Te Aroroa South Island

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Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Motatapu Alpine - Highland Creek Hut
3–4 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
15km in 7hrs

The track started through farmland, with gates in the fence to climb through. However the meeting at the bottom of the fence wasn't obvious so the first bruise of the day was Karen opening the gate and attempting to walk through the wire at the bottom.

The path then took us unexpectedly into a lovely beech forest. Even in the shade of these trees we could tell it was shaping up to be a scorcher of a day. Too soon we were out of the forest and wrestling through bracken enveloped paths fully exposed to the sun. The first wet t-shirt happened at about 10am. There were several subsequently because they died in about 15 minutes.

We arrived at Fern Burn hut just after 11, matching the reported time perfectly. Even though it was a bit early we opted to eat lunch on the porch out of the sun with a backrest.

The afternoon was a bit of a killer. It was all completely exposed and super duper hot. My new boots grabbed at the heel and I started to get blisters on the way up to the saddle but I put some patches on them at the top and they didn't bother me on the way down.

I had packed about 2l of water and my 750ml electrolytes to get me there today but I discovered I was completely out at a little stream about 3km from the hut so I filled up 800ml and drank that too.

When we saw the hut there were already 3 tents up around it so we were bracing ourselves for a full hut but no - there were plenty of beds, we all even got bottom bunks. I made too much dinner again... it seems to be a theme for me - making too much and having to struggle through even though it's delish.Leia mais
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Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
1
Motatapu Alpine - Roses hut
4–5 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
12km in 5.5hrs sunny again!

The day started with the "memorable" hill, which wasn't too bad really, maybe they meant the view? The whole 5 and a half hours was on either am uphill or downhill with very little sidling along the tops of ridges. And almost all of it was in the brilliant sunshine.

I had a hare brained scheme as we climbed to the top of the final hill that we could just keep going after the hut and camp somewhere on the Arrow River, given that we were going to be at the hut very early. Unfortunately though as we reached the top a nice man doing the northbound route pointed out that there is another whacking great hill behind the hut and we were really not prepared to do another one in the heat and sun.

As we came down the last hill I spotted a deep bit in a river that we had to cross and suggested that we have lunch by the river. Before I ate I submerged myself completely, fully dressed, only then was I cool enough to contemplate eating.

By the time I got to the hut I was already dry, and it was only an 800m walk. Later on, Karen was wracked with guilt at not having a swim and suggested we head back to the pool from lunch and I obviously jumped at the chance. I spent a lovely 10 or so minutes fully submerged in the cool water.Leia mais
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Viajante Yum
06/02/2025Responder
6 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
2 1
Out of Motatapu - Arrowtown
5–6 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
27km 8hrs

The morning started with the big hill behind the hut. It was quite good to just get straight into it and do most of it in the shade of the eastern hills. I got to the top in about 45min and felt a bit like I had done the hard bit for the day...

On our way down, we ran into Hillary that we had done some of our training hikes with in whangarei. She is heading north with her sister. Having a good time by the sounds of it.

When we got to the bottom we followed the low water 'path' - essentially just walking in the river for 3 hours. I know it's a lot slower than walking on dry land but boy was it refreshing in a scorching day like today. Every so often a gorgeous pool of deep blue would come up and I would be obligated to drop my pack and become fully submerged.

We had been warned by every person heading north that the sandflys at Macetown were as big as sheep and as numerous as grains of sand on the beach so we had been convinced to carry on through and take a short cut down the 4wd track from there to arrowtown. There for sure were sandflys at Macetown and we have camped at a site thick with sandflys before so didn't take too much convincing.

We had, however, not taken into account how fatigued walking in the river had made us and that the shortcut was 5km longer than we had anticipated so by the time we got out we were pretty exhausted. The track just seemed to go on forever! Paul was one again our savior, tiring up at the trailhead with coconut water and making his amazing burgers for dinner.Leia mais
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Viajante Yummy!
05/02/2025Responder
Viajante Such a beautiful river.
05/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
ViajanteI know! So many of them are just beautifully clear and blue down here!
06/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
5 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Glenorchy
6–7 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
0km walking but a bit of driving. Cold and hot and sunny and a bit of rain..

Our massive day yesterday put us in the mood for a zero day today so we took our time packing up in Arrowtown, the Cowplands and I went out to breakfast, I had another shower etc...

I've discovered that my denim shorts no longer stay up when bending or walking so will need to find a belt...

