Te Aroroa South Island

A 61-day adventure by Anita Read more

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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Waiau - Anne hut
Jan 6–7, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
26km 7.5 hrs

Beautiful day heading down a widening river valley. Very flat walking with just a few little hills as we got closer to the hut.

It was surprising to see a few shore birds on the river, there were black fronted terns and south island pied oystercatchers. Apparently they breed on braided rivers.Read more
TravelerHi Anita and co, so lovely to be reading and following your journey, sounds epic.
1/10/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Waiau - Magdalene hut
Jan 7–8, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
24km 7hrs 15min. Frosty to blue skies.

The trail today felt easier than yesterday. I suspect that it's because 1, our feet get didn't get any wetter than they started (damp), and 2, the terrain was very easy but varied. I think walking down the same valley with the shifting mountains as the most noticeable change in scenery makes the day seem a bit long. Unfortunately I seem to have tweaked my right calf or the tendons that attach it to my ankle so that was bugging me a bit.

A highlight of the day was at one point where about 5 bellbirds, including some young ones having a raucus party right above the path. They seemed absolutely oblivious to us.

We got to Boyle flat hut about 2pm. However we didn't have a booking so if we wanted to stay we would have to camp, there was another hut 1.5 hours further down the track and we we still feeling relatively fresh so we carried on to the 6 bed Magdalene hut.

On the way we interrupted a gaggle of Canada geese that were camped out on the path. Once we got to the hut, there were a couple of young girls. They were very friendly.

The little bit had a window facing west which captured the setting sun and turned the room into a sauna, which rapidly undid all the good work immersing myself in the stream had done.Read more
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Waiau - out to Hamner Springs
Jan 8–10, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
11km, 3.5hrs misty rain.

We took the shortcut across the river and bush bashed up the ridge to the track to cut out back tracking to the swing bridge. We must have cut about an hour and a half off our walk..

The walk itself was pretty easy, through the amazing beech forest. There were quite a few fallen trees to climb over or under.

Coming out to Boyle village I got reception and had some lovely birthday wishes from my awesome family. The boys also met us and drove us to Hamner to get pies (yum!). Then to the Hamner forest camp where we were to be staying. We couldn't check in until 2pm but because Paul was staying already we took advantage of hot showers.

Then the boys pulled out all the stops and produced a birthday party with cake and chips and dip - they are such awesome blokes!!

I had a room to myself in a little cabin, with access to indoor plumbing, it felt like the height of luxury.

The following day I made some phone calls trying to work out what to do about my boots. The toecap had started coming off on about the 3rd day and I had glued it back together in Murchison but that hadn't done the trick and they had started talking so the only thing to be done really is return them. Paul was going to go to chch anyway so I asked him to take them to the smiths there and hopefully get a refund. I had talked to the whg owner and sent her some pics and she seemed pretty sure it should be able to be sorted.

Then Paul, Patrece and I went for eggs Benedict in Hamner (yum!). Later on the girls and I went to the hot pools that hamneris famous for... soaking in the hot pools was AMAZING but the watersides were not as exciting as I had hoped.

Last thing was to pack a couple more 4 day hike food bags for the next couple of sections that we are unlikely to get a resupply for.Read more
Traveler Bugger!
1/15/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Harpers pass - Hope kiwi hut
Jan 10–11, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
19.5 km in 6.5 hours. Sunny morning overcast afternoon with a little rain.

Today was the muddiest day so far. My keen trail runners got well and truly christened in all the mud holes along the way.

I had decided that I had been too goal oriented with my tramping and need to take every opportunity for swimming that arises. Today it arose in the shape of a lovely blue-tinged stream a couple of km from the hut so that did for a bath as well.

Hope kiwi lodge was quite different, like a Lockwood type house with different rooms. I found myself having to trudge back and forth to the room for things I had forgotten at meal times.Read more
TravelerJust like my Nana, we always had to swim at every opportunity and expected to pack togs whenever we traveled.
1/15/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Harpers pass - Hurunui hut
Jan 11–12, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
19.75 km in 7hrs (including lunch and swimming) overcast

At the start of the day we were ambushed by a flock of robins. There were 3 on the path or next to it so we had to stop which was the signal obviously as a further 5 or 6 descended on all sides surrounding us . Most of them just looked at us, then looked at the ground, then back at us as if to ask "well, what are you going to do about it? " but a few cheeped incessantly and flapped at their parents, obviously starving to death.

