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Short Tail of the Wilderness Trail

Stumpers Hotel in Hokitika was really good value and a comfortable well equipped place to stay.  Their restaurant is nice too.  


Thanks Hokitika Cycle & Sportsworld for giving my bike a bit of a tune before we headed for our next stop Hari Hari.  That meant finishing off the West Coast Wilderness Trail to Ross which had a good store with Venison and Mushroom pies.  

From Ross it was 46 non-eventful kms to Hari Hari.  We pulled out of our pre-booked accommodation at the Hari Hari Hotel after looking at it, which we had never done before, as the room they had given us was sorely in need of cleaning and tlc.  Instead we got a room at Glenalmond up the road a bit.  Much more comfy.  

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