13km Day : 696 Total
25 January 2015
-41.610851, 173.075454

This morning Rory and Joerg started out at 7:40.  I had a slow start getting organized and left the hut 20 minutes later with Johannes, a young German hiker who shared the hut with us last night.  We hiked together for an hour but it was clear we had different hiking styles and speeds so we parted amicably when he stopped for a break.

I caught up with Joerg and Rory at 11am at Mid Wairoa Hut where they were visiting with a couple of local Kiwis that were out for a short hike.  They were a very nice couple who shared some of there detailed knowledge of the local trails, wildlife and plant life.

Stream Behind Mid Wairoa

We continued on together and stopped at noon at a beautiful pool for a swim and lunch.  I lingered here for a while longer than Rory and Joerg to relax and enjoy what I considered a prime spot.

Opportunity for a Lunchtime Swim

The trail continued along the Wairoa River for the rest of the day with several wet feet stream crossings.  The views along the river were awesome with several significant waterfalls.

I arrived at Top Wairoa Hut at 5:20 where Joerg and Rory had already settled down and were preparing dinner.  We are now on the edge of the Red Hills where the scenery will change considerably.