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.

Waterfall by the path

Greenstone Valley 

Bridge over the Greenstone 

Greenstone River 

Looking down into the gorge

Bridge over the gorge

Greenstone Hut and wardens accomodation 

A full twenty bed hut but there is plenty of space.