Some 9 km further down this track is the hut

Very muddy in places

But nice views and weather

Then this scene! Some youngsters in their twenties ignored the ‘no driving beyond this sign’ and took a tiny side detour get on the 4WD track that leads to the hut. To be clear: you are not supposed to be on this track with a car. They did anyway. They were on their way back and got stuck here. Like really stuck. Oh, and they blew out the 4WD or something earlier that day, they only had 2WD left (just the rear wheels I believe). That’s not an envious situation to be in. Their car had a winch and they had a ground anchor (the yellow pole in the foreground) but trying to winch themselves towards that anchor only pulled said anchor out of the ground. They were well and truly stuck in a place they shouldn’t even be. I wanted to stay and see how this would pan out but I had a hike to finish so left shortly after taken this photo

I am surprised they were even able to drive up this track with just 2WD!

A while later suddenly there is this toilet right next to the track. How strange to have a toilet here.

But what I couldn’t yet see when I took the photo of the toilet above is that the hut is just down the hill. Awesome, that means I made it

The creek that will provide me with some yummy fresh water.

Drone shot, hut and toilet in the middle to the right, soon to be hit by the shadow of the mountain

I was just in time to send up the drone and take some footage of the hut in sunlight, 5 minutes later the entire area in this photo was in shade, it got cold quickly after that so not long after I cooked a meal and got in my toasty warm sleeping bag

I went to bed early last night and way after dark some hunters arrived late after a day of hunting in the area. Great, that means someone can take a photo of me. So this is me, Sunday morning, ready to continue my hike, the long way out, should be about 17 km today

Today’s hike leads me over those mountains

About halfway up the mountain, looking back

A while later, also looking back, which at this point is more interesting than what’s ahead of me

Near the middle of the photo you can see the hut I came from, just to the right of the meandering stream

Looking back again, the track up is steep and slow going

Mt Potts

I am now on the Mystery Lake Link Track, Two Thumb Range with snow on it on the far side of the valley

From left to right : Two Thumb Range, Mystery Lake, Mt Potts

Mystery Lake. Nobody knows why it’s called that way. It’s a mystery. Mt Potts behind it

I took a left at Mystery Lake and am now following the Mystery Lake Track clockwise and descending towards Lake Clearwater

Ben Mcleod Range, Tara Haoa Range, Rangitata River in front of it

Once again looking back at Mt Potts, some nastier weather is coming in

I am now almost on the Te Araroa Trail, the weather towards where I’m heading looks good. Interesting landscape

Now on the Te Araroa Trail, going due east, looking back to where I came from, you can see that southerly coming in

Looking back again, this is the valley floor directly north of Mt Guy

And I am back at that stream just beyond the car park. So right after taking this photo I put on my crocks again, and walked straight ahead, only to lose my footing, slip, and end up falling in the creek, camera bag completely under water, backpack under water, clothing soaking wet and cold. Damn! I get up again walk out on the other end and walk the remaining 10 meters to my car. Luckily my camera bag is a high quality one, despite it being fully submersed for a few seconds no water came in at all and everything in my backpack stayed dry as well. Phew! It’s a good thing I had some spare clothing in the car as well. Anyway, that was another interesting hike.

Map and height profile of the track. I started and ended at the bottom right (blue) and walked the loop counter-clockwise. First day was 9 km, second day 17 km

The first part (the Monument Track) is a track that only goes up and up and up and it’s slow going in today’s heat

Halfway up and looking back

The top of Mount Herbert, I’ve been here before a few times

It’s still quite a distance to the hut and because I started quite late I am getting anxious, will I make it to the hut before dark!? It’s somewhere in the middle in the distance that I need to be

Lyttelton Harbour

I should be close now, somewhere just beyond the green ridge, and quite a bit lower

To my east the moon is coming up

To my west the sun is going down

I made it to the hut in the nick of time, 5 minutes later and the descend towards the hut would have been dangerous with hardly any daylight left. There were people in the hut already and despite there being room for me I decide to pitch my trusty tent instead

Packhorse Hut, I spent some time inside but am tired of all the hiking so call it a night early

This morning, the view of my tent from the hut, it’s nippy outside

A drone shot

Today I am walking back the same way I got in yesterday, the drawback is that you know what’s to come, especially if you know that it’s going to be another many hours of walking up, and up, and up

Looking back, the hut is also visible in the bottom right, Lake Ellesmere in the background

This is what I walked through yesterday in almost darkness

Mt Herbert Shelter, time for a rest. Mt Bradley in the background, alps in the far distance

Nice view of Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island is the island in the middle

Summit of Mt Herbert again, from here on it will only be downhill, yay!

