The 42

Tongariro Forest Block 42 was last logged in 1972 and is known to the locals as "the 42". Te Araroa is routed over the 42 Traverse, beginning here at Owhango. It can be biked in a day, but hikers need to camp en route. 

This morning the rain paused about 0900hrs and off I went to sample the Owhango end of the Traverse. No backpack, just walking poles and a raincoat. 

Brachyglottis repanda looks so healthy here - none of the mould it gets in gardens. And like other large-leaved natives, it really glows in the rain. 

There is a good bridge over Whakapapa River and grey ducks were foraging at the edges. They differ from mallards in this character... they live well on fast shallow water. 

The track narrowed somewhat after that and last night's rain coursed over this waterfall

With podocarps logged out and rata and kamahi hammered by possums, the bush was boring but I got in amongst robins and whiteheads and tomtits again so birdwatching was a joy. 

I turned back at Mako Stream (true!) and took a detour to a lovely lagoon on the way back. 

By then the rain returned and so did I with a 22km leg stretch done. I was making a cup of tea when a 6.5 magnitude earthquake occurred and didn't feel a thing, even though I must be at the epicentre. 

It was raining hard when a pair of NOBO hikers who started at Wellington arrived. In 30 plus days they haven't seen the sun, they said. Tomorrow the three of us are doing the Tongariro Crossing and our shuttle driver will take me to National Park afterwards.