Day 116 | Parawai Hut
5 February 2023 | 25°C | 25km
There have been heavy wind warnings for the Tararuas in the previous days and a German southbound hiker that I talked to the previous day said that it was pretty rainy and rugged for him.
The forecast for the next days predicts a much better weather window though. It’s still quite windy even in Waikanae in the morning though, so I decide to wait until midday before heading out. It’s a 10km walk up the road to the trailhead. The weather starts clearing and upon my arrival there, the sun is full on. Roughly 700m climbing ahead of the but it’s mostly in the forest and then this kind of elevation is not a real challenge for a northbounder, isn’t it? 😜
After 2.5 hours, I reach the Pukeatua summit, not much of a view up there, so I continue walking downhill. There still is sufficient daylight but in the forest at 6pm it is quite dark already. At some point I stop to take a look at the map and have a snack, when suddenly I hear a voice behind me. It feels like someone is walking right behind me. 😱
I scream and turn around … and see a possum that has just jumped from one tree to another. Phew, what a relief.
We look at each other for quite a while. It is curious and not afraid at all.
It’s a relief for the eyes once I reach a more open forest with several grassy clearings and much more light. A car park I see on the map and the next hut should not be too far away now.
Three other hikers have just finished their dinners once I arrive at Parawai Lodge - the hut that is so tucked away that I feel I have walked around it twice before actually finding it.
Person of the day: One of the hikers at the hut just fished the CDT (Continental Divide Trail), now on the Te Araroa and after finishing that will start the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) 😳
