Windy Point - Hope Kiwi Lodge
The bus dropped us off at Windy Point for a relatively late start to the day at 11:30. The track began across a swingbridge and a short section of bush before traversing farmland - not the most exciting, but it did offer fast, flat travel. We soon found ourselves at Halfway Hope Shelter and enjoyed some goodies that we bought from the Hanmer Bakery before we left. We continued over farmland, over another swingbridge and soon found ourselves at Hope Kiwi Lodge. Not only was this "hut" larger than our house, but it also had a neatly fenced and freshly mown lawn (also unlike our house). It began raining soon after we arrived and we shared many tramping stories with James and Paul who were walking the Te Araroa Route, we found this very inspiring.
Hope Kiwi Lodge - Hurunui Hut
We awoke to torrential rain on the roof, so we decided to laze about the hut until after lunch. We left the hut at 1pm, thankful for the lack of precipitation. We wandered across some pasture land before a short ascent through beech forest to Kiwi Saddle and a lookout that offered great views over Lake Sumner, before decending to Three Mile Stream which was more like a three mile wide torrent. We took some time over examining the stream for a suitable place to cross – which was found eventually. We followed Lake Sumner around to the mouth of the Hurunui River with many cows grazing low in the catchment. Shortly after the swingbridge over the Hurunui River we arrived at Hurunui Hut and enjoyed a cold beer - left behind by a party of mountain bikers (thanks).
Hurunui Hut - Camerons Hut
After a slight sleep in, we walked in drizzle along the river terraces before arriving at the black and white boulders and sulphury smell of the hot pool. The drizzle had stopped and the water temperature was perfect as we enjoyed a hot soak before sidling our way to No.3 Hut where we enjoyed some lunch. On arriving at Camerons Stream Craig was keen on crossing on the 3-wire bridge and did so. However, Victoria was not so keen and Craig came back to help her cross the stream. We travelled through some lovely moss covered bush and arrived at Camerons Hut in yet another down-pour. Camerons Hut has seen better days, but it was welcome shelter from the rain.
Camerons Hut - Otira Shelter
We woke up at 5:30am to a beautiful sunny day - at last. We decided to make the most of it and made our way up the Hurunui, past Harpers Biv and up to Harpers Pass. The ascent and descent around the pass were covered in Toe Toe and other water loving, fast growing plants that obviously grew much faster than the track could be cut. When we arrived at Locke Stream Hut for lunch, we saw James and Paul again. They had spent the previous night at Harpers Biv but were out of fuel, so we boiled a brew for the four of us. With the improvement in the weather we decided to head right down the Taramakau Valley to the shelter near the Otira River. Although this would make it about a 30km day, it would enable us to tramp over Goat Pass tomorrow. After lunch we continued down the Taramakau River, which we crossed several times en-route. We decided to stop by at Kiwi Hut for a late afternoon snack. (It was surprising how much of diversion from the track it takes to get to the Hut.) We continued down the four-wheel drive route to Otira Shelter where we pitched our fly for the night.
Otira Shelter - Otira
Yesterday's perfect day was now a distant memory. Overnight a storm had brewed. It was very windy - the shelter was shaking yet somehow, our fly survived the night. At 5:40am we looked outside and could see very dark and angry looking clouds above us. It was now darker than it was at 2am! We quickly packed up camp, woke up James and Paul and we all decided to get over the Otira River before the clouds broke, fording the river by 6:30am. As we arrived at the highway the skies broke, so we left Goat Pass for the mad people training for the coast to coast. Road walking to big breakfast at Otira seemed a much more attractive option. James and Paul agreed that big brekkie was a better idea and joined us for a feed.