A few notes and photos as I walk 1300km from Bluff to Ships Cove….
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- Punga Cove to Picton (via boat)Tuesday 6 February – And just like that I am boarding the Cook Strait ferry bound for Wellington. My left knee decided on a water taxi rather than walking. This… Read more: Punga Cove to Picton (via boat)
- Portage to Punga CoveMonday 5 February – Another sunny still day on the Queen Charlotte Track. Walked from Portage to Punga Cove.
- Anakiwa to PortageSunday 4 February – Glorious sunny day and easy walk from Anakiwa to Portage Resort.
- Starveall Hut to Hacket Roadend (drive to Nelson)Tuesday 30 January – Richmond Ranges – done done! I am having a few days rest in Nelson (my left knee insists!). I will be back on the trail 3… Read more: Starveall Hut to Hacket Roadend (drive to Nelson)
- Old Man Hut to Starveall HutMonday 29 January – Long-ish but easy tramp from Old Man Hut to Starveall Hut.
- Rintoul Hut to Old Man HutSunday 28 January – Wonderful day climbing up Mt Rintoul and Little Rintoul. According to the trail notes this is the most challenging bit of the Richmond Ranges on the… Read more: Rintoul Hut to Old Man Hut
- Tarn Hut to Rintoul HutSunday 28 January – Super chill-axed day with the morning in bed and afternoon tramping to Rintoul Hut. Tohia and I were preparing for a zero day waiting out the… Read more: Tarn Hut to Rintoul Hut
- Mid Wairoa Hut to Tarn HutFriday 26 January – As promised in the trail notes, the tramp from Mid Wairoa to Tarn Hut was a steep climb up through forest, along ridges and then another… Read more: Mid Wairoa Hut to Tarn Hut
- Top Wairoa Hut to Mid Wairoa HutThursday 25 January – Great day for mindfulness! The 8.3 km tramp up and down a track beside the Wairoa River was super slow at 1.1 kmph and took extreme… Read more: Top Wairoa Hut to Mid Wairoa Hut
- Hunters Hut to Top Wairoa HutWednesday 24 January – Joyful, happy, awesome day!
- Red Hills Hut to Porters Creek HutMonday 22 January – Gorgeous tramp over tussock, through beech forest and flowering manuka, over boulder fields/ dry creek beds, up and down and up and down…. Loved it! Tohia… Read more: Red Hills Hut to Porters Creek Hut
- Porters Creek Hut to Hunters HutTuesday 23 January – More beech forest, manuka, boulder fields and ups and downs. Beautiful scenery. Good cardio workout with the four ups and core strength with the downs. Arrived… Read more: Porters Creek Hut to Hunters Hut
- St Arnaud to Red Hills HutSunday 21 January – Gentle start to the Richmond Ranges section of Te Araroa. It was an easy 2 hour walk up a 4WD track to the hut. I am… Read more: St Arnaud to Red Hills Hut
- Upper Travers Hut to Lakehead Hut jetty – water taxi to St ArnaudFriday 19 January – Another rainy walk. So glad to get a water taxi from the lake head to St Arnaud!
- West Sabine Hut to Upper Travers HutThursday 18 January – Stunning climb up over Travers saddle to Upper Travers Hut. The rain set in after a few hours – so too wet for photos. I had… Read more: West Sabine Hut to Upper Travers Hut
- Lake Constance to West Sabine HutWednesday 17 January – Beautiful day walking up and over from Lake Constance to Blue Lake and along the Sabine River over boulders and through beech forest to West Sabine… Read more: Lake Constance to West Sabine Hut
- Waiau Hut to Lake ConstanceTuesday 16 January – Awesome. Fun. Wow! The tramp from Waiau Hut up and over Waiau Pass and down to the shore of Lake Constance has to be one of… Read more: Waiau Hut to Lake Constance
- Anne Hut to Waiau HutMonday 15 January – Another long fairly flat day. The highlight was meeting two wild horses a kilometre or so before the hut.
