TA Day 1

TA Day 1: Thursday 19 December 2024

Stirling Point - Bluff Freedom Farm

We started the day in Oban on Stewart Island, where we took the boat back to Bluff from which we had come a few days earlier. This time the journey across Foveaux Strait was much calmer. We went to Foursquare and bought some breakfast for the upcoming days and some more snacks, before heading towards Stirling Point - the starting/ending point of the Te Araroa Trail!

We took some photos and made some videos by the sign, as is pretty much obligatory, and also congratulated three bikers who reached Stirling Point and finished their own biking journeys.

Now there was only one way to go - north! Towards Cape Reinga.

We followed the trail up Bluff Hill, a sweaty but cozy trail, passing some information signs and remnants from the Second World War, as Bluff Hill served as a strategic spot with its views towards the sea.

Then down we went again, down some steep stairs, straight into a pasture. Where we passed some cows and sheep. After a few kms Kim decided to continue barefoot, and very much enjoyed walking some 3 kms or so with grass beneath her feet.

Then up on the road again, and shoes on. Immediately the feet were less happy and more irritated again!

A few kms later we arrived at tonight's camp - Bluff Freedom Farm. And what a place! The host, Jasper, has thought about pretty much everything a hiker might want and need and was super friendly and chatty!

We spent the afternoon eating, relaxing, showering (😍) and talking to the other hikers - two Czech couples that started the same day as us from Bluff.

There are 3 small cute cabins here. Since the Czech couples were first, they have the two cabins with beds inside - we got the third cabin, the "communal cabin". Not that it matters to us, they are super cute, cozy and we don't have to sleep in our tent tonight!

Tomorrow awaits the first long day - about 27 km to Invercargill.