Invercargill Town Hall. After finishing the trail in Bluff I was lucky enough to have friends in Invercargill to stay with for a few days so I could catch my breath, sleep a few extra hours and plan where I was heading to next. After a few days taking in the sights I was on... Continue Reading →

Wide groomed tracks, DOC taking care of the Tourists. A few days being well looked after by friends in Queenstown it was off to the start of the greenstone track which had only reopened the previous week after storm damage. The views of the mountains around Qtown were amazing, and the tracks in the area... Continue Reading →

Wanaka Tree After waiting for the tropical cyclone to pass with little to no drama it was off through to Hawea and Wanaka before the bright lights of Queenstown. From Lake Ohau the trail climbs the East Ahuri track before dropping into the East Ahuri river. The landscape up here is rugged and once out... Continue Reading →

On the foot hills of Tekapo After holding up in Methvan for a few days to wait out the rain I decided to follow the road to Tekapo and avoid any swollen rivers. I reached Gereldine on the first day, the hot dry Canterbury sun saps all your energy so rather than walk the 90... Continue Reading →

After a great few days in West Melton I rejoined the trail from the Cass end of the Cass Lagoon Saddle track rather than from Bealey. Late afternoon I set off to the cass saddle hut, the first part of the track was non existant after flooding over the past few years but straight up... Continue Reading →

Hope Halfway Shelter One night in Hanmer and it was back out to the trail, just time enough to resupply and have a few treats. It was a short afternoon to the Halfway Hope Hut before heading over the Kiwi saddle and onto the Hurunui Hut at the top of lake Sumner on day two.... Continue Reading →

Blue Lake, Nelson Lakes NP. After a dash into Nelson to replace some worn gear I started the short trek round Lake Rotoiti to the Lakehead hut, normally a lunch stop it became then first day as I hadn't set out until almost 4pm. Day 2 was a walk up to John Tait Hut. Maybe... Continue Reading →

Emerald Pool. WOW, WOW, WOW Ok I should stop there but WOW, this is a special section of the trail. Day one meanders up the deep green pools of the Pelorus river, the most amazing being emerald pool a must swimming spot. Sandflys (giant midges with teeth the size of jaws) populate the most beautiful... Continue Reading →

Ships Cove. Start of the Queen Charlotte Track After a great break on the Kapiti Coast for Christmas it was an early morning ferry to the top of the South Island then a water taxi over to Ships Cove the start of the Queen Charlotte Track rejoining Te Araroa. I had sea kayaked round the... Continue Reading →

Paraparaumu Beach Slack Packing to Wellington, home turf a day pack and beds the whole way to the end of the North Island, I was glad to downsize the back pack for the last stage of this section. Day 80 started with a walk down the Waikanae river and over to Paraparaumu Beach, I had... Continue Reading →