Day 42 - Downes Hut

Sunshinnnnnne. What even is rain anymore. Today we leave the national park, and the great walk, but continue our journey on the Whanganui river southbound. 

We went exploring a few times whenever something along the river peaked our interest. One such diversion was a waterfall coming out of a cave. Another we searched a canyon for a hot springs that we never ended up finding.

As we continued south the landscape became less rugged and remote, eventually we stumbled upon some farms and buildings. This is where most canoers end their journey. Past this point the current became slower and slower, rapids were increasingly infrequent, and we actually had to start paddling. It was genuinely hard work, our legs may be worked in, but our arms were not. 

Eventually we reached our camp, Downs Hut. A very tranquil hut perched up on the bank, an excellent place to end the day. 50km on the river today.