Since I went to bed really early yesterday I woke up early today as well, before sunrise and with the moon still clearly visible

Inside the Big River Hut, my t-shirts and sweathand hanging above the fireplace, not that it made any difference as the couple staying here as well were unable to get the fire going and I have never been able to light one properly

All that space to myself, no other people snoring, a nice warm sleeping bag on a Thermarest mattress with a very high R value, that’s a good sleep guaranteed!

Sunrise, well not the official sunrise time but the first rays of sun hitting the hut

Early morning, I have already had my spaghetti breakfast (energy!) and I am just warming up a bit before heading out again

And I’m on my way again! This is the start of today’s track, which is the same as yesterday’s but in reverse (duh)

Fast going and nice views here

Very boggy here

Back under canopy cover, where it is considerably colder than being in the sun

Still nice views though

And very dangerous!

These may look like waves in the water but they are actually thin frozen sheets of ice

I am back at Waiuta (map) and take the time to read all the signs about the history of this once bustling gold village. On this very spot there used to be a school and a post office (hence the postbox)

Looking towards Waiuta Lodge

Another photo of what last used to be a post office

Across the street is someone’s private property, I guess it’s used as a holiday home

Plaque at the Birthday Quartz Reef

Entrancec to the mine, you could easily climb (step over) the fence and actually enter the mine but I think it’s wiser not to

The walkway to the swimming pool, or what’s left of it

The swimming pool, I would love to have seen photos of this place say 100 years ago, so many people will have had so much fun here

All entrances to the mine are fenced off

An aerial view of the Blackwater Mine

Just look at that massive hole there, that’s another (well) fenced off entrance to the mine

Directly above the chimney, I thought about lowering the drone into it but then I would no doubt lose my drone (again!)

Close-up of that mine entrance again

Not much left of the village compared but very interesting to see it all

One of the few buildings still intact is the Rimu Cottage, but it’s boarded up because of asbestos

This used to be a busy barber shop back in the day

Another intact building, they have plans for this but I forgot what exactly

So strange to be standing in what once used to be someone’s living room with only the fireplace still remaining

I guess someone died here? I don’t suppose someone is actually buried here but who knows?

Once here stood the school teacher’s house

Now there are just toadstools

I drove to Prohibition Shaft, which is only like 5 minutes away from Waiuta, lots of remnants here

The place is littered with stuff like this

More remnants

Once the office

I though I would be able to lift or at least move this a bit but no, it’s way to heavy

View towards the Paparoa Range

I have left Waiuta and am now at the little place of Ahaura, just for a photo

Now I’m at the village of Nelson Creek, there’s a DOC campsite there that I wanted to check out and also some short walk(s), the walks start by crossing the actual Nelson Creek using this swing bridge

Colls Dam Walk, a bit underwhelming to be honest

It’s just a 40 minute loop track and I’m on the way back here

Allegedly this walk has wheelchair access, not sure about this section though

Photo taken from Tailrace Walk which I did as well, another 20 minute return, after this I decided not to stay at the DOC campsite because of the barking dogs there, instead I drove all the way to Andersons Flat