TE ARAROA
Canterbury
The most thrilling part of the trail, the tramper passes by turquoise lakes, needs to negotiate dangerous river crossings, and cracks up to mystical Stag Pass.
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TA Day 87, Boyle Flat Hut to Hope Halfway Shelter, 32 km
It’s easy to Boyle Village and two men offer to stay together for the dangerous river crossings ahead.
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TA Day 88, Hope Halfway Shelter to Hurunui No. 3 Hut, 36 km
The Harper Pass Track on flats and forest leads to a soak in a hot springs filled by waterfalls.
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TA Day 89, Hurunui No. 3 Hut to Kiwi Hut, 23 km
Harper Pass takes me down an eroded landslip to several tricky crossings of the Taramakau.
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TA Day 90, Kiwi Hut to Goat Pass Hut, 28 km
A long day of sidling and crossings is followed by a walk up rapids and rocks on the Deception River.
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TA Day 91, Goat Pass Hut to State Highway 73, 10 km
The remaining trail of roots, mud and stream crossings is through heavy mist.
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TA Day 92, zero day, Arthur’s Pass
I take a well-deserved zero day itching sandfly bites as the rain crashes down.
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TA Day 93, State Highway 73 to Hamilton Hut, 26 km
We call an SOS for an injured hiker and I learn a friend from day 1 also wiped out here.
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TA Day 94, Hamilton Hut to Harper River Camping Area, 20 km
It’s a hot and short walk along rocky riverbed that’s hard on the feet with multiple river crossings.
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TA Day 95, Harper River Camping Area to A-Frame Hut, 32 km
A couple gives me a ride around the impassable Rakaia river and become lifelong friends.
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TA Day 96, A-frame Hut to Manuka Hut, 28 km
This section is magical on river-as-trail and over a saddle to a valley of giant clouds.
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TA Day 97, Manuka Hut to Potts River Bridge Car Park, 33 km
Running out of food, the local ranch owner gives me enough food to cross the Rangitata.
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TA Day 98, Potts River Bridge Car Park to Crooked Spur Hut, 17 km + 14 km
A side trip to Mount Sunday starts the day before a crossing the braided Rangitata and up the Two Thumbs.