Port Levy, The Monument on the right

Lyttelton, Lyttelton Harbour, Pegasus Bay

Once again The Monument on the right, on the left the road leading towards the parking where my car is parked, in fact you can see my car if you pixel peep

Map and height profile of the track from car park to the hut

The hike will take me to Cameron Hut

My first view of Mt Arrowsmith

A group of hunters were traveling in the opposite direction and had shot this pig, it must have been heavy carrying it on your back but this fella was up to it and happy to pose for a photo

Cameron River

Looking back, Taylor Range in the distance

I have been walking for about 4 hours now, looking back to the direction where I came from

Teddy’s Hill, with an almost dried up Lochiel Stream merging into Cameron River

Looking towards Staces Hill

Another dried up stream merging into Cameron River: Lochaber Stream

I was hoping I’d already be at the hut but it’s rather tough going to be honest, it’s hard to see how much further but it should be in the middle of the photo just a few km further

And there it is, I finally made it, about time as I am totally exhausted

I am staying at the actual hut, there a few others here as well and they are tenting, here’s one of their tents at dusk

One on the other guys, Hamish, had an unfortunate fall and it looks like he broke his foot, he’s moved into the hut and is lying with his leg raised on the box with the yellow lid, it’s highly doubtful he will be able to walk back. I’m sitting on the left, I should have sat still

The hut, lit only by a small candle, lots of stars are visible

The next morning

Cameron Hut, before long it should receive some sunlight

Mt Arrowsmith straight ahead

Once again the hut. It also turned out that Hamish’ foot is no better than last night, he will not be able to walk back so his group activate their PLB, we are now waiting of a helicopter to arrive to take him to a hospital, or at least out of here

And there is the Westpac helicopter! It took them about an hour to get here from Christchurch

The chopper about to land, Hamish sitting, the rest keep their distance

Cool photo

Hamish being looked after by a flying doctor

He will be airlifted to Christchurch hospital

In the chopper

And off they go, what a lucky dude that Hamish, gets a free helicopter flight and doesn’t have to walk the grueling 16 km back

What a view! The pilot himself took some photos as well, it’s not often that they land in a place so beautiful

Me in front of the hut

The hut

Nice hut, better than DOC huts, I will donate them $20 for staying here

An ex-sheep (I think that’s what it was)

Once more the hut against the Mt Arrowsmith backdrop

On my way back again, better views of Mt Arrowsmith than yesterday when I had the sun shining in my face by the time I got there

That’s where I need to go, all the way out of the valley

The scenery is stunning

Sometimes the track goes up again like this hill, before it goes down again

Just one more little descent and then I am back at the valley floor and from there it should be an easy walk out

About another hour or two to go now

Half an hour after taking this last photo I finally made it back to the car, I had 2 blisters on my hand, 4 on my feet, I fell at one point during the hike back and had a huge tear in my trousers, I was exhausted and hungry, luckily in my car’s fridge a nice cold Diet Coke and Snickers were waiting for me. Another great weekend spent outdoors!

Looking west

Sugar Loaf straight ahead, Purple Hill to the left of and behind it

The first half an hour of the track is along the road

And soon the Binser Saddle Track will start on the left and take me over the saddle below those clouds on the left

Another look towards Purple Hill, where I fly so often. It’s still early but already quite a lot of cumulus clouds, it’s supposed to overcast today and come with some nasty weather, at least further to the east

Start of the Binser Saddle Track, it should be 6.6km / 3 hr to the other side of the saddle and 19.6km / 7.5 hr to Casey Hut

The track climbs steeply, this is looking back towards the west, some cloud coming in

The Waimakariri River, looking upstream

Quite a few of these little stream crossings, I don’t like getting my feet wet, luckily these stream are small enough to step over

Great weather for a hike, love the sunshine through the trees, the terrain is rather steep though

Getting closer to the Binser Saddle, it’s flattening

Grassy patch at the very saddle, nice place for a rest

From here on it’s all downhill again, lots of beech trees (right?)