- Boyle Village to Anne HutSunday 14 January – Loooooooooong day! Easy mostly flat walk but super long – 31km. I started out at 8am and got to Anne Hut 7.10pm. The light rain started… Read more: Boyle Village to Anne Hut
- Hope Kiwi Lodge to Windy Point Carpark (shuttle to Hanmer Springs)Thursday 11 January – Easy walk from Hope Kiwi Lodge to Windy Point Carpark. I got a shuttle to Hanmer Springs and am looking forward to rest and hot pools!… Read more: Hope Kiwi Lodge to Windy Point Carpark (shuttle to Hanmer Springs)
- Cameron’s Hut to Hurunui HutTuesday 9 January – Talk about feeling the fear and doing it anyway! I conquered the 3 wire bridge. It was 40 minutes after I left Cameron’s Hut and not… Read more: Cameron’s Hut to Hurunui Hut
- Lock Stream Hut to Cameron HutMonday 8 January – Another hot sunny day! I set out from Lock Stream Hut around 9am. The first 4km of track to the Taramakau swingbridge alternated between beautiful forest… Read more: Lock Stream Hut to Cameron Hut
- Aickens Corner to Lock Stream HutSunday 7 January – After a leisurely large continental breakfast at Bealey Hotel I hitched two rides, arriving at the track start on Aickens Corner (SH73) around 10.30am. A short… Read more: Aickens Corner to Lock Stream Hut
- Hurunui Hut to Hope Kiwi LodgeWednesday 10 January – Easy walk and dry feet!
- Hamilton Hut to Bealey HotelThursday 4 January – Good 23km walk from Hamilton Hut over, beside and above the Harper River, around Mt Bruce and down through pine forest past Bealey Hut and along… Read more: Hamilton Hut to Bealey Hotel
- Potts Lodge to Methven (hitchhiking)Sunday 31 December – Walked 3.5km from Potts Lodge to the TA trailhead at Potts River. The wind made it not fun, so I hitched a ride to Methven instead!
- Lake Colderidge Village to Hamilton HutTuesday 2 January – Great day! I teamed up with Parker from Oregon, USA who is also walking solo. We ended up in the same shuttle from Methven to the… Read more: Lake Colderidge Village to Hamilton Hut
- Crooked Spur Hut to Bush Stream Trailhead Rangitata Gorge RoadSaturday 30 December – Easy day walking 10km down from Crooked Spur Hut and along Bush Stream out to the car park on Rangitata Gorge Road. Sunny and breezy. Arranged… Read more: Crooked Spur Hut to Bush Stream Trailhead Rangitata Gorge Road
- Royal Hut to Crooked Spur HutFriday 29 December – Walked through tangly tussock and over a not so steep scree slope from Royal Hut to Crooked Spur Hut. Beautiful stark scenery with the bald mountain-hills… Read more: Royal Hut to Crooked Spur Hut
- Camp Stream Hut to Royal Hut – Two Thumbs TrackThursday 28 December – Wow! Awesome views, easy walk, fabulous weather. Walked from the historic Camp Stream Hut (built 1898) to Royal Hut.
- Lilybank roadend Tekapo to Camp stream HutWednesday 27 December – Beautiful sunny walk on the “Two Thumbs Track” from the Lilybank Road/Richmond Trailhead to the historic Camp stream Hut.
- Twizel to Lake Tekapo by bicycleSunday 24 December -Long 55km but easy bicycle ride from Twizel to Tekapo. Am having a few days relaxation by the lake – intending to start hiking again 27 December.
- Lake Ōhau to Twizel on bikeSaturday 23 December – Cycled on the A2O Alps to Ocean trail from Lake Ōhau to Twizel.
- Tin Hut to Birchwood Road (hitch to Lake Ōhau Lodge)Friday 22 December – Half zero day…. Walked 10km from Tin Hut to Birchwood Road and hitchhiked to Lake Ōhau Lodge. Within 5 minutes of reaching Birchwood Road a car… Read more: Tin Hut to Birchwood Road (hitch to Lake Ōhau Lodge)
- Lake Hāwea to Stodys Hut via Breast Hill TrackTuesday 19 December – Joyful, wonderful day walking up up up above Lake Hāwea along the Breast Hill Track. The views were awesome. My photos do not do them justice.
- Top Timaru Hut to Tin HutThursday 21 December – Much easier walk today. Decided to stay at Tin Hut rather than pushing on to Ahuriri River and camping. Spent the afternoon splashing in the stream… Read more: Top Timaru Hut to Tin Hut
- Stodys Hut to Top Timaru HutWednesday 20 December – Another long day with almost half the time not moving. Lots of narrow slippy tracks above the river had me moving very slowly, carefully and fearfully!… Read more: Stodys Hut to Top Timaru Hut
- Wānaka to Lake HāweaMonday 18 December – I cycled around Lake Wānaka, Clutha River, and Hāwea River to “The Camp” at Lake Hāwea. So much fun! I hired the bike from Wanaka Bike… Read more: Wānaka to Lake Hāwea
- Fern Burn Hut to WānakaSunday 17 December – Easy walk down from Fern Burn Hut through beech forest along the true right of the Fern Burn (creek). Lots of cascades and waterfalls. Over a… Read more: Fern Burn Hut to Wānaka
- Roses Hut to Fern Burn HutSaturday 16 December – Long day with 3 big hills and great views! Walked from Roses Hut over two hills to get to Highland Creek Hut. Had a late lunch… Read more: Roses Hut to Fern Burn Hut
- Arrowtown to Roses HutFriday 15 December – Big hills! The walk from Arrowtown to Roses Hut was all about big hills. Super long day 7am to 9pm.
