We head off on the 3 day walk about 10.30, all packed up. It is raining lightly.
This from the Department of Conservation (DOC) website. We start at the entrance near the airfield (near the bottom) and walk to the North Arm hut first, then the Port William hut. It's the opposite way to the usual, because we couldn't get hut spaces going the other way.
The Rakiura Track is a 32km loop. We walk the 2km from Oban to the airfield track entrance, but at the other end it is a 5km walk down the road back to Oban and I decide to get a taxi for this leg. I figure we will be sore after carrying a pack for three days.
It was better the way we went for our crew with the hut availability. I could only book 3 in the huts, so Dan and Mahkaila and Lachie and Chiara took tents. Here is our first day brief from the brochure. It says Day 3 because we did it the other way around.
Off we go, packs on our backs.
We take a few breaks. Here is photos of our lunch stop where we had cold battered blue cod for lunch and we all loved it. It almost tasted better than hot.
Off we go again. It's a very good track.
It's not a long walk today - maybe 3 1/2 hrs. The camping ground is 5 mins before the huts. I took this later in the evening when Chiara, Lachie and I went hunting for kiwi. We heard them but didn't see them.
Bill spotted a deer here.
We reach North Arm Hut.
Daniel, Mahkaila and I take a loop walk to the beach while it is low tide.
Just to prove I was there too.
Before the sunset, from beside the hut. Beautiful setting.
The sun setting.
Chiara and Lachie cooked a delicious meal, then we played Up and Down the River again (I can't remember who won ...), before heading to bed. The hut was full for the night.