The Ultra Light Hiker
South Coast Track, Fiordland, NZ, Della’s Version:

South Coast Track, Fiordland, NZ, Della’s Version:

by | posted in: Backpacking, Fiordland, Hiking, Jetboating, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

Day one was totally passive, involving a jet boat ride over the beautiful Lake Hauroko and then helter-skelter down the fast-running Wairaurahiri River to the sea. There we stayed overnight in lovely wilderness accommodation and prepared our packs for the … Continued

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Waitutu to Westies:

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Waitutu to Westies:

by | posted in: Backpacking, Fiordland, Hiking, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Waitutu River | 0

Do not be put off this trip. It is wonderfully worth the effort. After the first half hour it is a fine (mostly dry) track with many interesting features. Here and there you can step a few yards off it … Continued

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ Wairaurahiri to Waitutu 2016:

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ Wairaurahiri to Waitutu 2016:

by | posted in: Backpacking, Fiordland, Hiking, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

Since we were there last year some new alternatives have emerged. On the way out we were able to follow a lovely dry even old hunter’s route along the coast to the crossing of the Crombie Stream, then walk up … Continued

South Coast track Fiordland NZ: Waitutu Forest Fiordland: Warm Air Pockets

South Coast track Fiordland NZ: Waitutu Forest Fiordland: Warm Air Pockets

by | posted in: Backpacking, Camping, Farming, Home & Gardening, Fiordland, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

One of the things which most surprised us about this beautiful forest was how warm generally it is – around 3-4C WARMER than nearby Invercargill, so very similar to Southern Victoria. I saw little difference between food growing in our … Continued

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Westie’s Hut: Topo Map Errors

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Westie’s Hut: Topo Map Errors

by | posted in: Backpacking, Blowholes Beach, Camping, Dusky Sound, Dusky Track, Fiordland, Lake Hauroko, Maps, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

I have encountered this once or twice before (also with the Australian series): Westies Hut, at the end of the South Coast Track is marked in the WRONG position in the DOC and Linz topo maps. It is actually located … Continued

Hiking Food / Customs Gestapo

Hiking Food / Customs Gestapo

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Cooking, Equipment, Fiordland, Food, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

We had a bad trip with one of these guys at Queenstown airport. Every other time I have been in NZ, they accepted I knew what I was doing, had cleaned my gear properly, had only proper hiking food (no … Continued

Rain Kilt

Rain Kilt

by | posted in: Backpacking, Blowholes Beach, Clothing, Equipment, Fiordland, Hiking, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River, Waterproof / Rain Gear | 0

On our recent walk on the South Coast Track NZ this interesting zpacks innovation worked really well for me, keeping me warm (but not too) and dry above the knees, and providing a dry seat whenever I wanted to rest … Continued

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Wairaurahiri to Rarakau

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Wairaurahiri to Rarakau

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Fiordland, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

Following our gruelling walk to the Waitutu River, we had a rest day at the WaitutuLodge (http://www.waitutu.co.nz/ on the Wairaurahiri River to pamper Della’s knee and socialise with the delightful caretakers. Well restored we said our farewells to Rose Baldwin … Continued

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Wairaurahiri to Waitutu

South Coast Track Fiordland NZ: Wairaurahiri to Waitutu

by | posted in: Fiordland, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

After a delightful night at the Waitutu Lodge (http://www.waitutu.co.nz/) we headed out towards the Waitutu River at 9:30, plenty of time for the 5 hours the sign at the Wairaurahiri Hut (and the DOC brochure opined), we thought. Little did … Continued

Yams (Oxalis Tuberosa)

Yams (Oxalis Tuberosa)

by | posted in: Fiordland, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

OCA (Yams = Oxalis Tuberosa): Pete & Rose Baldwin at the Waitutu Lodge (http://www.waitutu.co.nz/) were growing these prolifically in their vegie garden. I had never seen them before, but obviously they would grow equally well in Southern Vic. I will … Continued

The Next Hiking Adventure Begins!

The Next Hiking Adventure Begins!

