Coromandel 4

As we made our way up the Wainora walk we heard something crashing around in the bush and expected to see a wild pig or goat but then heard voices. Thinking that perhaps some trampers had lost their way we called out, asking them if they were OK.
'Yes,' came the reply, 'where are you?'
'On the track,' we said.
This produced whoops of joy and an increase in the sound of people hacking their way out. Eventually a man, and a woman wearing a protective helmet, appeared.
'We took a shortcut,' the man said in a matter of fact way and in a Kiwi accent, as if it was normal behaviour to launch oneself down the mountainside into thick bush in a remote area. Then, as if to emphasise his nonchalance, added 'where are you going today?'
The couple continued down the track while we kept climbing.

There had been sunny spells as we moved upwards but just as we reached the exposed ridge it began to rain again. We sheltered in the bush for a while, hoping that the rain would stop. It didn't until we reached the turning point - when the marked route began to head back towards the campsite below - by which time we were both very wet. We ate lunch sitting on a tree trunk in our sodden clothes. Then we started on the homeward route now made treacherous by the rain.
Our jackets and shorts dried as we walked and were only a little damp when we reached the campsite. Still, after suffering such discomfort we were in complete agreement that we wanted a pitch that night on a site with full facilities including hot showers.
So we turned Tim in the direction of Thames.