DAY 6 - MENARI TO NAURO
Sunday 26 July
It was a half‑day of trekking, but no less challenging than any full day of travel on the track. The group set out from Menari in the cool of the morning, the thin light just beginning to filter through the canopy. Only twenty minutes into the walk they crossed a small wooden bridge spanning a small stream — a brief, cheerful landmark that reminded everyone how far they’d come already. That sense of progress lasted only briefly; after the bridge they pushed on for another thirty minutes over rocky, root‑strewn trails until they reached a shallow clearing where the team stopped for their first short rest. Water bottles were topped up here before their first real climb of the day began after that break. The ascent to the Menari lookout was steep in places and required careful footing, but the effort paid off. From the lookout, the group could take in a sweeping view: the thatched roofs and scattered gardens of the village where they had camped the previous night. They lingered there a while—some taking photographs, others simply breathing in the clear air.
The descent from the ridge took about forty‑five minutes and tested different muscles; what was easy going uphill became a steady drill on knees and balance as they picked their way along narrow tracks. At the bottom they paused by a spring to refill water bottles and rest a few aching legs. Reinvigorated, the team left the ridge and made their way across a wide stretch of swampy ground and luckily for the trekkers it was nice and dry. The uneven terrain demanded concentration and strategic stepping, but it also led them to a rewarding sight: the Brown River. A few of them took the chance to cool off with a refreshing swim — slipping into the clear water, washing sweat and dust from the morning’s exertions, and laughing as the water stung pleasantly against tired legs.
After the swim, the group resumed the track with renewed spirits. A short, easy fifteen‑minute trek brought them into Amaduri village, where they stopped for morning tea. The villagers greeted and they purchased some twisties and fresh fruit, while others wondered about the upcoming false peaks. Once refreshed, they re-entered the swamp for another stretch of walking that lasted roughly thirty minutes. The track wound through dense foliage, and the group moved in a quiet rhythm and gradually the terrain changed, and they found themselves at the base of a series of false peaks: climbs that promised the summit but delivered only temporary relief before another rise. They took a longer break here, taking a few minutes before the next push.
What followed was an extended, steady climb up the long, seemingly endless slopes of the range. The gradient was unrelenting at times; the loose soil made footing tricky and required a slower, more deliberate pace. Conversation dropped to a low murmur as concentration tightened; The effort was communal—encouraging words, kept the morale up. As the afternoon light began to shift, the group finally crested the higher slopes and made their way down toward New Nauro Village.
They arrived at New Nauro at 1:30pm, tired but satisfied, and set up camp for the night. The early finish meant there was time for rest and recovery: tents were pitched, lunch was had, and a few people took advantage of the calm to wash muddy gear. Others sprawled out in the hut resting, while a handful, exhausted by the day’s climbs and humidity, took restorative afternoon naps. The atmosphere in camp was relaxed and high spirits marking the end of a demanding but rewarding half‑day’s trek.
