Sunday, 22 February 2026

New Zealand 22/02/26

 Rakiura track day 1

It was a nasty night, pouring rain and very windy but it started to improve early in the day and by 09.30 there was no rain and patches of blue sky.

Leaving Oban

I decided to walk the three day Rakiura track, one of the 'Great Walks' and the only one on Stewart Island, rather than the ten day circuit of the island that I had originally thought of.

Chain sculpture at the start of the path

Horseshoe Bay 
The long route is nearly all mud and tree roots and I had enough of that in the Longwoods and the thought of starting with ten days food didn't encourage me either.
Well maintained path 

The first section of today's walk was on the road which was very pleasant after a second breakfast and coffee in the village.

Horseshoe Bay 

The birds were singing and there were some lovely views of the coast.

Sea view 
The path started through a giant chain sculpture and continued round the coast, sometimes in the bush climbing around headlands at other times on the beach itself.

Bridge at the end of Maori Beach
Past a nice little campsite at Maori Beach where there was part of an old boiler and engine that drove a sawmill and over a suspension bridge to climb steeply, aided by steps, over the next headland to Magnetic Beach and the Port William campsite.
Sawmill remains 

Campsite 


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