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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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