Sunday 7th May
Whariwharangi Hut to Totaranui to Marahau – 15.6km, 3:34 (stops 7:02)

Our last days hike we set out early as we had to be back at Totaranui by 12.15pm to catch the water taxi back to Marahau. Today’s hike was about 450m high over about an hour and a half and the down for the rest of the 11.5km hike. Half way up we saw Will’s backpack at a crossroad and he had run down to the finish of the track. Not to be outdone by England we felt we owed it to Australia to not be out done by the English so down we headed. a 3km run downhill with some amazing views of the Golden Bay spit and Wainui Bay. After reaching the end of the track we then headed back up which was again a 3km climb back up the hill It wasn’t too bad as we had removed our packs at the top. It was amazing the ease with which we climbed. It took us about 35mins to get back to the fork in the track. We then had a very tough climb to the top of Gibbs Hill, very steep and with our packs back on we questioned our decision to do as the English did. But too ate for that thought now. At the top of Gibbs Hill was more great views. The rest of the way to Totaranui was a gradual downhill slope for another 1.5hrs. On arrival we met up with Julia, Bjorn and Will, and we waited for the water taxi. It was great to see where we had walked from the water. Halfway back to Marahau on the taxi we rescued a couple whose blow up kayak had sprung a leak. I said it was a first date that had gone wrong but DB thought the guy just had sore arms and needed rescuing. They were a little embarrassed.

When we arrived at Marahau the water taxi was put on a trailer and a tractor pulled us out across the mud flats up to the office. We then headed to the car, giving Bjorn and Julia a lift back to their car at the start of the track. Bjorn had asked DB to have a look at the car because he was having trouble starting it sometime. He had bought it for $2900 when he first arrived through a Backpackers Facebook page. It was a pretty good Tarago style car which he was using as a campervan. Saving him heaps of money in accommodation. It was just loose battery terminal connectors. So they were very grateful. We said our goodbyes and headed to pick up our bags from our last accommodation and drove to Nelson for a well deserved rest.