Day 0: Our Adventure Begins… kinda

October 10, 2019

~ 15 kilometers walked

Auckland CBD to Tapotupotu Campground

When we woke up this morning in downtown Auckland we thought today would be day 1 of our TA hike. Unfortunately, we hit a snag late in the day that has postponed our official start until tomorrow.

We woke up at 6 am, showered, grabbed some Burger King and set off for the bus station. The bus took us 5 hours north, from Auckland to Kerikeri. We then immediately transferred busses and another 2 hours later were in Kaitaia. Once in Kaitaia we headed for the post office to send our bounce box down the trail. It was super easy and relatively cheap to send considering it weighed about 18 pounds.

Selfie before leaving the Auckland Airbnb cause why not?

The original plan from there was to hitchhike the last hour and a half to the start of the trailhead and walk the first 12 kilometers of the trail to a campsite named Twighlight camp. After about an hour of trying to find a hitch, two young women from Montreal stopped and told us to hop in. There was a bit of a language barrier as their first language was French but it was an enjoyable car ride nonetheless. After an hour in we stopped for gas. One km or so after we left the gas station the car stopped working. Ethan and I hopped out and pushed it off to the side of the road. Not knowing what the problem was we popped the hood, as if we had any knowledge of cars or how they work.

We had no cell service and seemed to be stranded about 12 miles from Cape Reinga and the start of the TA. We were able to flag down another car and they agreed to help the ladies get the car towed. We are not positive but the general consensus as to why the car stopped working is that they put diesel into a petrol tank. The car went about a kilometer from the station using the petrol still in the engine but once the diesel hit the engine the car was doomed. We assume that’s going to be a very costly repair for them.

After the other car was flagged down everyone agreed we should leave and start walking on the road towards Cape Reinga. It was 5pm so we mentally prepared to get into the Cape after dark, hoping the rain would hold off until we arrived. We walked at a quick pace for about two and a half hours.

Just as the sun was setting and we were preparing to get our headlamps out for the last 3 miles to the Cape, a Department of Conservation vehicle pulled over and offered us a ride to the campsite 5km east of the cape. Overjoyed that we wouldn’t be walking in the dark before even starting the trail, we thanked him and hopped in. He dropped us off at the campsite just before the last light faded.

We quickly set up camp knowing rain was coming and cooked some rice to go with salami that we fried and a pita each. Not long after that we were in our tents getting ready for tomorrow, the day we actually start the TA.

Our first campsite, right on the water about 5km east of where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.

Also, go Nats baby!

-Alex