I think we had a rat free night as our packs and sleeping bags had not been invaded. I was a “hear no evil, see no evil” person wrapped up tightly in my sleeping sheet with mask and earplugs in situ so wouldn’t have noticed anyway.
I was first away in the morning through dense, mossy bush in a slight drizzle that lasted until lunchtime. The notes said a 10 hour day but I planned on 11 so as not to push my body too hard.
There was a lot of muddy sections; some that had me nearly knee deep and wondering if I would get out without a tow. It was hard going and I was doubting my sanity at doing this again.
No photos for this day as my phone was dying..nearly at the hospice stage. Using it for Navigation was more important. I knew it had issues before I left home but noe it was getting pretty drastic so I hatched a plan to hitch back to Invercargill to get a new one. Funny what has taken me 5 days to walk takes 35 minutes in a car in a raod rather than a muddy bushy track .
Out of the bush and up into the clouds I went, barely making out marker poles in the distance. At one stage I realized I was off track and turned back to the last pole and thankfully came across Okan. We stuck together on and off so I used his young eyes and followed his bright blue pack cover for most of the day through dense bush then a forestry track followed by 7km gravel country road. About 28km all up. The sun came out and warmed my body and spirit after a lunch break in an old limestone quarry.
There is a hut at the end of this section that was built for us by a local farmer. They probably got sick of Te Araroa walkers camping on their property and pooping behind their bushes. This is where I found Okan and Jimmy and Isaac 11 hours after I started the day.
But I went out to the road and hitched a ride with a hunter into Otautau where I stayed for the night at the hotel. I washed my mud caked shoes, socks and legs before entering as the sign dictated. I needed to do quite lot of scrubbing to cleanse myself in the shower and was pleased to see my blisters had all healed. White towels are not a good idea for Te Araroa walkers!!

So Thursday I hitched a ride into Invercargill with a man and his 4 kids under 5 on the way to daycare. One was not too happy about having a strange woman in his car.
The Dad was very adept at ignoring the kids’ efforts at reducing the boredom of the trip. His wife is a vet who works at the local freezing works from 5am to 2pm. So Dad has the 4 kids up at 6am and is out the driveway at 7.15am. A well oiled machine that I reckon is also a noisy one.
A small fortune and three hours with a very patient man in the Vodafone, and I had a new phone that did everything that my old one did but better.
I popped into an Opportunity Shop to buy a cup and scrounge a piece of cardboard to make a hitching sign. The old ducks were so impressed with my plans that they gave me both for free.
I had a ride quickly with a farming Mum of 5 kids. Gosh they breed well down here in Southland.
Loving your posts! Hope you plan to put them into a book at the end!
I’m with you every step of the way. Loving the posts. 😀
🥰👍
Well done Karen. Enjoying following your journey
I don’t know where you get your drive and determination from but you are a bloody legend!!!
Hi ho hi ho
its to the hills you go
Through and thin
You aim to win
Through mud and sludge
Your will won’t budge
Your are walking you way
On the great TA
Hi Karen, following you from WA. I’m a kiwi, about your age, grew up in Invercargill and if I had been able to get home, would have been walking the TA now. I really enjoyed your SOBO blog. Have done the Bibbulmun so can trade you insights on that. Enjoy your walk. Judy
Wow Karen, definitely a trip to remember…thinking about a school reunion when you’re done and recovered…please no injuries…🥰🥰
Great idea to hitch to Otautau hotel. We 3 stayed at the Merriveiw hut, but it was a very long day for us, nearly 12hrs and I required some tlc from my family on that 7km final stretch of road. Last year, we had to Hitch back to Invercargill from Colac Bay to go to A&E as Martyn had hurt his leg. Hence why we missed out the Longwoods then. This year we have also had a phone emergency, but I’ll tell you about that when you get to the Ahuriri! Sylvia
I love your little side comments… I am imagining you telling me the story in person. 😉