- Arrowtown to Roses HutFriday 15 December – Big hills! The walk from Arrowtown to Roses Hut was all about big hills. Super long day 7am to 9pm.
- Queenstown to ArrowtownThursday 14 December – Lazy late start to the day! Lots of coffees in bed looking out at Lake Wakatipu. I started my walk on the lakeside trail around 11am.… Read more: Queenstown to Arrowtown
- Careys Hut to Greenstone HutTuesday 12 December – Long but fairly easy walk from Careys Hut through swamp and tussock and a bit of beech forest to Greenstone Hut. Apart from a few brief… Read more: Careys Hut to Greenstone Hut
- Greenstone Hut to Greenstone Carpark & drive to QueenstownWednesday 13 December – Gorgeous walk from Greenstone Hut out to the carpark. Lots of waterfalls! It took me about 3.5 hours and I enjoyed a snooze in the sun… Read more: Greenstone Hut to Greenstone Carpark & drive to Queenstown
- SH94-Mavora Lakes Road to Swing Bridge to Kiwi BurnRe-started my great walk Sunday 10th December from the intersection of SH94 and Mavora Lakes Road. Beautiful sunny day with a light breeze. Big improvement on the previous day which… Read more: SH94-Mavora Lakes Road to Swing Bridge to Kiwi Burn
- Kiwi Burn Swing Bridge to Careys HutMonday 11th December – A long day clambering over and around massive tree falls on the Mavora Walkway. Walked beside the Mararoa River and the long skinny Mavora Lakes. Stopped… Read more: Kiwi Burn Swing Bridge to Careys Hut
- Aparima Hut to Princhester Road-SH 94A glorious sunny day Monday 4 December to complete my 3 day tramp over Mt Linton Station and the Takitimu Mountains. Lots and lots of waist high tussock, boggy swampy… Read more: Aparima Hut to Princhester Road-SH 94
- Telford Burn to Aparima HutSunday 3 December – The walk from Telford Burn started with a steep climb up to the Telford Ridge Tops in mist and drizzle. I could see the markers well… Read more: Telford Burn to Aparima Hut
- Birchwood Station to Telford Burn CampsiteBig day! It took me almost 12 hours to walk 30km. I did have lots of breaks – total moving time was 8 1/2 hours.
- Merrivale Road to Birchwood Station CabinLovely long sunny day over farmland, through native bush and pine plantations, along dusty farm roads.
- Humpridge Track – Port Craig Lodge to Rarakau CarparkEasy third and final day of the Humpridge Track. Am having a rest at The Cliffs Lodge before my first serious tramp of the trip through the Takimutu Mountains (1… Read more: Humpridge Track – Port Craig Lodge to Rarakau Carpark
- Humpridge Track – Okaka Lodge to Port Craig LodgeDay 2 of the Humpridge Track started with delicious porridge and coffee and a quick side trip to the lookout above the lodge. After checking out the amazing views, we… Read more: Humpridge Track – Okaka Lodge to Port Craig Lodge
- Humpridge Track – Rarakau Carpark to Okaka LodgeLovely leisurely day walking the Humpridge Track from Rarakau Carpark. Made it to Okaka Lodge just as the rain started. Will post more photos later – time for a hot… Read more: Humpridge Track – Rarakau Carpark to Okaka Lodge
- Riverton Cemetery to Colac BayStarted from Riverton Cemetery (a wee detour) and had a leisurely lazy walk along roads, through bush, over farm paddocks and along beaches to Colac Bay. I felt so welcome… Read more: Riverton Cemetery to Colac Bay
- Invercargill to Riverton / AparimaGorgeous walk – most of it along Oreti beach. Great weather and food day! I tried a Jimmy’s pie for brunch and had a delicious blue cod fish and chips… Read more: Invercargill to Riverton / Aparima
- Bluff to Stead Street Wharf – InvercargillStirling Point Bluff – The start of my Te Araroa Te Waipounamu NOBO walk A cold, wet, windy start to my Te Araroa experience. It took me 9 hours to… Read more: Bluff to Stead Street Wharf – Invercargill
- What’s the plan?I intend to walk Te Araroa – Te Waipounamu from Bluff to Ships Cove…. 1300km from the bottom to the top of the South Island Aotearoa – New Zealand. My… Read more: What’s the plan?
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Meredith Te Araroa Te Waipounamu 