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Te Araroa HOBOs
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Day 9
Monday, September 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 29 m
New Zealand Kaikohe-Hokianga Community -35.211499, 173.51347835°12’41” S 173°30’49” E
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Makene road campsite
September 29 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Well that forest was a slog. Slippery clay mud. Yuck. Today was often good track but there was one evil downhill mud slide that went on for about 2km. Then there was another. Among many others.
Now at Makene Road camping area. Done laundry (in a bucket of river water) eaten a meal and headed for bed. Rain in forecast so not sure what we'll do tomorrow.
Northland sandflies are tiny!

Tramping Rule 6: if doesn't kill you it will make you stronger (we hope)Read more
Traveler Blue sky!
3wReply
TravelerFirst sunny day in a week. Was one positive for the day!
3wReply
TravelerInteresting vegetation. And great photos. Sleep well
3wReply
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Day 8
Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 722 m
New Zealand Te Hiku Community -35.216246, 173.41800335°12’58” S 173°25’5” E
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Raetea Peak
September 28 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Bit of a muddy slog today but went further than our original plan. Will probably save a day in the Raetea forest. Climbed about 600m and camping at the top of Raetea Peak at 744m. Fresh asparagus for dinner!
Weather cool but not too unpleasant and no rain which is a pleasant change.
Shona tweaked a muscle in her leg which slowed progress. Hopefully it will ease tonight cos we have a 13km muddy slog tomorrow.
Bush has been beautiful. Found what looks like a native bromeliad. A few birds around but not lots.Read more
Traveler That's a deep puddle!
3wReply
Traveler Swimming time!
3wReply
Traveler Cool photo
3wReply
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Day 7
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 6:13 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 199 m
New Zealand Te Hiku Community -35.216229, 173.37374435°12’58” S 173°22’25” E
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Takahue Campsite
September 27 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Picked up from Ahipara about midday for a transfer past the road sections. 35km drive through Kaitaia to the Takahue road end and start of the Mangamuka track. Also got our first food drop (thanks Ben) and supplemented with some essentials from PaknSave Kaitaia. Walked about 2km of the 125km section and set up camp in pouring rain. Rain stopped about 2 minutes after we climbed in the tent. Wouldn't have had enough light to make it to the next campsite.
The section we have started is about 5 days on muddy bush tracks and a day across farmland to Kerikeri. Feet still not too great but we have a plan!

Tramping Rule 5: listen to your wife when she says the rain will stop in a few minutes!Read more
Traveler You look as though you are running
3wReply
TravelerKeep up the good work. Love the photos. All.go now
3wReply
TravelerArgh rain! Headed to my hometown, Kerikeri ☺️
3wReply
TravelerYou guys are doing just great. Hope your body hiccups remain at the tweek level
3wReply
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Day 7
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 10:06 AM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 30 m
New Zealand Te Hiku Community -35.178439, 173.1347135°10’42” S 173°8’5” E
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Endless Summer Ahipara
September 27 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Spent 3 nights at Endless Summer on the beach at Ahipara. Fantastic place to stop and recuperate. Feet still not 100% but OK enough for a couple of short days.
Feasted on NZs best apple pie, bananas grown in the garden and exotic fish n chips (blue whiting and snapper). Dined at Faulty Towers and avoided the f!#$@% beach!Read more
Traveler Did you try the hammocks?
4wReply
Traveler Did now - weird things!
4wReply
TravelerLooks a great place, even better if you didn’t have to start walking again I’m guessing
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 6:11 AM
🌧 16 °C
Altitude: 27 m
New Zealand Northland -34.919845, 173.10046134°55’11” S 173°6’2” E
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Hukatere to Ahipara
September 24 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
The beach broke us. We are taking a couple of days off at Ahipara to recover. Yesterday was a 35km walk and it started badly and ended worse. Tired legs, sore ankles and feet, and blisters.
We have a really pleasant, inexpensive seaview room upstairs in a beachfront place at Ahipara. Good spot to rest up for a bit.
Tramping Rule number 5. Don't walk 90 mile beach!
At least 'we knocked the bastard off'. First section of the TA complete. 164,534 steps, 104km, 4 days.Read more
TravelerEnjoy the break!! You guys are amazing, doing something most of wouldn’t even consider doing.
9/24/25Reply
TravelerThat's because they are sane 😆
9/24/25Reply
Traveler Why does he need to go fishing? Looks like there are fish already on the beach to use
9/24/25Reply
TravelerApparently they have found turtle shells on the beach too.
9/24/25Reply
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Day 3
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
🌧 17 °C
Altitude: 15 m
New Zealand Te Hiku Community -34.90012, 173.0931834°54’0” S 173°5’35” E
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Bluff to Hukatere
September 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Ouch, ouch, ouch. Moving hurts. Managed another 30km day today but the legs are tired. Have another 30km to do tomorrow to complete the beach. It's a LONG way! Think we might need a zero day when we get there.
The beach was much the same today as yesterday. Sand, wind and sea. Sandhills on the left and waves on the right. Birds are the interesting bit. Heard a kiwi last night.

