Twig Adventures

March 18th Ports Water Race Track (km2940) – Colac Bay (2965), hitch to Riverton (km2976), and minus 6 km shortcut. Distance: 11.9mi/19km Just 3 days from finishing and the TA finally takes its toll. I tried to get up early but the forest was still dark by 8 am. I didn’t get going until 9:15 am and the late start kind of made me feel in a hurry. I was walking a pretty fast but normal pace, thinking all the while that there were some really tricky spots to be careful of. The trail continued to be overgrown, muddy, and with lots of washouts and deadfall to negotiate. I even remember contemplating my foot placement going over all the logs,[…]

March 17th Merriview private hut (km2904) – Ports Water Race Track (km2940) Distance: 22.4mi/36km Today was the coldest morning yet and I had a really hard time getting moving. At least it was clear and started warming up as soon as the sun rose over the hills…which wasn’t until 9 am. I could see my breath throughout most of the day. The route followed an easy forestry road up to the beginning of the Longwood Forest track. This is the last bit of climbing and forest on the trail, and is reminiscent of the forests in the north at the start of the TA. The trees are all covered in moss and it is very muddy. The trail soon broke[…]

March 16th Struan Flat Rd (km2878) – Merriview private hut, Merrivale (km2904) Distance: 16mi/26km It was a mixed-bag today, both in terms of the weather and the walking. It started out with spitting rain and a cold wind, but then cleared. It was another cold morning where I started with 3 layers on top and wearing my tights under my skirt. Winter is coming. We started on a gravel road and were aided by a farmer in an atv…he was eager to give us a ride for 1km, even though we weren’t looking for one. It’s always nice to chat with the local farmers when the opportunity arises. Then there was a fenceline walk through a eucalyptus forest, a farm[…]

March 15th Lower Wairaki hut (km2842.5) – Struan Flat Rd. (km2878) Mileage: 22mi/35.5km We left reasonably early to get in a long day. The days are so short now, it’s barely light enough to walk until 07:30 am. It was also a bit chilly but I warmed up fast on a 1500′ climb to the Telford tops. Just as I was getting a bit peeved about all that effort and no views, we walked onto a barren ridge. There were views all the way to Bluff, where we will be finishing the TA. It’s not often that you can see the finish line 5 or 6 days ahead. The forecast called for rain in the late morning, but so far[…]

March 14th Becketts Hut, off TA route but running parallel (km2822) – Lower Wairaki hut (km2842.5) Mileage: 12.7mi/20.5km The little hut was so perfect last night, it was hard to leave in the morning. My idea of a good hut is a small one, out of the way of big attractions, hard to get to, and a little rustic, yet tidy. A nice spot to escape to, where there aren’t other people for miles in any direction. This one met all the criteria. I feared another long bushwhack to rejoin the TA 6 km later, but it turned out that the 4WD track went all the way to the junction. Piece of cake. We had lunch at Aparima Hut, where[…]

March 13th Te Anau, hitch to Princhester Rd. (km2807) – Becketts Hut, off TA route but running parallel (approx. km2822) Mileage: 9mi/15km I needed to do some shopping in town and then try to escape the vortex to get some distance done for the day. First, I got pictures with the giant Takahe. They are like pukekos only larger and very endangered. I have never seen a real one. They are only found in this area (Fiordland), so naturally it is the town mascot. Feeling cheeky, I tried to ride the takahe and when that proved too difficult, a kiss sufficed. Note to future tourists, you should not be like me and leave the takahe alone. But I just love[…]

March 12th South Mavora Lake (km2769) – Te Anau hitch (km2807) Mileage: 23.7mi/38km After 100 days, you would think I had seen just about everything. It should have been a pretty uneventful day, and it was for the most part. I just needed to do a big stretch to get to town for a shower and resupply. It involved a long road walk…pretty mundane, right? I slept so well next to the lake, hearing the gentle lapping of the water on the shore. My tent was very close, so good thing there was no rain. It was just the right temperature for sleeping. The route began with another wonderful forest walk along the lake and Mararoa River. The tread was[…]

March 11th Taipo hut (km2735) – South Mavora Lake (km2769) Mileage: 21mi/34km Today was pretty easy walking and uneventful. There was more walking through tussock fields, then the route followed a 4WD track along Lake Mavora. I did not enjoy this part because the road had lots of rocks, went up and down a lot, and had big mud and water holes. There was also the occasional truck or motorcycle. We passed a few huts and then a large campground at the south end of the lake. Then it was back onto a trail through the forest. I was happy once again, fleeting along a great trail amongst grand trees. Somewhere in this area is where they filmed scenes for[…]

March 10th Greenstone carpark (km2711) – Taipo hut (km2735) Mileage: 15mi/24km The day dawned as another perfect day. We set out to finish our hitch to the trailhead and immediately got a ride from an empty tour bus. That is a first. The driver and guide were going up the Dart River and almost forgot to let us off at the intersection to the Greenstone. So we came close to hiking the Dart Valley instead, which I want to do, but at a later date. I’ve decided to postpone all the side trips until after I finish the TA. It is best to focus on one thing, for now. We got another quick ride to where the road turns off[…]

March 9th Lake Hayes (km2691) – Queenstown (km2711) Mileage: 12.4mi/20km I was on my way to Queenstown, the “adventure capitol of the world”, but had no desire to stay there. I had few chores to do and the place was likely fully booked, anyhow. There are a million activities and tours one can book in and around Queenstown but I just wanted to get in and out as fast as I could. My goal was to resupply, then get a ride to Glenorchy, on the way to the start of the next TA section. The TA once again provides a logistical challenge as it ends at Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown and picks up on the other side at the Greenstone[…]