After 32 hours of travel, I finally arrived at my home for my first 2 nights in New Zealand. Apart from the power being out at home the morning I left, everything went smoothly. Even the infamous gear inspection/washing at the airport wasn’t an issue for me. My first order of business was to take a nap after getting to the Airbnb, but I wasn’t sleepy somehow, so I went out and found some lunch and the bulk food store. I also checked out the grocery stores, just to see what they’re like and one of them also had a bulk food section. It seems that no one here is particularly bothered about bringing your own containers and making sure they’re clean like a lot of places in Montreal. I found most of the stuff I wanted, but did end up with some powdered milk and cookies in regular packaging. After having a power nap when I got back, it was off to dinner at a Lebanese restaurant in town. I crashed as soon as I got back and slept about 10 hours, which is pretty much a record for me.

This morning was walking around the Stone store area, the oldest surviving stone building in NZ, and one of the first places that missionaries lived next to Maori. There’s a lovely garden around it and an orchard, as well as a site where a Maori fortified village stood.

I then wandered around some paths and got a bit turned around, but I did see a fantail and tui, as well as some enormously tall trees that I haven’t figured out yet.

This afternoon was more grocery shopping. I decided to mail a food package forward to a trail angel on a long section of trail with no bulk food store, since I had the time to organise it and the post office is open today (I think it will likely be the weekend when I get back to Kerikeri). Now all that’s left to do is to pack up again and get myself to my pick up spot for the tour to Cape Reinga tomorrow.