Queenstown to Bluff (The End)

Queenstown-Glenorchy-Greenstone track-Mavora Walkway-Mavora Lakes-Te Anau (resupply only)-Takatimu Forest-private station-Otautau-Private forestry roads-Longwood Forest-Colac Bay-Riverton-Oreti Beach-Invercargill-Foveaux Walkway-Bluff

The final section is here!!!

It all started with a 46km (yes that's right 46km) road walk from Queenstown to Glenorchy (nice!) - our longest day yet. We got a water taxi from Glenorchy across Lake Wakatipu to the start of the Greenstone/Caples track (36km road walk around without water taxi, and not part of the trail); I think 46km the day before was enough. Greenstone track is like a highway and the most people we have seen on a track in a long time, very nice and through Beech Forest then onto open tussock. From here we picked up the Mavora Walkway and out to the Mavora Lakes where we met a very nice couple Rob and Debbie, who invited us into their lovely camperhome for a glass of wine - how civilised!! It was then a backcountry road walk out from the lake to the road end where we hitched to Te Anau to resupply food before continuing on into the Takatimu Forest.


The forest was lovely and cool for such a hot day and we had a lovely walk along the Waterloo Burn to the Aparima Huts we then had an easy couple of hours walk along the Aparima river before acessing a private station (permission obtained) out to Ohai. A quick 30km! backcountry road walk to Otautau to resupply again before heading through some forest backcountry roads to access the Longwood Forest, absolutely massive. The Longwood Forest track is a disused water race that has been re-opened from the early 1800's where the Chinese first dug it (by hand) for gold sleucing. There is old gold mining equipment tucked away in various parts of the forest as well as tunnells dug deep into the trees. This track runs for 20km and takes 8 hours to walk it is so windy. From there it was down to Colac Bay where we walked along the beach and above the cliffs to Mores Hill Reserve before dropping down into Riverton.

From here it was 17km along Oreti Beach, a short road walk into Invercargill and only one day left to go. Our final day unfortunately was a 27km road walk but ended with a 7km walk around the Foveaux Walkway to Sirling Point the Southern Most tip of the South Island - Bluff

Animals seen: Pig, Aparima river flats and Fallow Deer, Mavora tracks


WE MADE IT - 4.5 months, 15 days off North Island, 9 days off South Island

Will give a run down of gear etc soon so keep on viewing.

Thanks to everyone who gave us invaluable information along the way; The Te Araroa Trust, DOC, all the rides we have got (around rivers or to resupply), the food and beds we have been given along the way and to YHA for giving Johno the time off!!

meanwhile a little poem for you all



From Cape Reinga to Bluff, it took just four and half months
Three thousand kilometres we walked; it was just long enough

North to South, New Zealand we went
We walked and walked and put up our tent

Through many towns that linked all the tracks
We bought more food and stuffed it in our packs

Over valleys and mountains, forest and farms
Sea and backcountry roads were never too far
Many rivers we crossed, some were too big
For these we went round; yes we got a lift
Safety first is the number one rule
Second of all, to get through it all

Sometimes remote, just us, deer, thar and goats
A map and a compass is needed the most
A GPS is good to go, just to back up what you hopefully know

People ask us "Are you still talking?"
We just laugh and keep on walking
Lifes real simple, you will see
All you have to do is walk from A to B

The trail is great, so diverse in its length
Just walk it, you will see what I meant
You can do it in sections, you don't have to do it all
The notes are easy to follow, you'll have a ball

Thanks to the Te Araroa Trust for the trails creation
If you feel inspired, just go the net and please don't forget to make a donation.


NOW......... WHATS NEXT??????? Pacific Crest Trail!!

Wanaka to Queenstown

Wanaka Millennium Track - Motatapu Track - Macetown-Arrowtown-Queenstown


Awesome walk along the new Millennium track in Wanaka that has now been extended out to Glendu Bay and goes right around the lakeside. Stopped at the Glendu Bay caravan park for more Fruju's (Ice pops) then headed up onto the dusty road to the start of the Motatapu track. A lovely bush walk alongside the Fern Burn Creek then headed up to the Fern Burn Hut. A relatively easy walk if you weren't carrying 4 days of food and walking in 33 degrees of heat! This track is on Shania Twaine's station and the three identical huts on this track were paid for by her (good work)! The second day of the Motatapu track was listed on the awesome TeAraroa notes as being 'the most challenging' with 3 climbs one after the other of over 1000 metres up and right down again so we decided to wake up at 5.30am (yes that is early for me) to beat the feet before the heat. Being a long 9 hour day that was impossible but at least we got a bit of it out of the way before we were sweating and dying to be down by the river again. By the time we got to the Roses Hut we were ready for food and bed pretty much straight away especially with another early start the following day. We had a lot to get through as Nicks flight out of Queenstown was on 9th Feb so we had to keep moving and they had agreed to meet Simon (the little Tunnell brother) in Arrowtown - Boys!! The following day heading out of Roses Hut to Macetown involved another climb of 1270 metres over the Roses Saddle then dropping down to the Arrow River to Macetown. As the water levels were low we decided to walk in the river all the way to Macetown rather than along the track, lovely and cool afternoon. Saw some old Mining hut ruins and old gold workings along the river en route; unfortunately we didnt find any gold!

