We drive around Lake Aviemore and stop at the Aviemore Substation to have a look

They have these water stairs here so the fish (trout?) can swim upstream

What an awful lot of power, I’m talking about the Jimny of course

On the southern shore of Lake Aviemore we find this fantastic little bay, unfortunately the sun has pretty much disappeared by now

But that doesn’t stop us from having a swim

Our plan for today was to end up at Monument Hut, which requires some 4WD’ing, unfortunately because of the recent rain and especially the rain falling down at the time the track had become rather muddy and the poor Jimny got stuck in the mud, luckily a car coming in the opposite direction was able to pull the Jimny out of the mud, I was very glad I always bring the recovery gear, this was the second time ever I needed someone to help with a stuck Jimny

We decide not to take the risk of continuing the track to the hut and instead turned around, so that if we would get stuck again we’d still have the help of the white car available but it turned out not to be necessary

It was really just the very part that we couldn’t get through, too slippery. I need other tyres, once the current ones are worn down enough I’ll get some proper 4WD tyres with more grip

It’s not that we didn’t try!

We ended up at the Round Bush Campsite, another place we’d been before

What miserable weather ;-(

We’re doing the West Manuherikia Track today, we’ve done this one before but in the opposite direction

It rained quite a bit yesterday so we hope the river isn’t too high, so far it’s looking ok

The first hut on the track: Boundary Creek Hut, where I lost my Ray-Ben (yes, Ray-Ben, not Ray-Ban, they were cheap fakes from AliExpress)

The Omarama Saddle right ahead of us (the low point)

The second hut: Top Hut

Looking back at the hut

We have made it to the top of the saddle, here’s looking back at the track

And the valley with Top Hut

It looks like another great day for gliding as well

The decision is made to drive up to the St Bathans Range (just like the previous time we were here)

Getting to the St Bathans Range is a lot of sloooow driving, sooo many rocks

This is how far I’m willing to drive, from here on it’s a little walk we’re doing, over that top in the previous photo

At the that top, looking back

View of the Mackenzie basin where I was gliding only recently

It’s also rather cold here (at about 2 km altitude), glad I brought a beanie and gloves

Going back to the car again, quite steep here

Rachel ahead of me

Looking back at what Omarama glider pilots know as Hugo’s Elevator

Our car is still there, it’s a happy car, it’s had a 50 mm raise since we were last here and the extra ground clearance really helps, no damage this time

Looking towards Lake Dunstan

Hawkdun Range in the distance

Last part of the track, back down to Omarama

After buying some groceries at Omarama we visit Sailor’s Cutting

Just for a little walk

We end the day at our favourite freedom camping spot at Lake Aviemore

Enjoying a lovely meal

We took the West Manuherikia Track on our way down here, today we takee the East Manuherikia Track back towards Omarama, this is pretty much at the start of the track

Closer to the ridge, looking back at where we just came from

It’s a lot steeper than it looks and difficult to drive (mostly in first gear)

Some flower

We’ve made it to the other side of the mountains: the Mackenzie Basin

What a beautiful sight

The St Bathans Range

Almost back in Omarama

We’re having a little break at a campsite just south of the the Benmore Powerstation

Lots of people practicing for some competition

Photo taken from the Benmore Dam

The Great Little Jimny on Benmore Dam

We though about camping here, just off the Te Akatarawa Rd, but in in the end decided to move on

And so we ended up at this awesome spot at Lake Aviemore that was only reachable by 4WD, thanks Jimny!

Wedderburn, part of the Otago Central Rail Trail

The local tavern

This is in Naseby

The hotel looks well maintained but I wonder if anyone ever stays there

This place is dead

We’re driving Danseys Pass today, back towards the Mackenzie Basin and have a stop here at the hotel

The place looks nice

But very very quiet

Chips! It’s been a while

Love the mural

Driving through the acual pass, Marys Range

I’ve been in this general area before once with some people from the gliding club, for some hike

We made it through the pass and are the Elephant Rocks now

This looks like a lion from the side to me

And this a camel lying down

It’s a beautiful are and reminds me of Castle Hill

Rachel taking photos, Marys Range in the background

Church in Duntroon

There’s also some old drawings here, nothing spectacular though

I found the rocks with all the birds living in there more interesting (spot the pigeon!)

Aviemore Hydro Station

Where the water flows from Lake Aviemore into Lake Waitaki, the river here belongs to Canterbury, the shore on the (true) right is Otago

We stay at the Fishermans Bend Campground and I sent up the drone, this is Lake Aviemore

The Aviemore Hydro Station

Mt Dryburgh to the east

We’re in here somewhere, there aren’t many people here at this time of year

Ah, there we are

See?