak.

    Inden for 2 min. sejlede vi ind i den eneste sten, der var, og et par sekunder senere sejlede vi baglæns ind i en busk, og min kaptajn fik et mentalt sammenbrud, som ikke kunne reddes. Vi skiftede derfor placeringer, så jeg nu styrede båden, og foran mig havde jeg én, der havde en rigtig dårlig mental dag, og som græd de efterfølgende 1,5 time. Det var op ad bakke!!
    Vi skiftede derfor senere, så hun i stedet kunne sejle kajak. Men eftersom dette heller ikke lykkedes specielt godt, endte vi med at bytte endnu en gang, og jeg endte i kajakken med over 20 km igen. Gennemblødt af vand, der ramte kajakken, gjorde det ikke den store forskel, da jeg et kort øjeblik faldt i vandet. Jeg fik vendt kajakken og padlede videre.

    En time før vi ankom til vores campsted, begyndte det at regne, hvilket gjorde dagen endnu mere træls. Vi ankom og konstaterede, at vi ikke ville fortsætte på denne måde, og sagde, at de andre måtte tage vores ikke så paddlende person med de resterende dage, da vi var fuldstændig tømt for kræfter og ikke havde haft en specielt god dag. Vi havde ikke fået spist meget i løbet af dagen, og det kunne bestemt mærkes, samtidig med, at vi var gennemblødte.

    Dag 2: John Coull Campsite – Ngaporo Campsite (45 km)

    Efter et mindre krisemøde aftenen forinden kunne vi se frem til en bedre dag uden at skulle slæbe en tredje person med igennem dagen, da hun nu skulle sejle med nogle andre. Om morgenen regnede det stadig ret meget, og der var en del tordenvejr, så alt var efterhånden ved at være godt vådt, hvilket vi fik tørret senere, da solen endelig kom frem. Vi var begge ret trætte efter dagen i går samt den megen regn, som bankede på vores telte i løbet af natten.

    Vi så på et tidspunkt et skilt, hvor der stod lodge and bar, hvilket lød meget lokkende! Desværre viste det sig at være et sted, som ikke havde været i brug i mange år. Skuffede sejlede vi videre.

    Vi besluttede os for at slå lejr 10 km før den campsite, som vi oprindeligt havde booket, og som ellers bød på varmt bad, men vi mistede fuldstændig koncentrationen og var ved at kæntre flere gange i de rapids (strømfald), vi skulle igennem. Det viste sig at være et skønt sted, udover en død ged, som lå og lugtede i vandkanten.

    Her var der også to andre personer, som var på roadtrip med et lille afbræk af en kanotur. Eftersom jeg ikke havde mere toiletpapir, blev jeg meget glad, da de tilbød mig en hel rulle, som de havde til overs! Solen skinnede, alt blev tørt, og vi mærkede en lille feriestemning et øjeblik.

    Dag 3: Ngaporo Campsite – Otumaire Campsite (48 km)

    Efter en rigtig god, lang søvn padlede vi videre og havde hørt fra de andre, at der skulle komme en café 28 km længere nede ad floden, hvilket vi så enormt meget frem til. Eftersom der ikke var et skilt nede ved floden, missede de andre caféen, som skulle ligge længere oppe gennem noget buskads. For ikke at misse den stoppede vi ved hver mulighed og tjekkede, om det kunne være her, hvilket vi gjorde i omkring fem kilometer.

    Vi fandt den, og ejeren var meget begejstret for at se os og spurgte, hvor mange der kom. Til hendes ærgrelse måtte vi sige, at de andre havde misset den, og at det kun var os. Vi fik en salat samt gratis limonade ad libitum og fik gratis suppe, som vi kunne spise om aftenen.

    Da de andre hørte, at vi havde været på caféen, var de en smule misundelige!

    Vi skulle igennem mange store rapids, som vi på magisk vis kom igennem uden at kæntre. Vi var blevet advaret om, at det var 50/50, om man kæntrede eller ej.

    Dag 4: Otumaire – Hiponga Park (25 km)

    Endelig en kortere dag, men dagen føltes lang, da meget af den var i modvind, og der ikke var så mange rapids, så det hele gik langsommere i dag.

    Vi ville på et tidspunkt åbne en af vores tønder for at spise nogle snacks, men låget til tønden blev i et hurtigt øjeblik taget af vinden, og det fløj i vandet. Da vi havde ret meget modvind, drev låget ikke ned ad floden, men opad. Vi brugte noget tid på at finde det igen, men det lykkedes!

