While hiking our last section of the TA into the town of Wanaka, we asked the fellow hikers coming south which parts of the trail were their favourites. The Two Thumb Track came up so we changed our itinerary to priorize it. Wow! We are glad we did! The redisovery that the world is a beautiful place happens here.
The paintbox blue of Lake Tekapo is unreal. Neverneverland!As we hiked up the valley this blue deepened and altered with the appearance of the sun. Magic happened before our eyes.The track was easy as we meandered through the wooly hilled grasslands.We walked in the canvas of paintings in front of us and behind. I couldn’t hold myself back from shouting, “lovely” and “yes”!
As I have mentioned we aren’t “hut folk” and prefer camping on our own. We found our nest next to a stream and finished off the best day in our favourite way!
We passed Camper Stream Hut @ sunrise the next morning. An older hut overrun with keen hikers in the hut and in tents outside.The morning weather was variable as we moved up the gradual slope to Stag Saddle. The forecast spoke of high winds a’coming so we broke camp early in hopes of avoiding them.Rain showers over yonder and a RAINBOW again proved magicical!Skies began to clear on the approachOne last look behind us!And over we go!The descentRoyal Hut where some of the British Monarchy were brought at one time to have tea. Go figure?Packed up and ready to start the following day from our camp in our personally named, “Bunny Poo Valley”. An entertaining evening was spent watching a tribe of introduced feral goats frolic on the rocks across the valley.
So, being Canadian, we have been most surprised by the lack of mammals in New Zealand. There have never been many in this country which led to the intense striving to introduce mammals. They have brought in rabbits, weasels, stoats (type of weasel), possums, wallabys, various goats, pigs, deer, rodents, elk, cats, and hedgehogs. So what has been the result of these introductions? Well, we see notices in the huts and at the Trailheads about the ‘pests’ that are running rampant in the country. The introduced mammals have become the ‘pests’ and ‘predators’! We now see traps all along the trails to catch the unwanted.
This trap has caught a weasel
So Jobie has come to the conclusion that people from away with work visas and immigrants BEWARE as soon… New Zealand will turn on you as they have on other mammals!! You may be hunted and trapped!
Land so big, it swallows us up!Jobie meets his bearded Kiwi trail brother! They both began laughing at each other from a distance- so excited to connect.Crooked Spur Hut with the faraway view of Rangitata river valley. At this point we had joined up with Bianca (Tasmanian fellow hiker) for the Bush Stream crossings down below.Bianca from TasmaniaThe steep descent beginsBush StreamThe Bush Stream requires multiple crossings sometimes up to my hips!Snack breakThe stream takes us out to a car park where we catch a shuttle to Geraldine and board a bus to Christchurch. Transport works well if you prebook!
One thought on “Te Araroa #4 Two Thumb Track and ponderings”
Wow! So incredibly beautiful. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous sights. Still cold and snowy here. Yesterday, Matthias’s 39th birthday—how is that possible?—he and I went cross-country skiing. Later his grandmother had a little party for him. David and Margaret were also there. I hope I can host a delicious dinner for five when I am 98!
Zip and Jobie Go Hiking 
Wow! So incredibly beautiful. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous sights. Still cold and snowy here. Yesterday, Matthias’s 39th birthday—how is that possible?—he and I went cross-country skiing. Later his grandmother had a little party for him. David and Margaret were also there. I hope I can host a delicious dinner for five when I am 98!
Lise
LikeLike