I’m starting to see Peveril Peak throught the trees

Yep, there it is. I was here yesterday when I was flying and I had a low-ish save here

Interesting landscape at the foot of Gray Hill

The Poulter Range

Looking back

I’m really tired now and still have got a few km to go

Almost at Casey Hut! Should be 20 more minutes now

After the previous photo I arrived rather exhausted at the Casey Hut where I had my dinner and not long after that went to sleep as I was exhausted. This photo is Sunday morning, around 8 in the morning and my backpack (at the table) and I are ready to go

But first a photo of the other side of the hut where 12 of us spent the night, I think it was a snore fest

Casey Hut

Casey Hut and the Poulter River, Snow Cup Range in the background

And I’m on my way again! Another lovely day

I was already tired and the track turns out to be brutal: it only goes up and up and up and up with no end in sight

Every few minutes I need to take a short rest, just to catch my breath

Eventually I make it to some clearing and it looks like it will be going downhill from here on, at least for a while

Drone photo looking back. Casey Hut should be just to the right of where the Casey Stream (flowing downhill) meets the Poulter River

Drone right above me looking down

Hi!

A welcome easy bit

And I continue

Approaching Casey Saddle

Lots of this stuff on the trees again, I forgot if this is ‘Old Man’s Beard’ or not

Brown Hill

Hallelujah Flat

Hi Again

A lot of the track is blocked by fallen trees, at least in the photo it’s clear where the track continues but often you simply have no idea and just have to see if you can find the track again

After another last and intense climb I finally see the Waimak again, that means I’m getting close to the end. I can’t wait to get to the car, I’m exhausted and know there’s food and something to drink in my car!

Another 20 minutes or so through forest like this

And here I am as good as back at the car (just to the left of the bridge). It was an exhausting 40km hike, but in the end it’s always worth it!

Just when I got to the car park there was a group of like 15 people with backpacks, I asked them where they were going and they said they were all going to Black Hill Hut, exactly where I intended to go. So I cancelled that plan and decided to go to Mt Oxford instead, I’m on it in the photo, it’s quite steep

Getting closer to the summit it flattens a bit

And then becomes steep again, also with my length I really need to crouch under these trees or I will bump into them

Lots of trees here with this stuff on them. I forgot what it’s called. Is it old man’s beard?

Finally I’m out of the forest and get a look at the summit, it’s still quite a while from here

Looking towards Springfield

I continue towards the top, there is a lot of strong wind

Some sun starting to shine

Another 1 km to go to the summit

Someone else on the way back already

Yay, I made it to the summit, sheltering from the wind here

In the far distance is the gliding club. My backpack is taking a rest as well, it has performed extremely well, very glad with it

The view towards and of Lees Valley

A selfie at the very summit of Mt Oxford

Black Hill and behind the Esk Valley where it’s raining

On the far left Mt Hutt in snow, in the middle the Torlesse Range in snow, to the right the Cragieburn Range in snow

I wonder if anyone is flying today, there is thermal activity but the wind might be too strong

There’s still some snow in places, Lees Valley in the background

I walk back a long way the same way I came

Until I reach this junction where I go towards the Wharfedale Hut

The path to the hut was steep, my feet hurt, the hut was almost full, a nice bunch of people, we have some nice talks and an early nap, the sky looks fantastic

Sunday morning, I am the first one already on the trail again to the car park, I am hungry and left some yummy things in the fridge in my car and can’t wait to get there

The Wharfedale Track itself is not very special, in fact it’s a bit boring, especially when it’s not sunny, there aren’t that many interesting views either

The Wharfedale Saddle, it shouldn’t be all that far back to the car now, only 2 hours and 20 minutes according to the sign

Many little stream crossings like this one

The occasional view, in this case we see Chest Peak in the distance on the right, often our gateway to the north when gliding

Lots of ferns and a bit of sun seeping through

Almost back at the car park, I look sooo forward to some cold diet coke and something to eat from the fridge in my car

And I end the trip with pretty much the same view I started with yesterday. The trip was 30km, my legs and feet are sore from the climb yesterday but it was all worth it and the new backpack is fantastic!

