Due to a big system of unseasonably wet and cold weather I have been forced to wait it out. The next section, Arthur's Pass National Park, has many unbridged river crossings and some of the biggest I will encounter on the trail. The river levels rise quickly and I would have been forced to wait …
Anne Hut to Boyle Village - 31kms Total - 360kms I set off at my usual start time of 7am after saying goodbye to Curtis and Janet. They are not going all the way out today and are stopping at Boyle Flat hut where Curtis' wife Antonia is coming in to meet them. I had …
Continue reading Day 20 – Nelson Lakes – Anne Hut to Boyle Village
Waiau Hut to Anne Hut - 26kms Total - 329kms We had a sleep in today and did not set off until 9am. It was nice not rushing out. The trail continued down the Waiau river valley. It was a nice day and started to heat up by mid morning. The valley is wide and …
Continue reading Day 19 – Nelson Lakes – Waiau Hut to Anne Hut
Blue Lake Hut to Waiau Hut - 15kms Total - 303kms The hut was full last night but nobody was heading the same direction as me today. Everyone else had only come up to Blue Lake and were returning again down the Sabine River which meant I was doing a solo mission over the Waiau …
Continue reading Day 18 – Nelson Lakes – Blue Lake Hut to Waiau Hut
John Tait Hut to Blue Lake Hut - 21kms Total - 288kms Wow what a day! Nelson Lakes National Park is amazing. I started out at 7am continuing up the Travers river to Upper Travers Hut which sits below Travers Saddle. I was there by 9am and had a snack before starting my climb up …
Continue reading Day 17 – Nelson Lakes – John Tait Hut to Blue Lake Hut
St Arnaud to John Tait Hut - 23kms Total - 267kms We hit the trail again by 8.30am after a long drive from Nelson. It was a great day of hiking today, firstly around the eastern side of Lake Rotoiti to Lake Head hut where we stopped for a quick break and a snack. There …
Continue reading Day 16 – Nelson Lakes – St Arnaud to John Tait Hut
I decided to take two rest days in Nelson where dad and Janeen have been staying in a motel here. One day was not going to be long enough to get everything done that I needed to. I had all my blog posts to catch up on, planning for the next section, resupply of food, …
Porters Creek Hut to St Arnaud - 26kms Total 244kms I set off first this morning knowing I had a big day ahead. Before I left we had a group photo outside the hut. I think we will catch up again down the line. Clockwise - Curtis (taking photo), Molly, Ardie, Matt, Dave and me. …
Continue reading Day 13 – Richmond Ranges – Porters Creek Hut to St Arnaud
Top Wairoa Hut to Porters Creek Hut - 19kms Total 218kms The rain had stopped but it was still misty and low visibility. After pulling on my 'still wet boots' we were climbing up to Mt Ellis summit straight out of the gate. For some time there was no real track to follow and only …
Continue reading Day 12 – Richmond Ranges – Top Wairoa Hut to Porters Creek Hut
Tarn Hut to Top Wairoa Hut - 14kms Total 199kms After a short climb this morning it was all down hill to the Wairoa River which I crossed over a wire bridge to Mid Wairoa Hut. I was there before 11am and had an early lunch. Barry, Sian and Natasha, who I walked with over …
Continue reading Day 11 – Richmond Ranges – Tarn Hut to Top Wairoa Hut