There was a swing bridge with a wooden base which is unusual. Quite a bit of the track had us pushing through new growth beech trees which nearly swallowed the whole path. Other bits had us scouting about for the next triangle as the path was not obvious.

About 20min from the hut there was another footbridge so I took the opportunity to have another river bath even though it was raining.Read more
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Harpers pass - Camp before Harpers Bivvy
Jan 12–13, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
18km 7hrs mostly sunny day

We had planned on an easy day today, start off with a soak in the hot pools and an easy 10km to huranui no3 hut. We achieved the former but arriving at at the no3 hut which was a but smelly at 1230 we made the decision to push on to harpers bivvy.

The track as far as Cameron hut was OK, some lovely walking on the river flats and some tricky forest bits with mud and fallen trees. After the hut though it was mostly in the forest with lots more trees to climb over.

After Cameron hut there was a 3 wire bridge. I had a go at it and got out over the river before I got all wobbly and had to go back. Luckily the stream was only ankle deep.

Eventually with about 3km to go to the bivvy we decided to drop down off the track toward the river and set up camp there. The bivvy is only a 2 person shelter so we would be putting up one tent anyway and neither the bivvy nor Cameron hut has a toilet so we figured with the weather being so nice we will be just as happy camped by the river.Read more
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Harpers pass - kiwi hut
Jan 13–14, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
20km in 8.5 hours low cloud in morning, sunny afternoon

We were quite glad that we had pulled off to camp when we finished the last 1.5 hrs to the bivvy. The path was a bit gnarly with some steep ups and downs. While it was very cute it really does only fit 2, you wouldn't have anywhere to put the packs with someone on the floor there was also only one seat, that was 4 paint tins with a board on top that said 'seat'. You couldn't sit on the bed because the bunk was too low.

From there up to harpers pass was just amazing. The plants were all totally different to what we had been seeing. So many things were flowering, it smelled amazing in places. The path up was cool too. It was gouged into the side of the hill as a big furrow, so we were up to our waist in track. S we climbed the clouds lifted and burnt off so it was beautiful and sunny by the time we were at the top.

Coming down the other side was a bit tricky with loose gravel and rock on a steep path, but nowhere near as trick as some other paths we have seen. We descended into the gorgeous valley that we could see from the top.

On the way there was a swing bridge where I managed to pull my cap off my pack and it fell onto the plants below. I didn't even notice until Patrece pointed out out. Luckily I managed to go back and find it as it came in handy later on in the blazing sun in the valley.

We stopped for a good while for lunch at Locke stream hut, enough time for our tents to dry properly and for me to get my shoes and socks off and find that my new socks had stained my feet blue! Locked stream hut is very cool, you can see all the floor boards, beams and rafters are hand hewn and quite rough but the hut is very comfortable looking and has triple decker bunks.

After Locke stream hut we walked down the river flats, it was like walking in a movie set, just so gorgeous everywhere you look. The rata were so vibrant and red on whole hillsides. It's really hard to capture on camera the vibrance.

The sun was so warm and the wind was warm so I decided to have a fully clothed swim where the river looked deep enough and it was the best decision! The water was the perfect temperature to be refreshing but not cold, I wasn't cold when I got out, and my clothes were mostly dry by the time I got to the hut.

A trip of hunters passed us just prior to the hut turnoff having shot a chamois up on the hills. Their packs looked really heavy!

Kiwi hut it a cute little hut, it's been rubbishes with lovely sleeping platforms. The only trouble is the sandflys!Read more
Traveler Ha ha that is so tiny
1/14/25Reply
Traveler Wow stunning!
1/14/25Reply
Traveler Oh wow! Yay for 1080 possum control.
1/14/25Reply
Traveler Cool
1/14/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Harpers pass - out at morrison footbrige
Jan 14–15, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
14 km 5 hrs sunny as!

