🗓️ December 06, 2025

🏁 Kilometers : 1000

We spent the night at Ngaherenga camp, located at the start of the Timber Trail, a well-known trail throughout the country that takes two days to complete by mountain bike. Following tradition, we rent some and the rental company brings them to the trailhead and collects our backpacks, which are then dropped off at the campsite for the night. Today we have 40 kilometers to cycle. The trail immediately plunges into the forest on relatively flat terrain, zigzagging for 5 kilometers. The track is very well maintained, and the initial sensations are bringing back childhood memories, when cycling was our only means of transportation.

The path then climbs for 8 kilometers with an elevation gain of approximately 500 meters. It's not enormous, but I can feel my legs getting heavy from the very first inclines. Is it fatigue from the previous days? Lack of practice? Are different muscle groups being used? Maybe a little bit of everything, but I understand that the day won't be easy ! But I push myself, motivate myself, and take breaks as often as I need! When I reach the summit, I wait for my companions for lunch.

For the afternoon, the vast majority of the route is downhill. What a pleasure to let the bike flow, even if using the brakes is essential to avoid ending up in a ditch. What a joy to ride through the forest, picking up speed, negotiating the turns, and avoiding potholes and rocks. We cross several suspension bridges during the day; the first one we cross is 115 meters long! The wind blowing in the valley below makes the bridge sway slightly, adding to the excitement.

For the last 10 kilometers, the climbs and descents come one after another, even though overall we continue to lose altitude. Greg and Ashley overtake me with disconcerting ease; of course, riding e-bikes makes it easier. I try to keep up with them, but it's no use!

500 meters before reaching the camp, we pass a symbolic milestone: the 1000th kilometer! I have hiked 400km this summer in the French Vosges Mountains to train for Te Araroa, but passing a four-digit kilometer mark is a first! A third of the route is already completed, and I tell myself that whatever happens now, my honor is intact!

We arrive at the campsite and pitch our tents in a beautiful, large clearing bordered by fir trees, its thick grass reminiscent of the mountains. A stream a little further down allows us to fill our water bottles and freshen up. The water is freezing, but I sit down completely. It's good for several reasons! 1: It's invigorating. 2: I stink!

We eat our meal in the grass and go to bed right after the colorful sunset.

It was (yet another) beautiful day!

🗓️ December 07, 2025

🏁 Kilometers : 1042

The second and final section of the Timber Trail. I learn from signs along the way that this half of the route was once a railway line used to transport logs and people when the forest was heavily logged about a hundred years ago.

After 45 minutes of cycling, I reach the longest suspension bridge on the trail, stretching 141 meters in length and 53 meters in height. It’s a magnificent structure, and it’s no wonder the Timber Trail is so popular in the country. Under the leadership of the former prime minister some twenty years ago, numerous routes were developed to promote ecotourism on the island. Open since 2013, it's used by around 20,000 people each year.

The trail has a few steep climbs (I'm panting like a bull on the ascents) but overall it gradually descends. The last 15 kilometers are practically one long, blissful downhill run, letting gravity do its work. My bike glides along without me having to pedal; the feeling is divine! If I had the chance to do it again, I'd leave the very next day!

I arrive at camp very early; it's not yet noon. I could walk 25 kilometers to reach the next town in the afternoon, but there's no reason to rush, so I pitch my tent and watch my companions arrive throughout the afternoon.

We start organizing ourselves for the next two weeks. On the agenda is Traverse 42, a two-day hike through a forested mountain range; Crossing Tongariro National Park, one of the country's most beautiful parks with its volcanic activity, and will be followed a few days later by a 5-day canoe trip.

It smells like adventure!

🗓️ December 08, 2025

🏁 Kilometers : 1067

No big plans for today. I wake up early and quickly set off to reach the town of Taumaranui, 25 km away, before noon, giving me time to do a load of laundry and stock up on supplies for the next two weeks. The company that manages the canoe rentals we'll be using in about ten days has agreed to store the food we'll need, and they’ll bring it along with the canoes. It's convenient, it just requires a little organization... Once at the supermarket, we try to gauge what we need for the next two weeks. Filling the shopping cart is a bit chaotic; it seems I have way too much food, and at the same time, I have to be sure I have enough!

I'm renting a motel that I'm sharing with Ellen from Australia. We've been in the same group for about ten days now, which has around a dozen people, even though we don't always walk at the same pace and are a bit spread out. However, the plan is to meet up for the canoe trip and then share a large house afterward to celebrate Christmas together!

I can hardly believe Christmas is only two weeks away!