A light breeze

Rested enough, the next hike is coming up for us. We arrive at Egmont National Park in the afternoon and can find out about the conditions and the track at the Visitor Center. In total it is only 6 km to the 2518m high summit, but the last 2 km are said to be very demanding. Maren chats with the park ranger and we get a GO for tomorrow morning! She recommends that we leave between 5 and 6 a.m. and warns us not to turn around if the wind gets stronger. Afterwards we go on a short warm-up hike. By small I mean really small. We assumed it would be 5 km... but something was wrong with the information board and it ended up being less than 2 km. Well, we think to ourselves and let it go. We hang out in the parking lot for the rest of the day and go to bed more than early.

We actually get out of bed very fresh and alert and prepare ourselves for the 8-10 hour hike. With our headlamps we walk through the still gloomy rainforest. As the forest clears, we can pass the first few meters of altitude with a wonderful view of the beginning of the sunrise. With every minute and every meter it becomes even more beautiful. However, the wind is also getting stronger. There is no longer any natural windbreak and we are completely exposed to it. Motivated by the incredibly beautiful view and eager for the challenge, we fight against the gusts. Until we decide it's too much. We can hardly resist it while standing. However, there are always warning signs along the way. Today reason prevails. We eat our sandwiches for breakfast before taking a different route back down. If you don't pay attention and think for a moment, the lunch box and its contents fly to the floor. The next breads will be available in a Crunchie version. The descent is a bit annoying, with wooden steps that are at completely different distances and heights. Although it's no different than walking through the forest with all the roots. But you always need something to bully.

We use the few hours that we are back earlier than planned and continue on the Forgotten World Highway. The road is 155 km long and promises a (as the name suggests) forgotten world. To us everything looks the same as always. Just a road through the countryside, with absolutely nothing far and wide, like any other we have driven so far. In the middle of it all, the entire route is closed at once for the next two hours due to a construction site. The woman overseeing the closure sends us to Mt Damper Falls for so long. At 74m, it is one of the highest waterfalls in New Zealand.