Taumarunui to Owhango

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 Day 19: Taumarunui to Owhango (27km) 

After our “zero” day we were all set with five days” worth of food in our packs to head in to the Tongariro Forest. 

But first we had to drop another five days’ worth of food off with the canoeing company and watch a safety briefing for when we canoe down the Whanganui River in about six days’ time. 



View of the Whanganui River just over the bridge from Taumarunui.


             Roger carrying our extra food to the canoeing HQ. 


                           View from canoeing HQ. 

No, we are not cheating. Canoeing the Whanganui River is an official part of the Te Araroa. It is actually one of the ten “Great Walks” of NZ! 

Food dropped, forms completed and safety briefed, we then walked the rest of the 27km over the hill to Owhango. 








We saw more horses. cows, bulls and sheep as expected but also…..an ostrich!! This had to become the “bird of the day” but as it did not make a sound as we walked past I could not tell you what its call is! 






               Lunch stop near the top of the hill. 






Sadly the one cafe in Owhango was closed when we got there, as was the one pub! A very disappointed Mr T on both accounts! 

Fortunately our kind hosts, Margaret and Andrew satisfied our thirst with their home brewed beer and home made feijoa wine! 

Now we are all set to walk the 42nd Traverse tomorrow. 

Roger’s trail notes and latest sketch: 









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