Day 31: Ambury Park to Botanic Gardens (27km, 8 hours)

I didn't get a great sleep last night - it's been a while since I last used my little tent mattress and sleeping bag! I finally drifted off about midnight I think - but was awake at 4:30. 

The local wildlife, watching me brush my teeth.

By 6:45 I was back on the trail. After leaving Ambury the route follows the Watercare coastal walkway around the Manukau estuary, a mostly gravel path that passes a bird sanctuary, the Watercare sewerage treatment plant, and around to a coastal region called the Otuataua Stonefields. 

Walking past the sewerage works. Clearly the bird sanctuary is a great success.

Looking back over the estuary to Mangere Mountain. One Tree Hill is still there!

The Stonefields are exactly that - fields with some rocks in them - but apparently of historical significance to Maori. It was a nice walk around the estuary - apart from when the path and the TA app went different ways! I ended up going 10 minutes in the wrong direction and scrambling back through a marsh before getting back on track. With wet shoes. D’oh!

OK, so apparently I was meant to go this way. Through a locked gate with no signage. Of course!

After finding the right route it led up the hill to Ihumatao. The road was open but there were still signs of last year's protests. 

No cars allowed - but walkers are fine.

Then it was a schlep along the road for an hour to the airport. I grabbed a couple of sandwiches from Countdown at the airport shopping centre, and ate them while sneakily charging my phone.

My 10am pic. Sitting outside Countdown, with coffee in a can

And then another long schlep past the airport, down Puhinui Rd to Puhinui Reserve. 

Getting hot and tired. Not much to see on these road sections.

I made it!

Time for a power nap! While drying my shoes. Watched by another curious chicken.

While testing up, I met my first TA hiker, Emma. Though she was going North, so it was just a brief chat before she continued on her way.

Come back Emma, I forgot to take a pic!

I’d done 18km so far, and Puhinui Reserve was supposed to be my destination for today. But it was still early, so I though I would try to push on and reach the Botanic Gardens. The route (when I finally worked it out) passed through a field of sheep before following along the Puhinui Stream - interspersed with many more roads - all the way past Manukau City Centre.

Do you see the trail? No, neither did I.

Arghh, of all the boring roads, Wiri Station Rd is right up there. Getting very tired at this point.

Approaching Manukau - a sign!

Passing Rainbows End (in the distance)

Are we there yet? A quick drink by the stream.

The stream flows all the way to the Botanic Gardens.

I finally made it to the gardens exhausted at about 3pm - just as well there was some cloud cover to keep things cool this afternoon. I napped under a tree until 4:30 when Paul arrived with dinner.

I was on a street corner, people were looking at me rather strangely.

Paul to the rescue, thanks Paul! This will be my last picnic treat, it’ll be boring dinners from this point on…

I’m going to risk free camping in the Botanic Gardens tonight - I really hope I don’t get kicked out by a security guard, there is no plan B!

Trying to be inconspicuous, in a far corner of the gardens. Fingers crossed!

Tomorrow will be another big road walking day, so I’ll need my beauty sleep tonight. I’m near a motorway though, perhaps the rumble of the cars will lull me to sleep. Or keep me up all night. We shall see!

Today’s route, from Ambury to the Botanic Gardens (aka the blue dot)