​Day 87. Mount Rintoul Hut – Mid-Wairoa Hut. 15km. Total 1893km.  It was so warm at night I could even sleep with my sleeping bag open and have some more space for my legs. I also didn’t wake up once at night!  When getting dressed and preparing breakfast I can feel the cold though, it’s…

​Day 85. Browning Hut – Slaty Hut. 13km. Total 1864km.  The night was pretty busy and noisy. At 8pm when we were already in our sleeping bags, 4 people arrived, at 9pm 2 more, sleeping on the floor. Luckily also a few others like to get up early so we are again up and running…

​Day 82. Takaka – Nelson – Pelorus Bridge.  Our last lazy morning with a great breakfast (although I actually did get up early to call my parents, outside in the rain as the Wi-Fi in the hostel didn’t work).  We then drive back through pouring rain to Nelson where we hand back the car at…

​Day 74. Treetops Backpackers – Havelock Blue Moon Lodge. 38km. Total 1787km.  I slept so well and only wake up at 7.45am!  (My former working self would be laughing, I was always struggling to get up at 7.30am when I had to work). We head out for the trail at 9am, hiking uphill quite a…

​Day 72. Miner’s Camp – Punga cove Resort. 10km. Total 1727km. Christmas Eve!  I wake up at 5am and have a short peek at the sunrise before going back into my sleeping bag – it’s very cold!  At least the rain stopped finally and it’s a beautiful day ahead. Coco and Peggy were so freezing…

​Day 70. Wellington to Picton. 0km on trail.  Another zero day but today we still get up early to catch our ferry. We pack up all the food we already bought for the Queen Charlotte Track (what a stupid idea, the supermarket in Picton is of course well stocked and not more expensive) and luckily…

​Day 66. Porirua – Wellington City. 31km. Total 1690 km. The singing birds wake me up at 5.30am. I take my time though and only head out at 7am after a good breakfast and preparing my egg-sandwiches for later. It’s completely cloudy and rather dark as I walk up to my first summit today. Some…

​Day 64. Parawei hut – Waikanae. 25km. Total 1611km. Back into my usual rhythm I start hiking at 6.45am into a blue sky and sunrise. The others will follow later and I will meet Chris and Malte at our accommodation in Waikanae later. I want to take it easy today and make breaks bit still…

​Day 62. Nichols Hut – Waitewaewae hut. 8 km. Total 1577km. There was a storm last night and we even had to tighten the cord with which we made the door stay closed. It was rather warm with the 7 of us heating up the small hut. But in the early morning we are still…

​Day 59. Burtton Track Wahre – Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre. 26km. Total 1538km After the pouring rain last night I wake up to clouds but at least no more rain. I put my wet clothes in a plastic bag and try to find dry ones to wear today (not that I have many clothes to…

​Day 57. Mount Lees Reserve – Palmerston North. 34km. Total 1476km The third day of road walking is hard on me. I can’t stop asking myself why I am doing it especially with my blisters and sore feet. I feel tired and sad, homesick for the first time in New Zealand. Towns often make me…

​Day 55. Whanganui – Koitiata. 31km. Total 1406km.  I take my time this morning. Tea, yoghurt with banana, coffee, tomatoe with feta. At 9am I say goodbye to Liz who is going to New Plymouth today to visit a friend. For me it’s going to be endless roads. Walking through Whanganui is nice but once…