Day 3 and 4 to Kurri Camp and then Sand Dunes camp.  25-26 /9/2026 – feeling better

I walked another 17km to the Kurri Ngawanthi/Creek walk-in site and I was getting my tramping legs and mind back. I was still slow, taking 8.5 hours but I had some good breaks and didn’t arrive completely knackered. This day started off through bush roads and along some stunning cliffs. The kangaroos were up early with me

After about 8 km came a 4.5km beach walk and as it was high tide I didn’t have much hard sand to walk on. As my legs began to complain I reminded them that they survived walking 100km of beach on the first 4 days of Te Araroa, so they could just shut up their whining and walk!

At the end of the beach there was a very steep climb up a grassy hill and onto a farm. It was so steep that there was a chain to use to pull us up with. I needed that for sure but felt good when I made it to the top.

I got a little bit off track on the farm, but it didn’t really matter too much. I chatted with a few cows during the day but they didn’t have much to say back.

Arriving at the camp there was a one-eyed lady who was very chatty, so I got my first dose of real human interaction for 3 days. She had done quite a bit of hiking in Japan that interested me as Japan is on my wish list. It drizzled most of the night, so I woke with a wet tent to pack up.

Day 4 Wet and Windy

I left with all my rain gear on, including a poncho made out of my Tyvek groundsheet. I found my way out of camp well this morning.

Going over a very slippery farm track I was pleased, and surprised that I managed to stay upright. Then along the coast again high above the ocean followed by steep descents down to the beach for a couple of beach walks. It was very windy, so I gave up on the poncho in case it turned into a sail and sent me out to sea.

I was quite cold and could have stopped to add a layer under my raincoat but chose to speed up and just get to the Sand Dunes walk-in camp. It was only a 14km, 5 hour day today. Much more manageable especially with less food and water on board.

I was the only one at the camp, so I put up a line to dry my wet clothes and tent. I cooked up a packet of chicken soup and ate another fish wrap ( I don’t enjoy them as the fish sachets remind me of the sachets of cat food my daughter feed her cat). Note to self to find something else for lunches on the next section. I do miss the Redgum food options!!!

I erected the dry tent and had a snuggle in my sleeping bag to warm me up properly, reading a light book with decent sized print and a bad storyline. The first 2 attributes are important when a half blind, old lady has to carry a book. The content doesn’t matter too much.

I didn’t even have a wash as, after 4 days, a sweaty body is the norm. No amount of body washing is going to overpower the smell of the clothes I have worn for 4 days straight.

These walk-in camps have been recently replaced after devastating bush fire last season. I had a good night in my new Big Agnes 2 person tent even though it takes a bit more time to set up and take down.