Online alarm clock for 6:15 pm
Finish your DOC track check at 6:15 pm, record any slips or flooded sections, and start heading out before the afternoon light fades further. The alarm gives the inspection a firm stopping point, so an interesting side path or another muddy patch does not keep you there longer than planned. That leaves 45 minutes before 7:00 pm for the return to the car park or shelter.
While you are checking the track, the alarm needs to be audible above rain, wind, and conversation. Silent mode can suppress the sound even when the timer appears to be running, so the volume setting deserves a quick check before the phone goes back into a pocket. A browser alarm also cannot alert you after its session is no longer active or the phone has gone to sleep; for a DOC track departure that must not be missed, a separate built-in alarm provides a useful backup.
On a wet New Zealand afternoon, cloud and bush cover can make usable light disappear sooner than the clock suggests. Before setting off, note where the track opens into clearer ground and keep a torch accessible rather than buried in the pack. When 6:15 pm arrives, that preparation makes it easier to leave promptly and follow markers back without relying on the remaining daylight.
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