A BIG Walk

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From Queenstone we headed to Glenorchy to set off on our next adventure - the 5-day hike we had had planned for several weeks. Our itinerary was to link the relatively flat Greenstone track (2.5 days) with the Great Walk Routeburn Track (2.5 days). It was perfect weather and fantastic scenery all the way as our packs got lighter and the hills got steeper, the air stayed fresh and the sandflies stayed bitey.

Day 1 took us on a boat across the lake from Glenorchy to the start of the Greenstone track. It was a sunny day and we walked did about 15km on the flat to the Greenstone hut. This was a fantastic hut with a big porch, perfect for resting aching muscles and nursing blisters. We encoutered two stern seasoned hikers in the hut that night. They gazed disapprovingly (and I would say enviously) at our hearty meal of Spaghetti Carbonara as they tucked in to Pot Noodles. Living on more than a borderline starvation diet while tramping in New Zealand is not looked upon favourably. Granted, bringing 10 bananas, 10 apples, bacon, chocolate, salami, cheese, a full sliced loaf etc etc did weigh down our packs but we felt great and by the fifth day we were running up the hills with our light packs.

Day 2 was a long 5.5 hour day over 18kms to McKellar hut. We passed through some lovely glades and forrests and crossed over some very wobbly wire bridges, accessible to only one person at a time. Even with one person and a heavy pack the bridge swung a bit too much for my liking.

Day 3 took us from the Greenstone track onto the Routeburn. The Routeburn track being one of the great walks was maintained even better than the Greenstone with proper walkways at times. We began the track from the Howden hut and walked on to MacKenzie. It was a misty day so we didn't bother with many photos. It started to clear a bit when we reached MacKenzie so we did a little side trip to Split Rock and Pete (very bravely) took a two second dip in Lake MacKenzie.

Day 4 was a day of fantastic views, firstly over Lake MacKenzie as we climbed up to the Harris saddle - snow capped mountains, valleys and lakes. At Harris saddle we dumped our packs for an hour and climbed up the steep side of Conical hill, the views were worth it, worth the whole 4 days walking in fact. We had lunch at the top and then headed down to Routeburn Falls hut.

Day 5 was an easy 2.5 hours walk out to the carpark where we met the bus back to Glenorchy.

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Photos

What a View!
Day 2 of the Routeburn and the skys clear giving us some amazing views.

Pete advertises the benefits of water
He is aquarian after all.

Greenstone Track
Not sure where it gets its name but there were lots of pretty waterfalls and brooks surrounded by moss-covered stones.

Spaghetti Carbonara
Cooking our much envied evening meal on day 1.

Don't look down Indiana.
Pete braves the swinging bridges of the Greenstone track.

Tramping the Kiwi way.
No one goes amywhere without polypros dahling!

Hellooo, anybody in there?
Pete investigates Split Rock.

Emily Peak casts its reflection.
Lake Mackenzie on the Routeburn Track.

Oh what a beautiful morning!
Sunrise on Lake MacKenzie - had to get this shot before starting walking for the day.

On the Conical Hill.
Taking a well earned break for lunch.

Harris Lake.
Deep glacial lake near the highest point of the Routeburn Track.

Pete on Conical Hill.
Looking down over Harris Lake.

Routeburn Falls Hut.
The hut was in a wonderful location nestled beneath the waterfalls.

Brrrrrrrrrr!
Pete takes a dip in the falls.

Just a nice picture.
We really liked the colour of the water and the shapes carved out of the rocks by the wather.

End of the Routeburn
Smiling faces and a sense of achievement.

Comments

[randomlight]

Splendid!
Thanks for the inspiration! Even with my lack of experience, I could have given you some advice about packing food, but hey, glad it worked out. Beautiful pictures.