Roger's Walkabout

Ta Araroa 06/02/26

Day 138, Kiwi Burn Hut to Te Anau (2831)

It rained quite hard last night and I was a bit worried about the river crossing but by the morning it had stopped and the clouds were clearing.

Morning from the hut

I thought I would have a look at the river crossing but I actually missed the turning to the river and by the time I noticed I was halfway to the bridge so I kept going, no crossing problems but an extra hour and a half walking!

The Kiwi Burn swing bridge

The route actually follows the river but the trail notes don't encourage anyone to use it so I followed the advice and walked the road.

The Mararoa River

Twenty nine kilometres of gravel road, hardly any traffic and a wide grassy verge that was easy to walk on.

Beef cattle

Sheep

The scenery changed to farming country with big fields of cattle, sheep and one of wheat.

The long and not winding road

In both directions

I did see a milk collection sign on one farm gate but didn't see any dairy cows.

Lots of sheep

I had organised a shuttle to pick me up at the state highway for a ride into Te Anau for shopping and I camped at the holiday park there.

Leaving one set of hills behind

Pauline, Etienne, Spike and Scotty are also camping there and the guy on reception had never heard of the TA.

Campsite

A big load of food and a nice meal and I'm ready to go tomorrow. I just have to decide whether it will be a short or long day.

Te Araroa 05/02/26

Day 137, Careys Hut to Kiwi Burn Hut (2803)

I had a slightly disturbed night due to some industrial strength snoring but managed to sleep through it ok. It was bit cloudier today, no wind in the morning but it picked up in the afternoon. I started early to avoid the heat which wasn't really necessary.

Morning light

The route follows the Mavora Lakes, north and south, and continues by the Mararoa River which runs through the lakes. Not sure why the names are different.

Looking back over North Mavora Lake

It was an easy walk on a Landrover track to the huge camping area between the lakes, almost empty this morning.

The Mararoa River

South Mavora Lake

The path changes sides between the lakes on another suspension bridge and takes to the beech woods.

Bridge over the Mavora River

Grassy flats

The path was relatively flat so despite the normal roots, mud and fallen trees wasn't too hard to walk.

My new hat 🤠

Path obstacles again

There were some good views over the water when the trees allowed and all too soon I had arrived at the turn off to Kiwi Burn Hut.

There is the last big river crossing of the TA here at the Mararoa and I had thought of doing it today and camping on the river bank the other side as it is a one kilometre walk to the hut which has to be reversed in the morning.

Kiwi Burn Hut

The space for tents by the river was tiny and there was one other there already, so between that and the sandflies that were moving in for the kill I decided to put up with the extra distance in the morning (and wet feet) and walked up to the hut.

All to myself

A very nice hut with twelve beds in two bedrooms with a kitchen area between. There is a veranda to sit outside facing the sun as well but there are too many insects for that. No-one else turned up and I had the hut to myself, very nice.

Te Araroa 04/02/26

Day 136, Greenstone Hut to Careys Hut (2777)

A cold misty start but it soon cleared and it became a beautiful hot sunny day with almost no wind. At one time the sky was completely cloudless.

Morning mist clearing

Path obstacles

The track climbs away from the Greenstone River up through beech woods with the inevitable mud, roots and stones.

Clear blue sky

After the Mavora Greenstone Saddle the path drops gently down to a huge glaciated plain with bog and tussock grass for a while before drying up a bit and getting stonier.

Bridge guardian

The bridge to be guarded

It wasn't a difficult walk but it got very hot in the afternoon which made it harder than it should have been.

Looking back to Slip Flat Hut

On across the plains

The scenery was beautiful, very Scottish but bigger.

More flats

The track developed

I had planned to stay at Boundary Hut but said to myself that if I was there before 16.00 I would go on the next hut which I did.

A good track

I had decided to camp outside the hut but the sandflies were biting and there was no shelter from the sun so after a quick dip in the lake (very cold) I set up in the hut.

Careys Hut by North Lake Mavora

It's a big hut with only 6 beds so there is a lot of space for only two inside, three others camped outside and then a couple of 4WD vehicles arrived and three more beds were taken.

Getting dark

Te Araroa 03/02/26

Day 135, Queenstown to Greenstone Hut (2749)

I wanted to get the early bus from Queenstown but it was fully booked so I had a lazy morning with several breakfasts while waiting for the 11.15 bus that didn't actually arrive until midday.

Quiet Queenstown in the morning

The bus was full of walkers going to do the Routeburn walk which is reputed to be very good but also very busy at this time of year.

View from the bus

Another view from the bus of Lake Wakatipu

There were nine of us that got out at Glenorchy for the minibus to the Greenburn track, a bumpy ride on the gravel road with several fords.

Unloading the minibus

Greenstone River

From the car park the trail goes up through the woods beside the river crossing several tributaries, this time on bridges.

Bridge over the Capels River

Capels River Flats

Good path by the Greenstone River

Not much of a view until it opened up in places higher up. The hut sits in a good sized clearing and it would have been nice to sit outside in the evening sunshine except for the sandflies.