Excited and nervous, we waited for the shuttle to Bluff. After the obligatory photo, we set off around and then over Bluff Hill. Two hours later we stopped for coffee in Bluff, served by a previous Wellington teacher. Initially the walk along the highway was relatively pleasant, on the newly created cycle way. All too soon we were on the hard shoulder, facing more trucks than expected on Boxing Day. Lunch of GF French toast at the only possible picnic spot and then eventually onto the final 10km of cycle way. Ten hours later we arrived at the backpackers for a dinner of GF pasta, nomato and lentil sauce, yams and green beans. Slept well!

Advertisement