Day 7: Raetea Forest to Apple Tree Campsite (138-173 km)

The Raetea Forest was a little brutal. There was no avoiding the mud like I had in the Herekino Forest and I slipped at least 4 times. The trail was really well marked, but I started worrying I might slip and bust an ankle. As I neared a fork in the trail I decided to take a 3 km way out of the forest to State Highway 1 instead of taking the next 7 or so official Te Araroa kilometers through the rest of the Raetea forest. The path I took must have previously been the TA because it was really well marked with orange blazes (at the fork there was a sign saying to go the other way so people didn't get confused).

When I got to State Highway 1 around 3 pm it was at a pull off so I had plenty of room to safely stand and stick up a thumb to try and hitch. After about 20 minutes a really nice lady from Paihia picked me up and took me to Omahuta Road so I could make the 12 km walk to Apple Tree Campsite. I made it there around 7 or 7:30 (my feet were hurting so I went a little slow on the gravel road). The water spout was broken or out of water, so I was a little worried. Luckily I heard water and followed it and realized I was right by a river so I was able to fill up some water bottles and make dinner and get to bed.

Wandering through the Raetea Forest.  

After the Raetea Forest on the way to Apple Camp Site

I really need to get better at this, but I forgot to take a photo of my camp. This morning a where it was at Apple Dam Campsite though.