Once we checked out we tootled down to Glenorchy and had a lovely picnic beer the beach and watched the bus loads of tourists come in and out. At one point I saw someone that like Matt I nearly embarrassed myself by telling out to him! That would have been so cool, but entirely unlikely.

Now I'm getting an early night in preparation for tomorrow's trip into the Mavora Walkway.Leia mais
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ViajanteWow you guys are doing Amazing
06/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
ViajanteYou sure deserve a day off oxoxox❤❤❤
06/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
7 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
2 1
Marvora - Greenstone hut (camping)
7–8 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
14km 4hrs

The walk to greenstone hut was a lovely hike to ease us back into it. The trail was lovely and wide to start with - almost like a footpath in the gorgeous beech forest.

At one open spot there were about half a dozen fantails squeaking and beeping and piercing aerial acrobatics in pursuit of moths. It was very cute.

We arrived at the hut at about lunch time, the first here despite it being fully booked for bunks and camping spots. We had lunch, made camp then went in search of the amazing swimming hole. As promised, it was absolutely lovely. The water was cool but the day was hot so it was perfect.

After splashing about to our hearts content we came back to our campsite and read books until it was time to cook dinner. All in all quite a relaxing day!

Things took a turn at about midnight when I thought I heard Patrece tripping over my tent ropes. I was quite confused as she was talking to me but I had my earplugs in and couldn't figure out what she was saying. Eventually I got the earplugs out and it turned out that a possum had retrieved my rubbish bag and was shredding it and Patrece had chased it away. I was a little unnerved that it was the possum that had tripped over my tent and I hadn't woken immediately to the brazen larceny. We initially left the rubbish bag outside the tent as we didn't want to encourage the possum back in but it was just shredding everything and spreading it everywhere so I got up to collect the bits and put them in my cooking pot with the cannister on top. The possum itself was not worried about me at all and just sat there looking at me while I pretended to hit it with my pole.

Later it came back and pulled Karen's pack out from under her tent and stole a fruit leather from a pocket that wasn't quite closed.Leia mais
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Viajante I hope you swum here!
08/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
Viajante Not there... it was too cold! The swimming hole was awesome though
08/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
ViajanteIt is amazing girls, you are nearly there, what spectacular places, 😀
09/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
Viajante So beautiful ❤️
12/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
6 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Marova - Boundry hut
8–9 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
23km in 8hrs perfect walking weather!

The mornings walk was mostly through beautiful beech forest with lovely little birdies at every corner. At one point we came to a high clearing and Karen remarked that she likes to forest but she really likes to be on the tops so you can see all the mountains. Lucky Karen because a couple of km before Taipo hut (that we didn't stay at) we came out into the open and stayed there for the rest of the day - excepting forrays through the matagauri and incredibly tall tussock near Boundary hut.

When we arrived at Taipo hut it was not yet lunchtime and we had not been walking for quite 4 hours so we thought it best that we make the most of the overcast breezy weather and make for boundary hut. I always feel like the sweet spot for walking is a 7-8 hour hike so it was like the perfect length day for me.

At boundary hut there was a river for washing and swimming but the breeze had taken the edge off the hot day and it was reluctant to get my bra wet as it takes a bit to dry and tomorrow's forecast is rain... so i had a splash wash. Maybe i will regret not getting fully immersed, but it's a pretty minor regret really.Leia mais
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6 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Marova - out at marova lakes campsite
9–10 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
18km 4hrs

For a change we woke up to rain pitter pattering on the roof. By the time we left it was mostly done but it was still raincoat weather as it was quite cool as well as damp.

The walk out to the campsite was along 4wd tracks that had filled a little with mud and water meaning we had a few detours to get around the worst of it. The biggest danger was slipping.

The landscape was very moody with the low clouds and the low low clouds obscuring different parts of the mountains.

Walking a 4wd track is a funny thing because on the one hand you eat moving quite quickly but on the other hand it seems to take ages. I dunno why that is.

Anyway, it was about lunchtime that Karen wanted to wash the mud from her shoes, and at that point Paul showed up on the beach. He had walked in to meet us. Back at the car he had snacks for us and drove us the the campsite in Lumsden.

