Day 6: Ahipara and the Herekino Forest to the start of the Raetea Forest (101-138 km)

I left Ahipara around 4 am. I wanted an early start to try to make up for yesterday's 0 day. A little after sunrise I got done with the road walking and got ready to start the Herekino Forest. It was pretty muddy looking but I was able to strategically make my way around all the mud pits and keep my feet dry and un-muddy. New Zealand is pretty crazy. The forest is so green and looks like a mix between a rainforest and a tropical jungle in Jurassic Park. Then you wander out of the woods onto green rolling farmland that reminds me of Scotland.

Around 3 I popped out of the Herekino Forest for the gravel road walking section through some forestry areas. I saw the cutest little black and white ducklings waddling down the trail for a bit! They were too quick for me to grab a photo.

When I had about 4 km of gravel road walking left, someone drove by and kindly asked if I needed a ride. I almost said no but knew with this short ride it would mean I could probably avoid setting up camp in the dark, which I really didn't want to do. He was a mechanic and dropped me off at the river by the trailhead so I could refill my water bottles.

I climbed up a 4 wheel drive track to the start of the Raetea Forest and set up my tent. It was starting to get dark and I wanted to start the forest first thing in the morning.

Cows staring at me on my way out of Ahipara

Getting ready to start the forest tracks!  

The beautiful Herekino Forest.  

A rainbow on the last bit of gravel road before the Raetea Forest.  

This is where I slept for the night...but I forgot to take a photo before I started taking down my tent.