Te Araroa #6 – Richmond Range and Abel Tasman Great Walk

These last 2 backpacking trips we’d planned to do fulfilled everything we love about hiking. There was inspiration, fabulous open views, and great weather. This was the perfect way to conclude our south island tramping tour.

The sun was with us on the first day out but the next morning clouds and the prediction of rain made us decide to do a short 3hr hike to the Hunter Hut to hunker down for the day. We are of the mind that if there is no view while hiking in the mountains then there is no point. Instead I finished my book while waiting out the rain that day.

During this section in the woods the trail becomes slippery with tree roots and rocks. Often due to the black sooty mould that envelops tree trunks and their surroundings. Although I don’t think to take photos where it seems risky, I will say this part was risky. The track often narrowed to a thin ledge with a steep drop off down to the river. Rock scrambling was necessary at times. We covered little distance and had to watch our footsteps.

We just skipped along on top of this ridge walk for kms. You could see where you came from and where you were being led. There is something  comforting about a path like this. It was one of those times where despite the energy output, personal batteries were being charged.

We make our way down to Nelson city for resupply and then hop on to the famous Abel Tasman Great walk.

Like no other trail we have done, this Abel Tasman is truly made for everyone. You can shuttle to the trailhead and walk the 60 kms, or water taxi to points along the way and dayhike back to a pickup. The footpath is engineered with bridges the whole way to eliminate the usual steep ups and downs around creeks. The path is also double laned wide to accommodate its popularity. I counted 194 hikers our first day out!

One of the more adventurous points on this trail is the low tide crossing from Awaroa Hut. As we approached we could see in the distance 2 hikers coming from the far side. They were attempting to cross prior to low tide. They were coming into deeper and deeper water but kept coming. Suddenly someone on the beach at our end wanted to help them from being swept out with the still strong current. This “lifeguard” helped guide them to the shallow sand bars that they were unable to see. At this point they were carrying their packs on their heads as the water came up to their shoulders. They did make it but their experience was a warning to the rest of us to be patient.

Our multiday tramping in New Zealand has come to an end as we will be renting a van to visit the north island and coastal areas for a few weeks before heading home. Wow! What a great experience! We marvel at the endless combination of land, vegetation, and weather that make walking endlessly variable. We remain curious about the world and will always want to see more of it.