The next 40km section is apparently pretty tough, so I left at 6.30 hoping to make it to the 1.30 jetboat transfer to Pipiriki. 

The farm track eventually turned into singletrack- the sort you walk rather than ride.  At least a unicycle is easier to maneuver than a fully laden touring bike, which would not be fun!  I passed some TA riders having a hard time on the narrow Kaiwhakauka track. 

It was a steady climb for 16km up to Mangapurua trig, then a big downhill to Mangapurua landing, where we would catch the jetboat. 

One photo stop at the Bridge to Nowhere to collect along the way, and then we were whisked 30km downriver on the jetboat. I rode a further 24km to finish in Matahiwi, which has a great cafe and cabins.