The best-laid plans don’t always fall into place, and that’s certainly true of a recent attempt to walk from Auckland to Te Puke.

The Hub Te Puke general manager Scott Nicholson and chairman Lee Harrison had planned the walk and were due to set off from Auckland on August 18 to make the trek in support of the local charitable organisation.

However, an eleventh-hour health scare meant Nicholson was unable to take his place with Harrison at the Britomart start line – but he did join the walk on day 5 at Miranda.

And in a case of all’s well that ends well, the pair strode purposefully into Te Puke last Friday afternoon to a warm greeting from family and supporters.

The walk had a twofold purpose - it was a chance to acknowledge and raise awareness of the struggles people might be facing in their everyday lives, and it was also a way to help The Hub be better equipped to help those people by asking for pledges of monthly donations.

Harrison said he felt the walk went better than expected.

“I hadn’t done a lot of walking long distances day after day at all – just short training walks, 13k every second day or third day, then a couple of longer walks … so I wasn’t really sure how it was going to go day after day with an average of 25k a day, but it was good.“

A rest day in the middle was needed and welcomed.

One of the features of the walk was the people they met on the way.

Before Nicholson joined him, Harrison was invited into the Playcentre at Mangatangi for a cup of tea.

“I met six mums and one dad and they were really hospitable. I really enjoyed the talk with them and getting to know them.”

Harrison and Nicholson were also joined on the walk by a group of supporters when the route took in the Hauraki Rail Trail.

Nicholson said the people they met were largely positive and it was inspiring.

“It was interesting that when we told them what we were walking for how the cost of living and the cost of food became the subject of the conversation,” he said.

“It didn’t matter where we were, or what work people had, or were doing, they were all commenting on just how expensive food is.”

Unlocking challenges on the way as pledge targets were met, the pair had to score high fives from strangers, get toots from truck drivers, tell dad jokes and do a cold plunge in the Wairoa River.

Nicholson said the swim was a refreshing start to the day.

“It was quite a sunny day, but it was still cold at that time of the morning, and the water was definitely brisk.”

Harrison said the challenges broke up the days.

“But the walking itself was meditative and physical, and all those factors made it really neat and novel.

“People were blown away with the whole idea and to start with we were as well, but if you break it down into bits, it’s quite manageable and a lot of fun.”

Nicholson said the walk made him appreciate “the amazing country we live in”.

The reception committee at the entrance to Te Puke. Photo / Supplied

While it is too early to give accurate figures on the financial benefits of the walk, it has raised the profile of The Hub.

“We’re definitely getting more people contacting us about how to support us and based on the emails I’ve been seeing, giving is definitely up,” Nicholson said.

Thoughts have now turned to the possibility of another walk to Te Puke next year with a different starting point.

The Hub Te Puke operates the local foodbank and other initiatives that support those struggling.