Key Summit Trail & avocado hand 🥑

Enchanted by the beautiful landscapes on our way to Milford Sound, we decided to dive deeper and set off on the Key Summit Trail.

The trail wound its way through ancient forests, where towering trees were cloaked in thick layers of moss. The lush greenery isn’t just picturesque – the moss thrives in the high humidity and abundant rainfall typical of Fiordland.

At the summit, we were rewarded with tiny alpine tarns (small glacial lakes) scattered across the landscape and enjoyed incredible 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

After soaking in the views, we descended the trail and stopped for breakfast near the Hollyford River. That’s when things took an unexpected turn. While slicing an avocado and trying to remove the pit with a knife, I made the (painful) mistake of stabbing myself deeply in the palm of my hand 🖐️.

Thankfully, Maciek stayed calm, quickly patched me up, and we managed to finish our riverside breakfast before continuing south. I knew right away that the wound needed stitches, so we made a detour to the Southland Hospital in Invercargill. There, we got a number for the ER queue, squeezed in a quick shopping trip (despite the massive lines), and waited patiently. Just before midnight, a lovely nurse finally stitched me up, ensuring my hand was back on the mend.

For the next two weeks, I’ll have to avoid using my left hand and skip baths – a bit inconvenient for van life, but I’m incredibly grateful that the injury wasn’t worse. No nerves were damaged, and we can keep exploring this beautiful country, albeit a bit more carefully!Læs mere