• Official kms: 27km
• Garmin kms: 27.78km
• Total time: 7.32
• Calories burned: 3626
• Body battery: 8/10
• Accommodation: Dad & Andrea’s
• Tent nights: still 6

The alarm went off at 6.30am, I got up & proceeded with my morning routine, we are leaving here at 8.30am & being dropped at yesterday’s end point.

Dad will pick us up when we are ready this afternoon, minus Jon & Caroline who are going to camp tonight at Mangawhai.

We started at 9.10am & climbed gradually leaving Jon & Caroline to cruise as we had a pickup planned for 4.30pm.

It wasn’t long before a group of ultralight hikers caught up behind us & Gokul was able to keep up with them, as for me I’m not that fast, I wouldn’t see him again until Mangawhai.

Around 8km in I stopped at a nice viewing point that had a picnic table for a break, some cake & to enjoy the views.

After a few more kilometres I made it down to the main road & started the farm track that would lead to the cliff top walk, within a few minutes I heard someone call out my name & Kevin was behind me! They had done the coastal track instead today (Kevin, Ayumi & Nichola). I joined Kevin at that point until where we would meet Gokul & Kevin would stop there to wait for the others.

Kevin & I stopped for lunch once we found a nice viewing spot & a bench seat on the coastal track. I was lucky enough to have a Bacon & egg pie that Andrea & dad had made us all for lunch that day! So good!

We then proceeded to walk the track until it met the beach & to the car park where Gokul was waiting with the crew he had walked with.

From this point it was only 9km to the pickup point & we walked until the 1st lot of shops, where an ice cream was in order due to it being such a hot & demanding day. We also bumped into Luke again! He wasn’t having a coffee for a change.

We then had about 6km to go so set off at a faster hobble (the feet were sore) to get to the pickup point & end our day at just under the 28km mark.

After arriving back at Dad & Andrea’s & having showers we enjoyed a beautiful dinner & great company before setting off to pack full packs as this is our last night here.

Tomorrow should be an easier day where we are aiming for a 23-25km day depending on time of flattish walking. My brother Mark Is picking us up around 2pm & we are staying with him a few nights! Looking forward to seeing him.