    Da vi ankom til vores campsted, nåede vi netop at sætte vores telt op, inden det begyndte at regne igen.

    Dag 5: Hiponga Park – Whanganui (20 km)

    Vi tog afsted ved 9-tiden, så det passede med tidevandet, der kom ind fra Whanganui. Det var en kort dag, men en meget kedelig dag, da der ikke var en eneste rapid, og udover den første time var der overskyet og meget modvind. Vi endte med at padle længere end planlagt, da vinden tog os og drev os bagud.

    Det var derfor meget tiltrængt efter nogle til dels hårde dage at ankomme til Whanganui og afslutte kanueventyret.

    ————

    Day 1: Whakahoro – John Coull Campsite (32 km)

    The people we had rented the canoes from had gotten a flat tire on the way, so we had to wait a couple of extra hours before setting off. As soon as everyone had packed their canoe, they left, and I set off with the two people I had been hiking with for the past days, expecting some fun days ahead. We didn’t want three people in one canoe, so the plan was to take turns using the kayak.

    Within 2 minutes we hit the only rock in the river, and a few seconds later we drifted backwards into a bush, and my captain had a mental breakdown that couldn’t be saved. So we switched places, meaning I was now steering the boat, with someone in front of me who was having a really bad mental day and cried for the next 1.5 hours. It was rough!!
    Later we switched again so she could paddle the kayak instead. But since that didn’t work very well either, we ended up switching once more, and I ended up in the kayak with more than 20 km to go. Soaked from all the water splashing onto the kayak, it didn’t make much difference when I briefly fell into the river as well. I righted the kayak and kept paddling.

    About an hour before reaching our campsite, it started raining, making the day even more miserable. When we arrived, we decided we couldn’t continue like this and told the others they would need to take our non-paddling person for the remaining days, as we were completely drained and had not had a good day at all. We hadn’t eaten much throughout the day, which we really felt – especially being soaked to the skin.

    Day 2: John Coull Campsite – Ngaporo Campsite (45 km)

    After a small crisis meeting the night before, we could look forward to a better day without dragging a third person along, as she would now paddle with others. In the morning, it was still raining heavily, with thunderstorms as well, so everything was soaked, but we managed to dry it later when the sun finally came out. We were both exhausted from the previous day and the rain that had hammered on our tents all night.

    At one point we saw a sign saying lodge and bar, which sounded very tempting! Sadly, it turned out to be a place that hadn’t been used in many years. Disappointed, we paddled on.

    We decided to camp 10 km before the site we had originally booked, which would have had hot showers, but we completely lost concentration and almost capsized several times in the rapids. The place we stopped, however, turned out to be lovely – aside from a dead goat lying and smelling on the riverbank.

    There were also two other people there on a road trip with a short canoe break. Since I had run out of toilet paper, I was very happy when they offered me a full roll they didn’t need! The sun came out, everything dried, and for a moment it almost felt like a holiday.

    Day 3: Ngaporo Campsite – Otumaire Campsite (48 km)

    After a really good, long sleep, we continued paddling and had heard from the others that there would be a café 28 km further down the river, something we were really looking forward to. Since there was no sign by the river, the others missed it, as it was hidden further up through some bushes. To avoid missing it, we stopped at every possible opening, checking if it might be there, doing this for about five kilometres.

    We found it, and the owner was thrilled to see us. She asked how many were coming, and to her disappointment we had to tell her that the others had missed it and it was only us. We were given a salad and unlimited lemonade and she even gave us free soup for dinner.

    When the others found out we’d been to the café, they were a bit jealous!

    We passed several big rapids, which we magically managed to navigate without capsizing. We’d been warned that it was 50/50 whether you would capsize or not.

    Day 4: Otumaire – Hiponga Park (25 km)

    Finally a shorter day, but it still felt long because much of it was against the wind, and there weren’t many rapids, so everything went slower.

    At one point we wanted to open one of our barrels for snacks, but the lid was caught by the wind in a split second and flew into the water. Because of the strong headwind, the lid didn’t drift downstream but upstream. It took us a while to find it again, but we managed!

    When we arrived at our campsite, we had just enough time to set up our tent before it started raining again.

    Day 5: Hiponga Park – Whanganui (20 km)

    We left around 9, so it would match the incoming tide from Whanganui. It was a short day, but a very boring one, as there wasn’t a single rapid, and after the first hour it was overcast and very windy. We ended up paddling farther than planned because the wind kept pushing us backwards.

    So after several tough days, it was very welcome to finally arrive in Whanganui and finish the canoe adventure.    Læs mere

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