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 ;-(

Monument Hut

Ben Ohau Range

Barrier Range

Today the East Manuherikia Track

This track leads from Omarama via the Omarama Saddle to St Bathans

The road is pretty steep in places and I need to drive a lot in 1st gear

Happy, especially for not having to walk up here

The saddle is coming into view

It’s a great day for driving up here

Looking back towards the Ewe Range

Almost at the saddle

At the saddle we decided to take a detour to the St Bathans Range, Justin Wills told me you could get to the lake there that I so often flew above. Unfortunately the road was so steep in places that I had to drive a bit on my own, with Rachel having to walk a little

The view towards Lake Dunstan

This is on the actual St Bathans Range, normally I fly over these mountains so it’s cool to be able to drive on them for a change, the view is back towards the Mackenzie Basin

The lake I mentioned above is right below and to the right here, in the distance the Ewe Range, Horrible and the Benmore Range

The lake! We made it. Maybe next time we’ll camp here, must be awesome

After a long walk back up the ridge I’m back at the car

Top Hut

For us the road continues a while further

As we still need to make it to Homestead Hut

Nearly there, about time, getting hungry!

Could I look any more stupid? Likely. But at least I’m eating. Om nom nom

There’s even dessert, thanks Julia!

Clouds hugging the mountains

The sky opens up over Lake Pukaki

Pukaki Power Station

Ben Ohau Range across the lake

Mushrooms

I would have thought it a bit early in the season for mushrooms but clearly not

I’ve never actually seen this before, how mushrooms push their way up through the soil

Ben Ohau Range, now seen from the west

Neumann Range

Rachel taking photos

Navigating the Hopkins Valley Track

With its beautiful little waterfalls

That are very difficult to take photos of with no room or solid ground for a tripod

I kept waiting for a fall, but no

That backpack looks like it was designed for a dwarf

More Neumann Range

The Huxley River

Lovely clear water, too cold to swim in though

Rachel on the swingbridge crossing the Huxley River

Shame it’s late in the day already, we need to head back soon

Ok, me on the swingbridge too

Just the swingbridge

Still Neumann Range in the background

Rachel ready for the walk back

One more photo of the waterfall

Monument Hut, here we stay for the night

The moon is getting ready

Nice!

Just to be clear: that’s the moon, not the sun, and there are stars visible

See? Stars