Friday 26 November Walk from Paihia to Opua

New Zealand has a reputation for fine walks and we plan to do plenty of walking while we're here. A lot of these walks are in nature reserves and a maintained by the DOC (Department of Conservation). I'd read about two walks from Paihia to Opua, one follows the shoreline and is about 5 miles, the other follows the higher ridge through the forest and is about 8 miles of ups and downs.

We opted for the longer ridge walk. David had his walking boots which he last wore in Bora Bora to climb the big hill. However, he carried the laces in his pocket. When it came time to leave the boat in the morning we found his boots in the wardrobe with the BCDs. It took more than 10 minutes to find the laces which had been tucked in another cupboard. I went with the lighter, sprintier, training shoes. In Paihia town we ran into our friend Steve from Dignity and as he had time to kill he joined us on the walk back. He had his flip flops.

View towards Russell

View to Opua

The walk starts off the esplanade, up School Lane and then a well signposted and gravelled path through fern trees up to a lookout point over the Bay of Islands. Here are a couple of the views on this over cast day.

The track along the ridge was also a well marked path through the trees, though there wasn't a break in them to be able to see the valley or the water. Two hours of more ups than downs (it always feels like it), we came out on a dirt road high above Opua town. It was another 35 minutes walking along this stony road back to the main road and down the hill into town. A wonderful walk after many weeks out in the islands and our appetites whetted for the longer hikes in the south island.

Steve & David

David had done the whole 3 hours without laces in his boots. I tripped on the road into town and detached the sole from the upper and Steve's flip flops had done well until the stony road. Needless to say, David will have laces next time and I'm looking for a pair of light weight boots with good ankle support.

Wairare river w'Jackster centre

We returned to Jackster for a well earned lunch and feeling most righteous about our exercise.