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Fiordland, Hiking, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Uncategorized, Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

The next hiking adventure begins! Heading off today to conquer the South Coast Track of New Zealand for 6 days with only our backpacks and stamina. Stay tuned for pics and reports when we return to civilization. (NB this pic … Continued

Trick Knee

Trick Knee

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Fiordland, Hiking, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

Things have been conspiring against our upcoming Fiordland hike. We survived the dreaded Lurgi only last week. Yesterday my trick knee decided it would show me a couple of new tricks (just after I had booked the flights!) and is … Continued

Bucket List: Westie’s Hut: South Coast Track Fiordland NZ

Bucket List: Westie’s Hut: South Coast Track Fiordland NZ

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Bucket List, Fiordland, Hiking, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

BUCKET LIST#1: Westie’s Hut: built in a sea-cave at Price’s Harbour on the South Coast Walk Fiordland New Zealand. Stunning views. Approx six hours up the ‘marked trail’ from the Waitutu River, four days in from Tuatapere; this is our … Continued

Planning to walk the South Coast Track

Planning to walk the South Coast Track

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Fiordland, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

05/04/2015: LURGI: This weekend I begin to know something of the man’s suffering as a misspent youth hanging around The Cross (like too many others today!) Della brought home the dreadful Lurgi from some crafty misadventure or another. She suffered … Continued

NZ Topo Maps: App for Hiking in NZ

NZ Topo Maps: App for Hiking in NZ

by | posted in: Electronics, Equipment, Fiordland, Maps, New Zealand, Phones, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

NZ TOPO: This is a great App for hiking in NZ: BackCountry Navigator TOPO GPS at $12.99: http://backcountrynavigator.com/new-zealand-topographic-maps/ You can go to the map page (http://www.nztopomaps.com./) on the App and colour in the (eg contiguous) bits of map you want … Continued

Insects can ruin a camping trip!

Insects can ruin a camping trip!

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Dusky Sound, Dusky Track, Equipment, Fiordland, How To Guide, Insect Protection, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

Insects can ruin a camping trip. You need a Repellent which works. These guys are the solution. There has been a move by the touchy-feely crowd to bombard us with ‘natural’ ones which will see you eaten alive. Be warned. … Continued

Moose Hunting in Fiordland

Moose Hunting in Fiordland

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Books & Films, Bucket List, Dusky Sound, Dusky Track, Fiordland, Hiking, Hunting, Lake Hauroko, Lake Roe, Loch Marie, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

Watched Ken Tustin’s new doco http://www.stealthfilms.co.nz/dvds/dvd005-bundle.html which I mentioned the other day. If you are interested in great scenery, Fiordland, the origin of the moose herd there or just hunting generally you will find something to captivate you here (for … Continued

Eddie Herrick – Moose Hunting at Dusky Sound

Eddie Herrick – Moose Hunting at Dusky Sound

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Books & Films, Bucket List, Dusky Sound, Dusky Track, Fiordland, Hunting, Lake Hauroko, Lake Roe, Loch Marie, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

Venery: This is one of my all-time favourite photos. This was Eddie Herrick circa 1934 in his eponymous creek in Wet Jacket Arm, Dusky Sound, Fiordland NZ with his bull moose. In a moose hunting career in Fiordland which involved Eddie … Continued

Blowhole’s Beach Camp

Blowhole’s Beach Camp

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Dusky Sound, Dusky Track, Fiordland, Hiking, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

It’s been a bad year: I have not spent (much) more than a month sleeping outdoors, away from home this year – still, there are nearly six weeks to go! But I have been HERE (and many other beautiful places) … Continued

Dusky Track & South Coast Track Fiordland NZ

Dusky Track & South Coast Track Fiordland NZ

by | posted in: Blowholes Beach, Dusky Track, Fiordland, Lake Hauroko, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Wairaurahiri River, Waitutu Lodge, Waitutu River | 0

I’ve just arrived back from a few days walking the Dusky & South Coast Tracks in Fiordland NZ. The South Coast Track, Fiordland NZ: is SO much better than the similarly named South Coast Track in Tasmania. You can have … Continued