A gorgeous day walking down the river flats. Lots of river crossings in the braided river bed, but most were pretty shallow. I had woken up with a scratchy throat, so I was not as keen to dunk myself as I usually am. If I was, it might have been a much longer walk!

We were pushing through gorse for a bit and disturbed some baby weka that look like they had just fledged. They were lounging around on the path stretching, not too concerned about us at all. Finally moving off when we got right up to them.

The last part of the trail was all in the rocky river bed which was a bit tough on the feet. Especially as they had been wet all day.

Coming across Morrisons footbridge, which we had been chasing like it was a mirage for about 30 minutes, we found that Paul had cooked us up some hamburgers in the camper which just hit the spot so well!

We headed down to arthurs pass townshop in the vehicles to camp between the road and the railway.Read more
TravelerLovely to read this leg of your journey, loved seeing the rata in flower.
1/15/25Reply
Traveler Out in the wilderness......until you see the digger. That's a bit unexpected.
1/18/25Reply
TravelerHa ha makes you feel real good when you realize it's shoring up one of the supports. It's also the bridge to the road.
1/18/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Chch sidequest
Jan 16–18, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
So after coming out of the harpers pass track Karen and I were not feeling well - sore throat and sniffles so we put off going back in to the mhingus-deception track and took a zero day.

As the avalanche creek campsite has no showers we decided to book into the Otira hotel for the night... leaving the campground proved to be a sticking point... the car wouldn't start. K&P called roadside assist and after 3 hours he arrived but was unable to get it started either. Mitsubishi/AA organized a tow to Chch so we spent a couple of days recuperating in a hotel there.

We did go to the art gallery which was awesome and a couple of op shops but generally took it a bit easy.Read more
TravelerBugger about the car but sounds like you got in some much needed rest.
1/17/25Reply
Traveler Bring two home please...
1/17/25Reply
Traveler Spacious cf what you're tent!
1/18/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Glentunnel and Rakaia gorge
Jan 18–19, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
13 km 4 hrs Rakaia Gorge Walkway

Karen and I felt much better today so we left Christchurch and headed for Glentunnel where the Cowplands had been camping. Not wanting to leap straight into a long overnighter Karen and I opted for a 4 hr tramp to test exactly how well we are feeling. We opted for a 4hr return hike up the rakaia gorge.

The rakaia is an absolutely amazing blue. The photos just don't do it justice.

On the way back I was almost taken out by a kamikaze wood pigeon. It chis the moment that we were walking through a tunnel of trees to blast its way through, I leaped to the side just in time to only have the wind from its wings though my leg rather than the whole thing crashing into me.

The good news is that we both feel up to getting back out there... hopefully Patrece will be well enough to join us too!Read more
TravelerThinking of you all, hope the hike continues, wood pigeons and all.
1/18/25Reply
Traveler That is incredible
1/18/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Hamilton hut
Jan 19–20, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
19km 7.5hrs overcast

Karen and I ventured back onto the trail today. Unfortunately, Patrece was not well enough to come with but we missed her the whole way.

It did feel good to be back in the trees with the pretty birds doing the walking thing again. It especially felt good to do it in the recommended time!

The last was mostly through beech forest, popping out into tussock at the saddle and a river bed with shale cliffs. It was a really nice track to ease us back in to it after our brief illness.Read more
TravelerGood that ur back out there! 😅
1/19/25Reply
TravelerSo sad Patrece is not good, I hope she will join you again soon.
1/20/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Out back to Glentunnel
Jan 20–21, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
19 km 4.5hrs 🌞

À flat track today following the river down toward Lake coleridge.

The scenery was lovely. The water was the perfect temperature for a fully clothed dip about halfway down, and the air temp perfect for being perfectly dry by the time Phil picked us up.

Even better was the news that Patrece is feeling better too! So the next leg we will have the whole band back together ❤️ .

Phil and Karen's car was also ready to be picked up, having had the starter battery replaced. So it really feels like we are back to where we are supposed to be.Read more
TravelerYippee the 3 musketeers are back together
1/20/25Reply
Traveler What amazing rocks
1/20/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Deception hut
Jan 21–22, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
13km 6hrs unrelentingly sunny.

What an amazing day! Any day with multiple swims in glorious swimming holes is marvelous. Doubly marvelous since all 3 of us are back out here!

