The Walk of a Life Time - New Zealand?

[NZBoro1]

Aye, same here.

Cheers all

 

[1finny]

Absolutely treacherous weather at the moment.
Rivers unpassable, trail a quagmire.

They’ve holed up in Nelson for a few days - The Richmonds are beckoning and advice is to stay clear til Monday.

 

[Abel Tasman]

Absolutely treacherous weather at the moment.
Rivers unpassable, trail a quagmire.

They’ve holed up in Nelson for a few days - The Richmonds are beckoning and advice is to stay clear til Monday.

They are dry unlucky as the climate around the Nelson area is normally kind this time of year.

 

[NZBoro1]

It’s been awful weather here so far, raining the last 3 days although looks like it is going to clear after today.

 

[1finny]

They are on their way
This is the top of Mt Rintoul in The Richmonds.l

 

[NZBoro1]

Looking good.

Lovely day today and looks quite settled for the next week or so.

I’m just down the hill from them, work in Richmond.

 

[1finny]

Looking good.

Lovely day today and looks quite settled for the next week or so.

I’m just down the hill from them, work in Richmond.

I made the mistake of watching the video of The Alpine Trail which they have to use.
Crikey - it’s scary. Especially as his partner is afraid of heights. She’s been great so far tho

 

[NZBoro1]

I made the mistake of watching the video of The Alpine Trail which they have to use.
Crikey - it’s scary. Especially as his partner is afraid of heights. She’s been great so far tho

Yes there are some seriously squeaky bum parts to it, but apparently the views are anazing

 

[1finny]

They survived the Richmonds

 

[1finny]

It looks spectacular around those Nelson Lakes.
2100kms down
900 to go

 

[NZBoro1]

Beautiful pictures - think the 2nd one is Blue Lake or Rotomairewhenua, the purest water lake in the world. It has a Māori warden that looks after it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as it is tapu (sacred).

It’s also really rough walking around there, and we lost a lady up on the tops only a couple of years ago due to hypothermia. When I first moved here I was amazed at how many people just simply disappeared whilst out walking, but having done a few walks since out in the wop wops I can totally understand why.

​

 

[1finny]

Beautiful pictures - think the 2nd one is Blue Lake or Rotomairewhenua, the purest water lake in the world. It has a Māori warden that looks after it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as it is tapu (sacred).

It’s also really rough walking around there, and we lost a lady up on the tops only a couple of years ago due to hypothermia. When I first moved here I was amazed at how many people just simply disappeared whilst out walking, but having done a few walks since out in the wop wops I can totally understand why.

​

It’s quite something to think they have climbed the equivalent of 5 times up Everest…. So far

 

[1finny]

South Island is getting all a bit ‘Lord of The Rings’.
They are rather pleased to have done the walk this way rather being in North Island at the moment…..

 

[1finny]

Getting to the business end now
Highest point of the trail
Around 600km to go

Apparently 500 to go is where most drop out. The walking is just so boring relative to what has been done.

 

[Nzedred]

Getting to the business end now
Highest point of the trail
Around 600km to go

Apparently 500 to go is where most drop out. The walking is just so boring relative to what has been done.

View attachment 52305

We just had a Swiss bloke stay with us for two weeks while his knee recovered and dropped him back at the trail yesterday. Today he was at the same point as your family! They may have been at the same hut at the same time, though he is walking north.
The next day or two south is dull, i'd recommend if they can, getting a lift from Tekapo (where they should be at the end of the day they took this photo) to at least Twizel or Ohau lodge if they can. After that the scenery is great until after the Greenstone valley. Tell them to avoid the section from Invercargill to Bluff if they can. Even though its the last section its a horrible drive let alone walk! And Bluff itself makes Ragworth look like Palm springs!

 

[1finny]

Thanks fella
loved the description of bluff

We just had a Swiss bloke stay with us for two weeks while his knee recovered and dropped him back at the trail yesterday. Today he was at the same point as your family! They may have been at the same hut at the same time, though he is walking north.
The next day or two south is dull, i'd recommend if they can, getting a lift from Tekapo (where they should be at the end of the day they took this photo) to at least Twizel or Ohau lodge if they can. After that the scenery is great until after the Greenstone valley. Tell them to avoid the section from Invercargill to Bluff if they can. Even though its the last section its a horrible drive let alone walk! And Bluff itself makes Ragworth look like Palm springs!

ll

 

[1finny]

We just had a Swiss bloke stay with us for two weeks while his knee recovered and dropped him back at the trail yesterday. Today he was at the same point as your family! They may have been at the same hut at the same time, though he is walking north.
The next day or two south is dull, i'd recommend if they can, getting a lift from Tekapo (where they should be at the end of the day they took this photo) to at least Twizel or Ohau lodge if they can. After that the scenery is great until after the Greenstone valley. Tell them to avoid the section from Invercargill to Bluff if they can. Even though its the last section its a horrible drive let alone walk! And Bluff itself makes Ragworth look like Palm springs!

Didn’t realise - but when they climbed the highest peak they set off at 04.30 to catch the sunrise. They said it was really quite emotional.
Some pics below

Now at Lake Tepako - they are cycling 90km in 1 day and looks like they are due to finish in Bluff around 7th March. They are determined to finish. Bit of a shame cos I said I’d book them in the Lands End Hotel - and they have vacancies

 

[NZBoro1]

Good on them, an amazing feat.

 

[theredrooster]

Good on them, an amazing feat.

At completion definitely an amazing feat, but no doubt thoroughly manky feet

 

[BillyGoat95]

Just want to say how much I've loved this thread! Always had an affinity for NZ, would love to visit one day. Keep up with the pics and posts