If we thought it was cold on the trail or was positively freezing in Lumsden! At least the showers were free and only nominally capped at 10 minutes.Leia mais
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Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
1 1 1
Tākitimu - Aparima Hut
10–11 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
18km 8.5 hrs

The path today started out through an absolutely gorgeous forest. The only downside being that the track was a bit of a goat track sidling along a ridge going up and down rooty outcrops and over downed trees. And then there was the mud! Great patches that you couldn't go around and smaller patches hidden by ferns until it was too late. Just the kind of terrain that we are very slow over.

At about lunchtime the landscape changed and we came out of the forest into a tussocky bog. There were parts that seemed to be great masses of moss floating on water that you just had to go through and other bits that were the same as the bogs in the forest. However, the open train meant that we were moving faster than before lunch.

The trail wended its way between these open bits and the forest all the way to the hut. I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately on one of the forest sections Karen managed to slip in a muddy patch and get mud all over her. To add insult to injury it also got really cold at about the same time so we had to match on until we could find a stream so she could get cleaned up and some dry clothes on.

In one of the clearings as we were climbing a little rise, there was a chittering that sounded very much like birds coming towards me then out of the bushes came two stats, one chasing the other. They were very bold, taking no notice of me until I called out for the others what they were. Then they his in a bush near the track. Karen and I went either side to see if we could kill one with our poles but they were too quick. As soon as they zoomed off they were back at it with their squacking.

We were quite ready to see the hut when it turned up just to get warm.Leia mais
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ViajanteI'm sorry but what came out of the bushes? Stats? And what were you trying to kill with your poles? Have no idea what was going on but intrigued to know.
13/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
Viajante Crikey!
13/02/2025Responder
Viajante It's a bit sad how trigs are now obsolete.
13/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
Viajante Still smiling👍
13/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
6 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Tākitimu - Lower Wairaki Hut
11–12 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
15km 6hrs

Nice short day today. The sign at the start of this track indicated that this section might be 8hrs, the same as the last one so we were pleased that we got it done in 6hrs.

We spent the whole time in the forest, you could see that there were still clearings not far from the track but we just sorted them all. The track was pretty good for the most part, a bit of up and down but we were mostly able to keep up a good clip. About 4km from the hut, the mud started though... some times you could get around the great puddles but other times you had to pick your way carefully or end up up to your knee in mud (well - Karen's knee)

Got to the hut at about lunch time so we got to spend some time washing at the stream. It was very cold and had the feel of spending too much time in shady forests and not enough time in sunny meadows. Someone had left a full pack of clean cards so we had a coyote of games as we waited for it to be dinner time...Leia mais
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Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Takitimu - Dougies hut
12–13 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
11.5km 5 hrs

We were quite relaxed about getting up and moving this morning as we knew we had a short day and didn't want to get to the top of the hill too early as it was a foggy morning.

The climb was quite lovely up through the beautiful forest, though there continued to be little patches of mud throughout which just required us to be on our toes and either skirt our pick appropriate paths through them.

Once on the tops it was an absolutely cracking day. However despite getting there at 11am the lower clouds were still on the move. We decided to sit on the highest point and watch them recede in the hopes that we might be able to see all the way to bluff. After an hour (and all my snacks) we gave up and carried on.

About 300m later (and still quite high with plenty of views) we realised it was lunch time so we stopped for a munch.

Now the official notes don't mention Dougies hut which was only brought back into service this year, but it is mentioned in the far out app that Karen has so we went in search of it. It wasn't too difficult to find thankfully.

One we were all set up on the hut we returned to the river for a wash. Not 10m from the hut I rolled my ankle and ended up on my back like a stranded turtle. It took me a minute for the initial pain to dissipate enough for me to work out that nothing was too damaged - thank goodness. In fact by the time we got to the river there was no pain at all!

At the river I found a waterfall that I used as a super high pressure shower. It was marvelous!

Back at the hut I had all my clothes draped in the sun drying and attempted to read my book. Unfortunately the sandflys found me and would not be detered by the repellent . It got so bad that I retreated into the dark hut with my book.

One other mentionable feature of the hut was that the dunny had no walls. It was just a bucket on a pit away from the hut, so we had to announce to everyone when we needed to use it so no one stumbled onto us doing so.Leia mais
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Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Out of the Tākitimus
13 de fevereiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
30km 8.75hrs

We knew that today was going to be a long one. It's across Linton station so they don't want you stopping anywhere until you are done. They also have a lot of signs saying "te aroroa walkers STOP if you go past this sign the police will be called" which makes you think they must have had some issues in the past. Unfortunately we did see some walkers who passed us ignoring those signs as well.

