From Top Timaru Hut along the river

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This promised to be a pleasant day following the Timaru River for 5 – 6 hours through beech forest.

However we were warned it would be tricky and so it proved to be. We left the hut at 8.30 a.m. and continued for 20 minutes on an easy track and immediately the terrain changed as we entered the forest. We were sidling below a ridge with barely a foot pad to prevent us from slipping.

However once we were down at the river it became a little easier as we boulder hopped and crossed the river numerous times. Nice and cooling on a hot day. Unfortunately we couldn’t continue like this as a series of gorges with sheers cliffs made it necessary to climb abruptly and steeply to do more tricky sidling.

From then on it was up and down continuously – an exhausting journey. We finally reached the river after an arduous two hour sidle and decided we needed to look for a camp site. It was 5.00 p.m.

Tin Hut to Top Timaru Hut

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This was a big day. Tin Hut was very dark and we slept in until 7.30 a.m. so we didn’t get going until 9.00 a.m. when the day was starting to warm up.

We had a long, steady climb to reach the Mt Martha Saddle, but once there the views were amazing. We were looking towards the Southern Alps and could clearly see Mt Aspiring.

Then it was a long, slow descent, much of which was over scree, which made for difficult walking. Once down in the valley it was easier going, but Top Timaru Hut was still a long way off. We finally arrived at 5.00 p.m.

We’re on our way

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We had a lovely stay in Okarito with our friends, Sandra, Chris and Janet, staying in the historic school house, and boating, kayaking and walking. Out on the lagoon we saw the rare kotuku (or white heron) and some of us also stood in the dark for five hours before finally seeing a very rare rowi kiwi at 1.20 a.m!

This morning Janet dropped me, Alan and Paul Bruce at Birchwood Road near Omarama for us to start the walk through Otago and Southland. We are following the Breast Hill track and have allowed six days to reach Lake Hawea.

After a fairly easy walk, we reached Tin Hut, which is privately owned and was once a musterers’ hut. We can stay here for a small fee, which is a nice surprise. It is beautifully located with mountains all around and it even has an armchair.

Lake Ohau to the Ahuriri River

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We had one more saddle to cross to get us into the East Ahuriri River valley which would in turn, lead us to the main Ahuriri River. (Fortunately the saddle had nothing to do with a bike.)

Somewhat reluctantly we left the comfort of the Lake Ohau Lodge and set off for our final destination. Initially we followed another section of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail. Then we turned sharp right and followed Freehold Creek through beech forest. We enjoyed being among the trees again after so much open tussock country.

The track had suggested an hour to the bushline and we were pleased to arrive there well within this time frame.

Above us were towering crags – it was quite a dramatic sight, as we made our way steadily uphill to the saddle. We met quite a few north bound TA hikers as we did so.

Apart from being boggy, the saddle provided easy travel. Unfortunately getting down into the East Ahuriri Valley on the other side was anything but easy with sheer drops and lots of scree.

However we made it down safely. Once in the valley our route crossed the stream far more times than it needed to. My feet enjoyed the cool water but then I got a complete dunking when I stood on a slippery rock.

The day was wearing on and it was after 5.00 p.m. We couldn’t find anywhere flat to camp, but fortunately a small hut came into view on the far side of the valley.

It wasn’t mentioned in our notes as being a DoC hut, but we thought there might be some flatter land nearby. However we were delighted to find it was a public hut, was called the East Ahuriri Hut, and had even been somewhat restored, though its bed bases were still wire netting. Alan had one of his best sleeps ever, me not quite so good.

I had mixed feelings the following morning when we set off for our final day. It was easy travel and we arrived at the main Ahuriri River without much difficulty, except for Alan tripping in a stream and landing on his back in the water.

The Ahuriri River is the largest unbridged river on Te Araroa, but owing to drought conditions, we were able to cross it, though it was flowing swiftly.

We reached the roadend, and started to walk along a very quiet backcountry road in the direction of Omarama. Once again we were in luck when a young couple stopped and took us to the main Lindis Pass Road. From there we caught a lift with a young tour guide who was returning a van to Christchurch. Before we knew it we were well on our way home.