Back to Motueka from Golden Bay you have to climb Takaka Hill, 800m, and to start your track in Marahau another little hill, 250m, has to be crossed. Old Mac Donald has a farm in Marahau, a good place to store your bike in a shed at that camp site. About 4 hours walk along the coast on a very good and pleasant track to Torrent Bay, which can only be crossed within 2 hours of low tide. Another 3 hours to Barks Bay with space for about 40 tents and a wonderful sandy beach to swim. If you start early (6 o'clock) you have the track for yourself for a few hours. Up and down, through jungle and long sandy beaches you reach Awaroa Inlet, where you have to wait for low tide again. Another 2 hours to Totaranui, where you can catch a water taxi (small boat for 10 people max.) back to Maharau. It is a bit of a nuisance, that you have to carry your tent, sleeping bag, mattress, cooker, food etc just for one night in your tent. With good weather one of the best two days I ever had in a walk. You will meet quite a few people, 'you never walk alone'.
Next day from Marahau via Motueka, Korere and Kikiwa to Lake Rotoiti (St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes NP). Cloudy weather above 1200m (with the chance of sand flies and the odd shower) when walking up Mt Robert in the morning and Arnaud Range on the east side of Lake Rotoiti in the afternoon. Cloudy above 1200m.
The next days I expect more rain along the West Coast.
