Day 9 in Te Araroa

I started the morning at 6:30 am, ready with clean clothes, charged electronics, and a full bag of food.

Arnis was sitting in the kitchen ready to leave and I told him if he waited 10 more minutes I could walk with him. What a delight for him!

In the end, Sam and Dean couldn’t kayak, so we all ended up in Paihia. I booked separate accommodation for fear of approaching bad weather. I didn’t want to be stranded without a bed, so I booked the first available hostel. Turns out 3 of the kids were staying in the same room and had an empty bunk bed, which I could have easily done too.

I didn’t talk to anyone at the hostel. No soap or towels. It’s quite an interesting experience moving in and out of cities so frequently and yet feeling even more disgusting than usual.

Verdict: You should bring a towel and body soap for Te Araroa.

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.