We spent about 20 minutes in forest where the cicadas were defening and the rest of the day meandering up a beautiful river with lots and lots of swimming holes. What could be better?

This section is part of the cost to cost adventure race so there were a handful of people running what is going to take us 2 days to plod. Oh to be that fit! One guy offered to carry our packs if we would run, I don't think he was counting on all 3 of us chasing him up the trail volunteering... he can thank us for his PB later.

We got to deception hut at about 330 and after a brief discussion regarding carrying on decided to stay. The river is very close so I spent the rest of the afternoon "washing" (swimming), and draping myself over the warm rocks to warm back up.Read more
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Out of Minghus-Deception
January 22, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
14.5km super sunny again.

Possibly my favorite day! The tramp up to goat hut was mostly climbing up boulders in the river, so it was slow going but quite a different challenge.

At one point, we were climbing up a bank behind a marker when the trail suddenly petered out at a stream. We scouted both up and down the stream and attempted to bush bash toward a ridge before returning to the marker defeated... it appears that it was just a dead end as the actual path just turned in an unexpected direction after the marker. It's pretty clear that quite a lot of takers make that same mistake!

Goat pass is lovely. The views from the hut are exceptional, and the path across its mostly board walk. It's pretty unusual for the passes to be that wide as well, and it was lovely walking across the alpine meadow (that smells so amazing) listening to keas calling in their natural habitat.

Coming down the other side there were a couple of good opportunities for swimming, which I took full advantage of. And the massive strippy dragonflies were out and about in the sun. Just an absolutely awesome day!Read more
TravelerLooks sensational 😍
1/24/25Reply
TravelerWhat an awesome place to pass through. Totally jealous!
1/24/25Reply
TravelerWhy is it called deception hut?
1/25/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Two thumbs- crooked spur hut.
Jan 23–24, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
12km 6hrs overcast

I was feeling a bit flat today. I really am missing my beautiful family and finding it a bit hard to be away from them for so long.

I don't know if it was the flat feeling or the horrendous wind at the start of the track or what, but I didn't even feel like swimming in the most amazing swimming hole yet!

The first 4 hours were spent crossing and revising the bush stream which was thigh high and quite fast so we were going a bit slower than the marked times. Then we climbed a bluff that it was obvious that others had climbed, and it was where the trail notes indicated sawtooth ridge was, but it ended up not being the path at all and required scrambling up very steep banks and sliding down equally steep backs on my butt. It broke the monotony of trudging up a river back though.

Finally we reached the path that lead away from the river and straight up the hill. It climbed about 300m in 500, so pretty steep, but for the first time todaybI felt totally energized. For some reason I just felt really good marching up the hill with my legs burning a little bit and heart rate up. It's like I'm missing my workouts.

Reaching the top was incredible. You immediately feel surrounded by mountains and the light was just incredible. It's impossible to capture just how amazing the light on the peaks with patches of snow on them looked. And the way you just feel situated as this tiny dot in the presence of giants.

We were lucky to get a bunk in the hut, there were already 4 people here which meant 4 empty bunks. I went to sleep without my earplugs so I could listen to the Kea softly calling as I drifted off. They seem to be circling the valley close to the hut.Read more
TravelerHang in there and make sure those swimming holes aren't left unswum!!😁 Had lovely few days at Taurikura with Max & Lua. Thea's highlight was jumping off the rocks and being coached/ coaxed by Max..
1/25/25Reply
Traveler Very rustic!
1/25/25Reply
TravelerO no don't tap out!
1/25/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Two thumbs - Royal hut
Jan 24–25, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
18km 7hrs

Woke up to the sounds of the NOBO hikers leaving at 0530, I guess they were hoping to get to the car park before anyone was dropped off for better hitching.

There was quite a thick fog so we were in no hurry to leave. With 5hrs to stone hut and additional 2 to royal hut, we were confident that we would complete the day in plenty of time. However, the fog hadn't lifted by the time we reached the saddle so we missed out on any views that were to be had.

Heading down from the saddle we met a couple of hunters camped by a stream who pointed out where some tahr were grazing near the path. Even with their info they were hard to see.