Because this weekend I will hike to the Manuka Hut, stay there and then hike back the next day, it should be a 5 hour hike of just over 16 km

It was predicted to be sunny but there’s still a lot of cloud around here

Here = at the Hakatere Conservation Park

But so far at least the temperature is nice

Some more sun coming through

Lovely landscape, nice to be walking here

Looking back

I wasn’t expecting river crossings, that’s a nasty surprise, I hate getting wet feet so I always take off my boots, cross the river on my bare feet (or Tevas), dry my feet and put on my boots again, slows things down but at least my feet stay dry, and warm

It’s very quiet here, I’m loving it

The Winterslow Range covered in snow

Another river (stream) that I just crossed, the water is rather cold, but that’s to be expected in early spring

Looking back, at Mt Somers

Arrowsmith Range in the distance

I took a little detour past Lake Emily

Mt Somers Range, I’m getting closer to Manuka Hut now

Looking back at where I came from

About 2 more km to the hut now

It should – literally – be right around the corner

And yes!

Water coming off the Mt Somers range, this will be my drinking/cooking water (after filtering)

Won’t be long before the sun is behind the mountain

So a quick selfie before it’s too late. I’m quite tired I must say, it turned out to be a 20 km hike because of my little detour past Lake Emily

The Manuka Hut

Sun’s down, moon’s up

Me trying to sit still for 10 seconds for a long exposure shot of the inside of the hut, I failed

The fireplace, not much wood, it’s a cold night, at least outside of my sleeping bag

This could only be better with a smoking chimney

The next morning! I had a good and loooong sleep

I’m on my way around 9 already, bye bye hut

Manuka Lake, Arrowsmith Range still covered in snow

This is the mountain bike track, the track I didn’t walk yesterday but do today, because it’s shorter and my legs hurt

Even more stream crossing though

Looking back again, Lake Emily is just on the other side of that hill in the foreground

Another selfie, so I know I was actually there to enjoy the scenery

This time I start at the official start of the track, last time I approached from the west

Just a few minutes into the walk, looking back, car park and Mt Hutt in the distance

It’s quite steep, and when you think you are close to the summit it turns out the real summit is still a little further

Nice path, shouldn’t be much longer now

The view back, Lake Coleridge and the Big Ben Range in the distance with snow on it

The summit!

I sent up the drone for some footage, Lake Coleridge to my right, Mt Oakden straight ahead

I’ll be walking the track as a loop today, this is the side of the mountain where I’ll be going downhill

It’s quite busy today

A number of landout sites for gliders in this photo. The Cragieburn Range in the distance with snow on it

The Rakaia River, Mt Arrowsmith in snow on the left

Lake Coleridge again and the path leading towards the summit

My hoodie drying

Once again Coleridge, Craigies and also Red Hill (the one with just a little topping of snow)

On the way down now, Craigies and Mt Olympus to my right

The way down, you must pass through this little canyon

Looking back towards the top, the moon is also visible

From here on it’s an easy walk down to the road

Somewhere along the Coleridge Road, sheep enjoying the grass and the little bit of sunshine that’s left for today

Inside the Coldwater Hut

The jetty, unfortunately the weather doesn’t look very nice today

The hut overlooking Lake Rotoiti

Weather is improving a bit

Rachel

Yours truly

We’ve made it back to the car and after that drove to the Mt Robert Car Park and walked the short distance to the lookout

West Bay

Looking to the northwest, the Nelson Lakes Gliding Club should be down there somewhere

Lake Rotoiti and the St Arnaud Range

St Arnaud and Kerr Bay on the other side of the lake

Some waterfalls along the way

This dude showed up again as well

Rachel navigating her way across a stream

Bottom of Whisky Falls

All of the Whisky Falls, it turns out it’s just water and not actually Whisky. False (Falls) advertising!

Photo taken with the drone, the Travers River lies between Lakehead Track on the left and the Lower Travers Valley Track on the right

The jetty at Coldwater Hut

And are now on our way to the the summit of Saddle Hill

View of Akaroa Harbour

Rachel at the summit

And yours truly

Lake Forsyth and Lake Ellesmere behind it

After our walk we go to Anchorage Bay

And Wanui Beach

With its beautiful trees