For some strange reason from Macetown rather than continuing along the lovely cool Arrow River we decided to take the Big Hill Saddle route over to Arrowtown; this involved another 1000 metre climb but we were rewarded with the most stunning views of the Wakatipu Basin and Lake Hayes - we knew we did these things for a reason.

We met Simon in Arrowtown (the first time all the Tunnell brothers had been together in 4 years) - they wanted to all play camping geeks in the same tent but there was no room in either for all 3 of them - very sad! Nick headed off on the bus the next day for his flight to Auckland to start his new job and Simon took the bus to Queenstown as had another day off work so we were to meet him there later.

A lovely walk into Queenstown through the prestigious MillBrook golf resort then onto various walkways to the old historic Shotover Bridge then past the "lovely" oxidisation ponds to the Frankton Events centre before dropping down to Frankton Domain and picking up the walking trail alongside Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown.

Lake Tekapo - Wanaka - (190km)

First off I have to say we have had the most stunning weather ever the last few weeks with temperatures rarely dropping below 25 degrees and rising to 30 degrees on many days - Summer has arrived at last!! WE LOVE IT

Lake Tekapo - Tekapo/Twizel canal-Lake Pukaki-Pukaki river-Twizel-Lake Ruataniwha-Lake Ohau-Parsons Mountainbike track-Freehold Creek-East Ahuriri river-Mt Martha saddle-Timaru River Creek-Lake Hawea-Wanaka

We left Lake Tekapo for a 28km walk alongside the Tekapo/Twizel Canal before dropping down to the lakeside and continuing our walk around Lake Pukaki with the most amazing views of Mt Cook, not a cloud in the sky. Heading into Twizel along the river, Meridian Energy had opened the floodgates as normally the river bed is dry; it would have been amazing to see it fill up but I think it had been open a while as the water was cranking down there; we must have had a lot of water over the last few weeks. It looked like a hydroslide going down the dam wall, it was great. Apparently they open it up to kayakers once a year to run the rapids as well but there were no kayakers so I think the lake was just full.

We met Nick in Twizel (Johno's brother) and he joined us for the walk into Wanaka. The boys started doing the camping geek thing and comparing stuff almost immediately with Johno deciding that Nick didnt need half the stuff he had bought and sending him to the Post Office to post it back.

Walked out of Twizel on another really hot day to the Lake Ruataniwha wier then along and round the edge of Lake Ohau swimming in both lakes along the way to cool off a bit and camped up a little earlier than normal; we say its because Nick was with us and we need to take it easy on him but in reality the heat is totally zapping our energy now (ssshh dont tell Nick).

After continuing along the edge of Lake Ohau we came out at the Glen Mary skifield and headed up the Parsons Mountainbike track to Freehold Creek then up over the saddle to the East Ahuriri river. From the edge of the beech forest to the East Ahuriri the route is not marked yet so we spent a bit of time navigating our way around the marshy part and the huge bluffs that the awesome Te Araroa notes had mentioned we should avoid if attempting this section whilst unmarked - thanks guys!. After arriving safely over the Ahuriri River we picked up the rest of the trail (fully marked) the other side up and over Mt Martha where we met Parker and Celeste another couple (from the USA) walking Te Araroa South to North which was great to compare notes etc.

The next day and half was spent walking down the Timaru River creek on the newly cut trail (very steep, high and narrow in places), heading high up to avoid the gorge parts of the river then dropping back down to the river bed then up again and then down again for about 10 hours in total but we still had the beautiful weather so it was really nice to be walking in the creek after we had climbed up so high.

We finally popped out of the creek then carried on along the backcountry road to Lake Hawea (more swimming to cool off) then on the new riverside lake track all the way into Wanaka to stay with Jethro and Ella for a few days - thanks to you both we had an awesome few days off!

We now only have about 500km to go which is a bit wierd - it all seemed such a long way a few months ago. Long may the awesome weather continue though.