The rest of the morning was just walking through tussock trying not to trip myself up watching the clouds veiling and unveiling the mountains. It's incredible just how much tussock land there is.

We had lunch tucked out of the wind by the stream near stone hut, had a quick look at the place and continued on to Royal hut.

Royal hut is near a stream so I popped down to wash socks, undies and my walking shirt as well as myself. Once that was done there was nothing for it but to lay in the sun while my waking dries on the warm rocks.

We had the hut to ourselves for a good few hours but all but before we had dinner a big group of young people rocked in , they'd all come in from forest creek as they were worried about the river crossings.Read more
TravelerWhat amazing country and scenery. A wonderful experience! Loving all the notes and photos.
1/25/25Reply
TravelerLove those gorgeous alpine flowers!
1/25/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Two thumbs - Camp stream hut
Jan 25–26, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
18km, 7hrs overcast with a bit of rain.

The youngsters all had alarms from about 5am and most were gone by 530 which surprised us as they were planning on heading to camp stream hut same as us. We were pretty sure they would get there well before lunchtime and it being a 6 bunk hut we were likely to need to camp. Not great for Karen and Patrece as they had just brought the emergency shelter but I'd brought my tent.

The walk up to the saddle was really nice. We walked in crocs to the first stream crossing and were able to keep feet relatively dry. The temperature was perfect for walking and there was only a very soft breeze. It's amazing just how much tussockland there is!

We were not far from the top and enjoying a brief snack break when we noticed the hill in the distance becoming indistinct. We hurried up to the top keen not to repeat the views of the saddle yesterday. We were rewarded with peeps of lake tekapo and actually being able to see the surrounding mountains.

From the top there was some signal so I called jack, Lua was with him so I tried max as well but no answer.

It started raining in the way down and my toe that feels like it might have an ingrown toenail started throbbing which got me feeling a little sorry for myself. However the path down through the tussock was a lovely gradient and it was always fun to play where it's the next pole? And is this a path or a goat track? So before we knew it were were looking at the hut.

All the youngsters had obviously carried on from the hut so but the time we arrived it was just us. The weak sunshine tried it's best as well so we got the boots and socks out drying for a time.Read more
TravelerYippee, hut to yourselves.
1/26/25Reply
TravelerHa ha I obviously didn't ammend that after the other trampers arrived.. we ended as a full hut with a couple tenting.
1/27/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Out of two thumbs
January 26, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
8.7km 2.5 hours overcast.

No one had alarms set this morning thankfully so we had a bit of a relaxed start. With a full hut it was a bit tight to breakfast inside but luckily it was a lovely morning to eat al fresco.

Heading down from the hut we saw a naughty wallaby that looked like it had been doing very well eating little alpine plants. The couple we were walking behind had actually seen two so we relied on them to report them.

It wasn't long at all before we spotted Paul hanging out on the ridge able the ski field road. He had biked up to meet us.

We swung into Tekapo to eat some amazing pork belly pies from the greedy cow Cafe and organise some bikes for the next day biking to ohau. Unfortunately though they're was no reasonable accommodation to be had in the entire town, even the campsite was $65pp so Phil had managed to get us a motel unit with bunks and a bed in Fairly. It was a jolly good thing too because at about 7pm it bucketed down! We were all very glad to be under a roof!Read more
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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E-biking Tekapo to lake Ohau
Jan 27–28, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
94km 7hrs freezing cold morning with a 5 minute shower to a beautiful warm afternoon.

We were even more pleased about our night in Fairlie when we saw the fresh dumping of snow on the hills. It would have been freezing in a tent!!

We got to the bike hire place about 8 and sorted our bikes. It was still bitterly cold, so we were rugged up in extra layers of jerseys and jackets and gloves leaving tekapo. Not too long after we started, we noticed a very localized downpour n pot far from us but moving perpendicular to our path. Luckily we only got a few drops from the edge before of paths parted for good.

The canals are such a vivid shade of blue its unreal. And so clear we could see salmon hanging out in the shallows. We also went past some salmon farms where they were feeding out. The fish would go absolutely bonkers for the nuts.

Lake Pukaki was gorgeous but the cloud was too low for a good view of Aoraki mt Cook.

