Te Araroa 02/01/26

Day 103, Boyle outdoor center to Hope Kiwi Lodge (2138)

It was a bright dry morning when the shuttle picked me up outside the hostel for the drive back to Boyle, Vinnie got out at Windy ridge but Dean, Pete and myself went all the way back to Boyle.

Pete and Dean ready to go at Boyle

The trail crosses the river but it looked as if it was still very high so we all walked back down the road to Windy Point and crossed at the bridge there.

Back down the road 

There wasn't a huge ascent to do today and there was good walking through the forest without too many boggy bits but I did christen my new shoes.

The River Boyle, a bit too much water to ford

Bridge over the Boyle River

The valley flattened out higher up and there large areas of grass being grazed by suckler cows and dotted with stunted thorn trees.

Hope Halfway Hut

Beech woods

There were several streams to cross as well as one section of the main river that had flooded the trail so the mud got washed off as well.

Hope River

Abandon hope all yea who enter here

Another bridge this time over the Hope River 

Hope Flats

It was a long day from the time I was picked up until I arrived at the hut but it stayed dry and the sun shone at times which made an excellent days walk.

Evening view