Tramping rule No. 4: Carry coffee, paracetamol & ibuprofen to ease the journeyRead more
Traveler Dad wins the visibility contest!
9/23/25Reply
Traveler Doing well!
9/23/25Reply
Traveler Had to take a photo showing us halfway along 90 mile beach cos we aren't going to do it twice!
9/23/25Reply
TravelerWhat, I was sure you would be lining up for a 2nd attempt😛
9/23/25Reply
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Day 3
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 7:04 AM
🌧 16 °C
Altitude: 10 m
New Zealand Te Hiku Community -34.685203, 172.89932534°41’7” S 172°53’58” E
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Twilight to Bluff
September 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
First of 3 long days along 90 mile Beach. 28km. Tired by the end and SouthernDon got blisters! Soft townie type.
Highlights were gannets, dancing gulls and sand. Lots of sand. Rained a bit for the last 2 hours. Tomorrow repeat with more rain & 2km extra.
Oh, & Bob has had to stop - hurt his back while doing cool down exercises. Only other walker is Neve, a young (therefore speedy!) lady from Carterton

Tramping rule No. 3: Warm core, cool legsRead more
TravelerWell done . That beach does look overly long but remember it isn’t 90 miles! Sorry to hear bob has had to stop😩
9/22/25Reply
Traveler Great photos. Thank you for sharing them.
9/22/25Reply
TravelerOh Bob! 🤦🏻‍♀️
9/23/25Reply
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Day 1
Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
🌬 16 °C
Altitude: 17 m
New Zealand Te Hiku Community -34.506946, 172.70330934°30’25” S 172°42’12” E
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Twilight Campsite
September 21 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
Short walk today. 13km to Twilight campsite, just before 90 mile Beach. Met our first TA co walker. We introduced ourselves but he didn't give us his name so we just refer to him aa Bob. Bob is from Hamilton and doesn't like hills and doesn't like kayaks. Bob is old like us.
Had our second disaster today. I didn't pre test our gas cooker and it turns out it isn't piezo started. We didn't bring matches or a lighter. Cold food till we get to Kaitaia in 3 days.
Tramping Rule No 2: Always pre check your gear!Read more
TravelerYou’re learning lots of new rules 😜
9/21/25Reply
TravelerOh yes! Some we won't confess to either!
9/21/25Reply
TravelerAnd carry matches in your emergency kit. A new game for you, “predict the next rule of tramping”!
9/21/25Reply
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Day 1
Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 10:17 AM
🌬 17 °C
Altitude: 224 m
New Zealand Te Hiku Community -34.430158, 172.68234734°25’49” S 172°40’56” E
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Today's the day!
September 21 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
It has taken a couple of days to get from Auckland to Cape Reinga but we have finally arrived.
Had a major disaster last night. It's windy here. Very windy. Our tent pole snapped in a strong gust and we haven't even started the TA! But it's all OK because we are stealing our 4 season tent back from Ben who's up here with us. Bit heavier but a more robust tent.
Rule for tramping number 1. Bring a backup.Read more
TravelerHappy walking! ☀️
9/20/25Reply
Traveler 1452 km’s isn’t far! 😂
9/20/25Reply
TravelerHalfway there!
9/21/25Reply
Traveler😂
9/21/25Reply
TravelerEasy - we've done 1% already! If we were driving!
9/21/25Reply
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Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM
🌙 13 °C
Altitude: 51 m
New Zealand Auckland -36.864295, 174.75542336°51’51” S 174°45’20” E
Farewell Arrowtown
September 18 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Last minute house clean & tidy, and removal of about 30 years of facial hair before leaving the snow & spring blossom of the Whakatipu basin. Auckland's night time temperatures are higher than our daytime temps!Read more
TravelerLooking a bit different there Don!
9/18/25Reply
TravelerLike the man I married so many years ago!
9/18/25Reply
TravelerDon’t worry. It’ll grow back
9/18/25Reply
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Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 3:44 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 40 m
New Zealand Christchurch -43.5264, 172.52543°31’35” S 172°31’30” E
Finally packed!
September 17 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
40 days dehydrated food and 2 packs. Ready for the plane to Auckland tomorrow.
TravelerPack base weights are about 8kg for OldLadyWalks and 10kg for me. Add food and water and we top out at about 12kg and 14kg. That's manageable. I hope
9/17/25Reply
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Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
☁️ 10 °C
Altitude: 349 m
New Zealand Millbrook -44.976504, 168.80368944°58’35” S 168°48’13” E
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Wakatipu
September 16 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Prep for TA
Traveler Good luck 🍀
9/16/25Reply
TravelerThanks!
9/17/25Reply
TravelerLooking forward to all the reports, good and bad. Safe travels❣️
9/17/25Reply
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Trip start
September 21, 2025