Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Te Araroa 05/01/26

Day 106, Lockes Stream Hut to camp, Deception River (2208)

A bright morning as I set off with Pete and Dean to walk down the Taramakau River.

Beautiful morning again 
The trail was very variable with sections of bush, forest, grassy flats, river crossings, stony flood plains and a very steep scrambly bit at the end above the Otira river before the Morrisons Bridge.
Off we go

Taramakau Flats
I'll let the pictures say it all except the nasty bit where the trail went through head high gorse for a short distance.
Path by the river 

A steep bit of forest

Taramakau River braids


My plan was to camp by the bridge, Pete and Dean had gone on to hitch to Arthurs Pass and come back in the morning.
Giant tree


Otira River 
The camping spot was infested with sandflies and I could hear the traffic on the road so I decided to walk on up the Deception River and find a better place to camp.
Path on the stony flats
After two difficult river crossings and five kilometres I found a good spot with tolerable levels of sandflies and only the sound of rushing water and birdsong.
Perfect campsite in the Deception Valley

Nearly perfect wild camping 🏕️ 



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