Te Araroa 27/01/26

Day 128, Lake Hawea to Wānaka (2641)

It was a bright sunny morning when I packed up and headed for the cafe. No porridge this morning, muesli with fruit and yogurt followed by scrambled eggs on toast.

Hawea

Path beside the river, it is there down on the right 

It was an easy walk today along a cycle/footpath all the way to Wānaka following rivers and lakeshores.

The river wandered off 

The first section followed the river and although I could hear it it was hidden by undergrowth most of the time.

And left me crossing the flats

Suspension bridge over the Hāwea River 

The non irrigated fields were starting to look a bit brown and there are early autumn fruits starting to appear.

Busy café at Albert Town 

Across the river twice, this time on a suspension bridge and then the road bridge, to Albert Town where there was a busy cafe for a nice healthy salad for lunch. Ok I did have a pie as well but it was better than my normal midday snack.

River Clutha

River Clutha 

The path then went up beside the Clutha River, a large fast flowing river with incredibly clear water that comes from Lake Wānaka.

River Clutha 

River blending into Lake 

The path keeps to the lakeshore and adds considerably to the distance to Wānaka but the weather was perfect and the views fantastic.

Lake Wanaka

Lake Wānaka 

Wānaka is a busy town, as expected at holiday time and has a good hostel, supermarket, outdoor shops and restaurants.

Clouds over the hills

The lake is busy with speed boats and sunbathers on the shores and there were a lot of cyclists on the path.

Nearing Wānaka 

I bought some repair tape for various holes in my gear and supplies for the next five days before eating out (again) and catching up with this blog

Wānaka esplanade 

Just heard that SJ, Di, Daniella and Owen have reached Bluff and I think Ruby was with them, congratulations!

In fact the lake and the river just blend into each other, there is no joining place.

Another beautiful lake surrounded on three sides by the hills and an excellent path that closely follows the shore.

Te Araroa 26/01/26

Day 127, Stodys Hut to Hawea Camp (2616)

It was a bright clear morning but unfortunately clouds rose up from the valleys and some clouds shrouded the tops when I got to the high point.

Climbing away from Stodys Hut 

Overgrown Landrover track 

It was a relatively easy climb up to Breast Hill on an old Landrover track that zig-zagged up and swept round the hills before a steep climb to the top.

The Southern Alps in the distance 

Amazing views 

Lake Hawea through the cloud

Unfortunately the clouds gathered later and views were rather limited but it was a lovely walk along the ridge with a steep drop on one side and rather more gentle on the side I had ascended.

At the top of Breast Hill

Cloudy view 

And then it cleared

Amazing colour 

After reaching the Pakituhi hut the path descends a very steep scrambly ridge before reaching a zig-zag path that followed a gulley down to the road. 950 meters of very steep descent.

The ridge going down to Hawea village

The clouds had cleared by the time I was descending the ridge, typical, and it was getting very warm by the time I got to the road.

The final descent

The walk to Hawea on a gravel track beside the lake was hot and seemed longer that it really was and I was very happy to find the café open. It was too late for coffee as the machine had been turned off but I got a nice cup of tea and a cake.

Lake Hawea

The path by the lake

The campsite was crowded but there was plenty of space for TA walkers, we even get a discount and a free towel!

Great weather 

I could have had another dried meal but decided to go to the hotel for fish and chips. A good decision.

Camp entrance

Te Araroa 25/01/26

Day 126, Tin Hut to Stodys Hut (2594)

It was a cold morning and I started the day well wrapped up and gloved for the climb up to Martha Saddle.

Morning view from the long drop (there was no door)

It was a relatively easy walk on an old Landover track that zig-zagged up the hill to the final scree slopes and a very cold wind.

Starting the climb 

Zig-zags through the scree

Scotty nearing the pass 

The good track continued it's switchbacks down the other side, a really great walk to Top Timaru Hut.

On the way down 

An impressive spear grass

Silty river

From there the path climbs high above the river before dropping into the bush and down to the river.

A climb up to avoid the gorge a

Awkward to cross when you can't see the bottom 

A river joins the Timaru from Mount Prospect which was more like grey mud and from there it was impossible to see the bottom of the river which made the inevitable crossings a bit worrying.

The path goes up there, note the trail marker 

I thought I would camp somewhere along the track but the only decent places I saw were too early.

And down here

I made a route finding error in one place where I tried to climb over a rock outcrop and ended up sliding down the other side and losing my water bottle that was in an outside pocket of the rucksack, I think I should have crossed the river again.

Trying to avoid falling down to the river 

It was 18.00 when I reached the start of the climb to Stodys Hut, marked two hours. I hoped there would be space in it and I wouldn't be disturbing everyone by my late arrival.

Climbing up towards Stodys Hut

As it turned out I was there in an hour and a half and there was only one person there. Two people that I had passed earlier arrived about an hour and a half after me.

Above the tree line 

A fine old hut for mice and men.

Stodys Hut 

Te Araroa 24/01/26

Day 125, Ahuriri River East Branch to Tin Hut (2567)

I was told that there was 25mm of rain last night but set off, hopefully, for the river in cold, dry but overcast conditions.

Leaving my camp spot

Level gravelly plain

The path left the main river and followed a fence line for several kilometres across a flat stony plain before reaching the steep drop to the river bed.

Getting closer to the Ahuriri

The Ahuriri River is the largest unbridged river on Te Araroa but there is a bridge five kilometres south of the trail if it proved impossible to cross.

The Ahuriri River crossing 

Successfully across 

The water was clear enough to see the bottom and it wasn't impossibly fast so I walked into it. Picking my way carefully across, especially in the deeper, faster bits I reached the other side without getting my undercarriage wet.

Path above the river 

I won't pretend it was easy but I felt that I was in full control all the way and it didn't feel as dangerous as some of the other rivers.

And up into the hills

I met Etienne and Pauline on the far side who had camped there after crossing yesterday. The trail then climbs around the river banks and crosses Birchwood Road to reach the Avon Burn which it follows, with a few crossings, to a track.

Following the Avon Burn

The track goes higher up the hillside looking down into the gorges that ja big been cut by the burn until reaching the Tin Hut at lunch time.

On a good Landrover track 

The weather since crossing the river had slowly deteriorated and I was cold, wet and demoralised. There was at least another four hours to go to the next hut including an eight hundred meter climb to the saddle at 1680m in the clouds so I decided to stay.

Looking back

Tin Hut

Soon after Spike, Paddy and Scotty appeared followed by Hannah and Kai so we had a full hut, very useful as there is no fireplace.