From near Waipu Cove to south of Mangawhai township, near the top end of Te Arai Beach – 33 km – 7.5 hours

From the main road near Waipu Cove, the day started with a walk up a road into the Brynderwyn Hills. The road became a shingle vehicle track winding up through the pines – then near the top there was a car coming down – from one of several houses in the trees right at the top.

Then a fairly straightforward following of the orange marker posts and my GPS and map along the tops – as promised there were a number of side tracks to watch out for.

Then down through some good patches of regenerating kauri to cross the main Waipu to Mangawhai road, next up (and down and up) again through some very parched farmland to reach the Mangawhai Cliffs walkway. I followed that high up the cliffs for a way with some spectacular views (picture), down to the beach, and then to the town of Mangawhai Heads.

A super estuary to walk around, and then up to the main road for a walk around to Mangawhai (Point) township, and then on via a dusty back road to the start of the forest road that will tomorrow take me onto Te Arai Beach

Author –  Tony

Reotahi Bay, then Marsden Point to near Waipu Cove – 32.8 km – 50 mins plus 5.75 hours

A split day – first an early morning walk from the motel, down to Little Munro Bay, then around the point to Reotahi Bay, with the ever present Marsden Point oil refinery just across the harbour. Then a drive around the harbour through Whangarei and out to Marsden Point.

Walking started along the south side of the harbour, under the jetty and pipes for unloading oil from the tanker ships, and then it turned into the Bream Bay beach, heading SW down to Ruakura. Being a highish tide, with a real river to be crossed, it was then a road deviation out to the main road past the town, along that and some, before heading back past the motor camp to the beach again.

Then another hour on the beach, before heading inland again for the roads to take me over the Waipu River. A flat and dry area, but views back to the Whangarei Heads where I was yesterday, and onto the Brynderwyn Hills where I will be tomorrow. Tried to rejoin the estuary section (low tide route) for the last few kms, but the tide was still too high.

Day 12: A Day Off

Spent most of the day recovering and cleaning myself and my gear.

Day 13: Waipu to Pakiri Beach

About 58 km done today. Two river crossings which involved swims so I got to test out the drybag features of my pack. Pack floated across just fine and all dry inside .  Managed to mess up meeting up with Sarah as it took me way longer to get to meeting point than planned.

(Sarah: I was sadly waiting with a melted iceblock sure he had walked on without waiting.  I should have known him better and now know that he will always wait!  He ended up being over 1.5 hours late and by then I had gone home thinking he was far ahead.  I did get to see him and his pack do the river crossing at the end at Pakiri though at high tide and with big waves.  It was better if I shut my eyes.)

Day 14: Heavy Rain