The station is really pretty, from the fenced off streams to the massive arboretum like plantings near a lake it was pretty much all lovely. We did have to walk through flocks of sheep and herds of cows and all the business they do but other than being a bit smelly they were all good.

It was quite obvious that the 2 groups of hikers we saw were not familiar with livestock. They didn't slow down for the sheep, causing them to panic and run away all over the place. One guy was waving his arms to scare them away which made me cringe a bit. When we got into a paddock with cows and calves he was out of his depth and waited for us to catch up to tell him how to get through.. the cows were pretty chill, they just big.

There was one interesting section where we came around a hill and there was thick fog, then we went around the next and the fog disappeared.

With about 1km to the end the trail went through a paddock that had been badly pugged, then dried with long grass which is just about the worst terrain for rolling ankles and hurting tired feet, then 300m from the end Karen rolled her ankle quite badly which really sucked, luckily no bruising and swelling immediately apparent so she was able to hobble to the end.

Phil had organized a little treat for us at the end of the tramp and booked the 3 of us into a motel in Winton... showers that are not shared and metered, toilet next to the bedrooms - what a treat!Leia mais
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ViajanteWhat a huge day.
14/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
ViajanteVery impressive day! Hope the feet and ankles are all ok.
14/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
5 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Colac bay to Riverton
14 de fevereiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
7km 2.5hrs

Knowing this was going to be a short walk I started the day with a quick jog to make sure I could still move at a pace faster than a walk. Winton has a very pleasant heritage trail that is about 5km long so was perfect for the task, though perhaps the flattest ruin I've done in a while.

The length of time that this walk took us was less a function of how hard it was but more on the length of time we spent just soaking up the beautiful sunny day and the up- close sight of the sea.

It didn't hurt that we were in day packs (Karen and Patrece) our just carrying sunscreen and a Museli bar in our pocket (me) and in sneakers. It almost felt like floating. I might take my tent tomorrow just to make it feel authentic.Leia mais
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ViajanteOh my goodness, you girls did it, at the beach. Wooo hoo. What a wonderful mission accomplished
14/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
ViajanteWell done you are all so Amazing what a epic achievement .
15/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
6 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Oreti beah walk
15–16 de fev. 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
16km 3hrs

We did this part of the walk in the south to north direction because we we thought it would take us a bit longer than it did, and if we had gone southward and took longer we would have been crossing a stream close to high tide. As it was we absolutely could have done it the the correct direction.

Heading in the opposite direction really opened my eyes to the number of people heading to Bluff tomorrow. Usually you only see NOBO trampers and the occasional group that passes us, and the ones you share a hut with but there were so many!

The walk was pretty weird to be honest. The beach was really firm which made the walking easy but the fog in the morning made it seem like we were walking for an hour and not getting anywhere. Closer landmarks like an upside down car wreck would come and go but the dunes and the sea would remain exactly the same.

The stream that we crossed was not even ankle deep so we worried about that unnecessarily as well. Ah, well, better safe than sorry.

Once the fog burned off it was a beautiful but hot day. But the murky algae filled water didn't really appeal.Leia mais
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3 curtidas
Te Aroroa South Island Viajante
Invercargill to Bluff!
16 de fevereiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
18km 4hrs

The last day of walking!

There was not even any mist in the morning and it was pretty clear it was going to be a crazy hot day. We started off on the outskirts of invercargill heading down the shared cycle path and Walkway toward bluff. It was a really lovely walk with loads of estuary birds and plants. Being a Sunday it was also thick with cyclists as well as TA walkers.

By the time we popped out onto the road section it was blazing hot. A lot of the walkers are purists about the last day and walk every inch even if they have hitched for road sections at other times.... I didn't have any regrets passing them all walking on the path next to the road.

The walk from the Bluff sign to Stirling point was really neat on such a hot clear day. There was a really weird low cloud around Stewart island that made it look like a part of the map that hasn't been unlocked yet.

Finally getting to the end was a bit bittersweet. I'm so excited to see my beautiful family again but I will for sure miss walking in beautiful scenery every day with my awesome friends.Leia mais
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ViajanteYou girls are amazing!!
17/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
ViajanteWell done ladies!! What an amazing time you have had; which we have all got to thoroughly enjoy thanks to your fabulous blog and gorgeous photos Anita. I can’t thank you enough for sharing 😘😘
25/02/2025ResponderTraduzir
5 curtidas

Final da viagem
17 de fevereiro de 2025