Category: TA Trail

3 Mar. Light rain started overnight, so on daybreak about 06:30, I prepared my usual porridge and granola on the gas stove in my tent. First time I have done that in this tent but it worked fine. The rain was off and on and getting out of my tent I caught a full arc … Continue reading Ahuriri River to Top Timaru Hut

2 Mar. Back to walking. We cleared the bach at 08:30 and I walked a short distance to Cycle Journeys depot in Twizel for the daily 09:00 shuttle to Lake Ohau Lodge. Herb was driving the minibus and he had a lot of bag pickups from locations where Alps2Ocean cyclists had been staying. Their bags … Continue reading Lake Ohau to Ahuriri River

1 Mar. With a fine day forecast and a shorter distance to cover than yesterday, it was going to be a relaxed day. At 09:30 we left Twizel initially by main road to join the Ohau canal road. Biking over this section it was best to follow the Alps2Ocean bike trail as the track surface … Continue reading Twizel to Lake Ohau

29 Feb. The chance of rain and high winds was due to reduce early morning, so I booked a mid morning start from Annie’s in Tekapo. It is about a 45 min drive to Tekapo from where we were staying in Twizel. Annie had someone to drive Anara’s car back to Twizel and we were … Continue reading Lake Tekapo to Twizel

28 Feb. This was a relocation day. Up early to catch the intercity coach at 08:05 from Queenstown back to Lake Tekapo arriving at 12:25. A good day to be travelling rather than walking as it rained with high winds for most of the morning. The coach was nearly full, so definitely worthwhile booking at … Continue reading Jump Back: Queenstown to Lake Tekapo

27 Feb. Jenny’s birthday, and her roses at home bloomed today! In Arrowtown it was a fine day to take it easy with a town and country walk. Diego, Dave and Baxter were taking a rest day at the camp ground, so they weren’t striking camp like me. In the camp ground kitchen I met … Continue reading Arrowtown to Queenstown

26 Feb. Rain and wind were forecast for tomorrow, so today’s goal was to get down from the mountains into Arrowtown. 26 km with a couple of climbs again, so it was going to be a longish day. Off at 08:10, it took me 1:10 to climb the 470m to Roses Saddle. It was then … Continue reading Roses Hut to Arrowtown

25 Feb. A good night’s sleep apart from a couple of possums scrapping on the hut verandah. Today there were two options. The first was to Roses Hut, 11km with two big 420m climbs and descents and the second option was to do that and push on past Roses Hut to camp at Macetown, another … Continue reading Highland Creek Hut to Roses Hut

24 Feb. Another TA walker arrived just before me last night and we had adjacent tents. Rhydian from Christchurch was south-bound. He had given up his rental home and put all his stuff into storage while he was away. Good way to save money! He liked the campsite so much he decided to take a … Continue reading Glendu Bay Motor Camp Site to Highland Creek Hut

23 Feb. It’s been six months or half a year since Jenny died, and I have now covered half the South Island Trail, 677 km in all. Her presence with me has grown stronger through the peace and joy that the journey has brought me and she has certainly been looking after my fitness and … Continue reading Jump: Wanaka to Glendu Bay