I sent up the drone to see where to go to next, I thought I would have to continue the track in the photo but it turned out I needed to take a completely different route, no idea where the track in the photo eventually ends up, maybe I’ll find that out a next time I’m here

The Nevis Valley, we did that last year, in the X-Trail, that was very nice but a bit too rough for the X-Trail

But this year, with the Jimny, we should be able to tackle any track, hence our attempt today at the Old Woman Range Track

It’s clearing up a bit, and the temperature is going up as well

And we’re on our way. The landscape reminds me of Norway but with less trolls

So many interesting rock formations

You could spend quite some time here

Which is exactly what we did

Me taking the photo below

It’s difficult to capture the beauty of the landscape in photos

But I try anyway

It’s quite magical with all the low cloud

And I see animals in all the rocks, this one looks like a rabbit to me

With her gray and black clothing Rachel really tries to blend in with the landscape

I am very glad the Jimny allows me to go to places like this that I otherwise would not have been able to visit

Another look towards the Nevis Valley, do you see a face?

I do, an angry face

The view north, back towards Cromwell and Lake Dunstan

And we truly are the only people here

Despite being the only ones here I park the car like a true gentleman just off the track so potential other traffic can pass

Some convergence clouds

The road is loooooong, and we’re going slooooow

There’s the odd bit of road where you can go a bit faster but most of the track is slow going

But that’s ok, this way we get to enjoy the stunning scenery more

It’s getting on in the day and the clouds are getting lower

And we still have a fair way to go, hopefully we can avoid driving in fog

The views keeps changing and they’re all great

I’m sure the little Jimny is happy to be taken to these places

This is definitely a trip I won’t forget

I mean, look at that!

Stunning

This reminds me of my old Lucky Luke comic books, they always ended with an image like this

Cairnmuir Mountains to the east

Still lots of low cloud this morning

But there is a sliver of blue sky in the far distance

The high point of today: Duffers Saddle

The scenery here is different from what I’m used to

This reminds me of the Sphinx

All of a sudden the sun broke through, choice!

Just off Upper Potters Creek Track we have some breakfast

This are is truly beautiful

Lots of oddly shaped rocks

Rolling hills

More rocks

We are south of Nevis Crossing now, this is the view to the west: the Hector Mountains

Looking back north, where we came from, so far the track is not impossible to do with a 2WD

Small cemetery in a huge valley

Always handy to know how far it is to the nearest pub

Tiny ruins reminding us of times gone by

Typical for Kiwi houses

Hard to imagine there once we enough people in the Nevis Valley to warrant a post office

“Population 3”

Lots of history here, Garvie Mountains to our east

The General Store, it was closed, why would anyone want to buy a general anyway?

South of Lower Nevis now, we’re getting closer to the proper 4WD part of the track

Still doable by 2WD but it’s getting narrower

The Nevis River

Lovely sunny day

Sheep may safely graze

Little House on the Prairie

These must be baches, nobody home at the moment

Interesting landscape here

Solitude

Nice place to camp, maybe next time

We’re now past the 4WD bit, it was so rough in places that I couldn’t really stop to take photos and the dashcam footage somehow got lost, will have to do it all again some time

Bye Nevis Road, Nevis Valley and Nevis River, you were awesome!

We spent the night at the historic Garston Ski Hut