Mt Auckland (Atuanui)

p.5

Quite suddenly, we're through the bush. Ahead of us is paddock.

I don't know where I got the idea but I had imagined that the bush went more or less down to road level, with just a few hundred metres of level farmland to cross to get to the road.

No such luck.

You can see the road down below there, still some distance off. Miranda decides to get her own back on me and include me in some photos.

The trick from here on is to locate the next orange post. This is not always as obvious as you might think.

There are steps to get us over fences, but even these have their moments

We carry on down the ridge

though sometimes it takes a sharp eye to spot the next orange blob.

There are times when I am reminded strongly of the St James Walkway

We head cautiously - there are calves - down to the left of the cows. Alice is just about airborne on the end of the leash. She wants a close encounter, which we are not offering.

Over another stile and down the hill. There's something about walking in the country....

Technology has transformed the old Taranaki gate, and we open this one cautiously.

There's still a way to go.

Nearly there.

There is what appears to be a small toilet block in the paddock to the right of the track, but no signage. Useful to remember if you're caught short along SH 16.

Back to the car. Just under 90 minutes from the top, fatman time.

I'm not kidding. this is the best parking there is at this end.