After leaving the big smoke its a few kms along roads to the SH35 bridge over the Waiapu. Then its back into the river for the last 2 kms to its source where the Mata forks SE and the Tapuaeroa NE.
I continue up the much smaller Tapuaeroa which is basically a downsized version of the Waiapu. The crossings are rarely knee deep and its mainy shingle/bolders rather than sand.
Beehives placed on the shingle reinsurer me its unlikely to flood.
Further upstream the vally narrows slightly, Hickurangi disappaers behind cloud, goats and hares cross cross the river, geese and gulls circle above and herds of bovine and equine roam together as if one. Fencing is obviously an issue in the region.
Later on the clouds turn to drizzel and the wind picks up again making it a less than pleasent walk. I walk as far as i can and find the perfect campspot tucked into a kanuka clearing on the true right. Its shelterd from the wind and im glad to be sleeping on grass not sand as another dust bowl picks up on the far side of the river.
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