By Ruth

Distance: 27km

The day started out in a monumental fashion: we crossed the longest footbridge in the southern hemisphere! I know you are all now itching to plan your trip to the beautiful town of Whananaki so you too can experience the wonder of crossing this bridge.

After the thrilling bridge crossing we walked about 8km on a gorgeous trail along the coast. We passed through rolling green hills overlooking rocky shores and sandy coves.

At the end of the trail we arrived at Sandy Bay, a beach where we saw a surf lesson taking place. It was a beautiful spot for a rest and a snack.

After Sandy Bay, the rest of the day’s walking was a bit of a letdown. It was all on roads, mostly paved, and after a few hours we both had really sore feet. It was a relief when we got into town, where we did a resupply for the next few days of walking and caught a boat ride over to Nikau Bay where we are camping tonight. Also this afternoon we were rejoined by Diana, the German girl who was with us on the night of the infamous possum attack. Nice to see a familiar face again on the trail.

The campsite where we are staying tonight is very cool. It is a rustic style but is really homey and nice. And the showers are amazing!