Manukau to Mercer
33 miles
Mile 420.9
Around 7:00 AM I set out from the motel I’d spent the night at into a dreary morning.
After a short road walk I joined a paved path through a suburb before passing through a botanical garden.
Just as I reached the gardens it began to rain, so I threw on my poncho and pushed on.
Rain continued to fall as I made my way along a series of roads, ultimately missing a turn and finding myself on Highway 1.
After checking my map I realized I could simply continue down the highway to rejoin the route, rather than backtrack to the turn I’d missed. This turned out to be a mistake, as I learned that walking along this particular motorway is illegal when a police car stopped me. Fortunately, the policeman was friendly, and wasn’t interested in fining me. I showed him where I was going and he ended up giving me a ride down the highway to where the route began again.
Crisis averted, I continued on my way relieved that things had worked out and that the rain had finally let up.
I followed roads for another couple hours before turning off into a cross country farm track.
The overgrown trail was tough going. The tall grass and uneven ground made progress slow and wrecked my ankles, but it was nice to be off the roads finally.
After about two hour I joined a dirt road that led me towards the small town of Mercer.
When I reached Mercer I cruised over to a bar called Podge’s Place. I’d read in the trail notes that they were hiker friendly, and allowed camping in the beer garden.
Sure enough, I was welcomed to spend the night there by the friendly bartender Sandra. She introduced me to some locals, who I spent the rest of the evening chatting with.
Cheers!
Hey Austin,
is the trail like you expected it to be? I mean that’s a whole lot of road walking. But…I think the roads will vanish on the South Island and there is some more wildlife and wilderness to come 😉 Hope you are doing well and you’re still enjoying the Te Araroa.
Happy Trails!
-Sasquatch
Hey Sasquatch,
It’s been pretty much on par expectations wise. I knew about the road walking, and I don’t really mind it. I’m enjoying the North Island a lot, but I’m definitely pumped for the South Island. Cheers!
Nice to know police are friendly. Seems as if you are in the ole west 🙃
Thought I read that part of the world has scary animals. Like poisonis of sorts. You only find sheep and cows 🤗
I guess in my time it’s tomorrow for you. 🤔. Lv u G
So far everyone’s been friendly. Australia is where everything can kill you, some how nothing like that made it over to NZ.
Hey Austin, a heads up- there’s an American hiker just ahead of you, for a little bit at least, he blogs on Postholer.com. Anyway, his last post indicates he’s just ahead of you in the city of Whatawhata on the night of the 14th, planning to get to the base of the mountain on the 15th before the climb to Pahautea Hut. Hopefully you’ll see him on the trail, and apparently he likes beer too! 🙂
Thanks for the heads up Dee!