Picnic lunch in twizel with a coffee, I got some antiseptic cream for my toe as well.. dunno if it will help though.

Then, the final stretch to Lake ohau. I was encouraging everyone to increase the assist on the bikes because we had hardly used any battery.

We got to Lake Ohau lodge at about 4pm, not too long before the lady came to collect the bikes. Phil caught a ride back to tekapo to get the car and we set up camp. I got totally the wrong eve of the stick from a notice in the bathrooms and ended up paying for a shower I didn't need to. Doh!Read more
TravelerWhat a fun way to travel, and so beautiful
1/28/25Reply
Traveler Stunning colours. Loving your blog; please don’t stop! 😘
1/29/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Ahuriri valley camp
Jan 28–29, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
24km 8hrs sunny again!

Another awesome walk! They've been trapping heavily up the Freehold creek at the beech forest was just humming with rifleman birds. They'd come right down so you could spot 5 or 6 hanging out on a fallen log. So cool!

Above the treeline it's the skinks that are just everywhere. I had to watch my step as they could get a little creative with their running away.

We bypassed Quailburn hut as we'd spoken to someone who had a m stayed there the both before and he said the bunks were just sheep wire so you couldn't really even use your own mattress for fear of putting a hole in it.

Finally made camp at the recommended spot under the willow trees. There's meant to be a bit of rain tonight so I hope we all stay dry!Read more
Traveler Wow just gorgeous!
1/31/25Reply
Traveler Wow
1/31/25Reply
TravelerStunning pics 😍
2/1/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
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Breast Hill - Tin Hut
Jan 29–30, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
16km in 6hrs all of the weathers!

The heavy rain didn't eventuate overnight, but there was some horrendous wind. Luckily, my tent didn't seem to be affected at all, I don't know if I was more sheltered than the others or it's just the design of the tent. I managed to jinx us by mentioning that it wasn't wet while I ate my breakfast... ensuring that it rained just enough that we were putting away damp tents.

We got to the car park around 9am, by which time there were alternately blue skies and sideways rain. The camper van provided enough shelter for us to sort out 4 days, 3 nights more food, and we carried on into the breast hill section.

Not far into the track, there was a very noisy bird making its presence known and flying above us. Karen identified it as a nz falcon and we listened to the call when we got to the hut and it was the same.

The track to tin hut was just a farm track, so we, in theory, should have been making good time, but my toe was bugging me and Karen was struggling with the weight of her pack so we decided to make it a short day and not press on to timaru hut.

The hut is pretty good, except for the lack of a door on the privy that faces the track. The grass was perfect for laying all the damp things out to dry. There was a lovely little pool for immersing myself when washing. The sun really has some heat in it this afternoon.Read more
Traveler Yum!
1/31/25Reply
Traveler Love the rainbow!
1/31/25Reply
Traveler Wow!
1/31/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Breast hill - Camp btw Timaru & Stodys
Jan 30–31, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
21km 9 hrs

This morning my toe was showing signs of the infecting coming to a head so I lanced it and felt some immediate relief once it was drained. I then bandaged it up with a silicone toe sock to keep it from being pressed on before we left. It had a much better day today than it had in ages.

The climb to Martha's saddle was pretty immediate but the gradient was pretty reasonable. We chased the clouds up the mountain and by the time we crossed it was fine on one side and nearly fine on the other.

Coming down the other side to top Timaru hut was pretty good as well, being a bulldozed track. The only real feature was the tributaries to the river in the valley all showed signs of relatively recent catastrophic rain events that had caused great gouges to be cut where they run or massive piles of stones to have been deposited. One particular tributary was the color di l of cement and the beautiful clear stream became murky immediately.

After the hut the going slowed right down as the path sidled along steep banks. The murky river needed to be crossed again and again. We had thought we might make it to the junction before the next hut before we looked for a campsite but after about 6km of hard afternoon slog we found a clearing next to a clear tributary and called it a day.Read more
TravelerWell done on the minor surgery! Those septic toes hurt. Hope it's on the mend. Xx
1/31/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Breast hill - Pakituhi hut
Jan 31–Feb 1, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
24.5km nearly 11hrs. So sunny!

What an epic day. We ended up doing quite a bit of the high water track despite our intentions to stay in the river bed. The scrambles that were promised in the trail notes weren't as bad as expected.

The climb to Stodys hut however was. It was about 600m of elevation straight up. When the notes say steep climb to the hut they are not kidding!

Once art the hut we had a decision whether to stay and risk having an extra night on the trail or carry on to Pakituhi. After a lunch eaten in the woodshed for a patch of shade with back we could lean against we decided to go on. We knew that there was no water between Stodys hut and Pakituhi so the logical thing to do would be full our water bladders right there for the journey, but some people we had pay in the other direction had mentioned a lovely stream with a waterfall and a sign saying "last water" so we decided to fill up there.

It became apparent about half way to the Ridgeline that they must have meant after for them not for us... we had minimal water but deemed it enough to get us to the next hut. By the time we were heading up breast hill in the baking sun, I was shaking my head at my stupidity... why wait for the 'the best' stream?! It's just water?!

We made it though - the views were SPECTACULAR! Maybe the best so far.

We were very glad to reach the hut and guzzle tank water without even filtering. The hut was another treat, being built in 2011 it was pretty nice inside.Read more
TravelerHope u packed sunscreen!
1/31/25Reply
TravelerSo much sunscreen!
2/1/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Out of Breast Hill
February 1, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
6km in 3hrs sunny again!

The track down to lake hawea was not as steep as the hill to Stodys hut but got a bit exciting in places as it dropped down the ridges. We were fairly certain that we were going to be on the longer of the 'between 3 and 5 hours' time estimates. This fact was solidified when the long legged gazelle like youth that we shared a hut with breezed past us. However it was not the case, we managed it in exactly the faster time.

At gladstone reserve we stopped for a swim and the water was just delightful. It was so clear you could see the bottom quite far out but the gradient was quite steep so it got deep a lot quicker than expected.

Phil picked us up there and took us to our campsite on the other side of the lake. There Paul had another feast waiting for us - ham and salad croissants. We then did some scruffling around and moving things from one bag to another, filling up things that were running out and creating a mound of washing.

In the afternoon we popped in to Wanaka and I had the opportunity to look for some more boots. I feel like my feet might have grown a bit because all that were my size were a bit small. I hope I haven't gone to far in the bigger direction.

After dinner I had another swim in the lake. So beautiful!!Read more
TravelerThese updates are so interesting to read, I really look forward to them. Can’t believe you’re in Hawea / Wanaka already - seems like you’re making really good time :)
2/1/25Reply
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Te Aroroa South Island Traveler
Riding the day walks around Wanaka
Feb 1–3, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
78km e-biking. So so sunny again. Lots of sunscreen, thanks Lua.

We started the day with the breakfast of champions - basque cheesecake from a French patisserie in Albert Town.

Then Phil and I hired some electric bikes from wanaka. We biked the roads out to Hawea where the girls and I had emerged from breast hill. Along the way we passed a guy on a regular bike and he seemed to speed up as Phil passed him which I thought was a bit strange and I had to speed right up and pass then both. It wasn't until we turned off and he called out "thanks for the tow guys" that I realised he was getting in our slipstream.

At hawea we paddled our feet in the water and under Phil's instruction I was able to skip exactly one stone... and throw a bunch more into the lake. Hindsight being 20/20 I should have swim again.

The morning was spent heading down the hawea river trail which followed the lake, then the beautiful river and we just happened to end up near the patisserie at about lunchtime so there was nothing for it but to eat there. This time I sampled the best custard square I have ever had!

After lunch the trail took us to the wanaka outlet and a perfect little swim spot that we took full advantage of. Jumping off the little platform and defining against the surprisingly strong flow.

Further around the peninsular before the town there were huge houses down by the path, really unbelievable wealth on display and only one looked like it was currently inhabited.

From wanaka we carried on around the lake as far as we could with the time that we had. I think we were about 1 Bay around from Glendhu. But the track was pretty crappy and time was running out so we headed back to drop the bikes off.

In the evening I had to get food ready for the next 2 sections and try to make it easier to grab the required number of meals for the next sections. Ready to get back out there tomorrow!Read more
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