Whanganui River, Mt Takanaki and Raglan

In Raurimu we hired a man Canadian and a Kayak to ship down the Whanganui River. DoC (Department of Conservation) counts it to one of the new great walks. The water was brown and full of algae, not that clear like all the other rivers we've seen so far. Flowing slow between hight rock walls and nice forests. We hoped to fined some rapids, but the first day was just floating down the river. After apx. 20 km we arrived at the first camp side. The second day was the longest distance. So we get up quite early and slipped our boats into the river long before the others. We've been most oft the 39 km alone on the river. We've been a bit bored and started to play in the few small rapids. we capsized with the Canadian and smashed it against a root directly behind a rock. Stef scarped his leg, it looked quit badly. The canoe got a broken railing, nothing more. All this just because we went bored. The next day we had to pass a bigger rapid. Our two boats went through nearly dry. Some other capsized and we carried our boats around to go though twice more. Stef and Valentin coughed so much water the second run, that the Canadian filled up to the railing and just sank. We searched for some minuets and found it a few meter further down. Lucky that we left our packs at the riverbank.All over all it was a nice scenic lookout and some minutes fun, but mostly very chilly :-)





From the rental we drove the "forgotten World Highway" direction West. We wanted to climb the Mt Takanaki a Vulcan at the west coast. The weather forecast told good weather for the next to day. Starting at around 26°C at Dawson Falls walking the first day 3h to the Sumy Hut at 1900m. The weather turned and it started to rain after 2 hours. later on we ended in the clouds and found later out that we missed the hut apx 30 meters. We climbed up to 2300m and turned when we find out that we are already apx 300m under the summit. during the night we thought the roof of the small hut blows away. It was raining so hard and the storm rattled the walls. The morning was still foggy and so we decided to go back to the car. back there we have been soaking wet. So I guess I have to climb once more. The view is told to be one of the ones in NZ. But not only because of the view. I lost one of my trekking poles which I my find in on of the screes.


At the way back we stooped in Raglan. One of the big surfing spots at the west coast. It's almost frightened when a water wall rises up to 3m above your head...cool I never play in such high waves. For the next day, it was clear to hire 2 surf boards. So we did. COOOOL a thing I wanted to do since a long time. My English is not good enough to tell you how cool this is. half a day in the waves and we managed to stand nearly 30 sec on the board riding the waves. It wasn't sunny, cloudy and some times small showers. We applied 30+ suncream and still burned our back and legs. never ever think going out without suncream applied...not even when it is cloudy.
Back in Auckland I brought Stef and Valentin to the airport on Saturday morning at 7.30. Now I'm alone. Trying to sell my van. It's jut to old. The dust of the gravel rods sneaking into the backdoor, every morning is a huge black cloud after starting the motor and the wiper is broken as well. so I bought a new one. A 4x4 truck, huge enough to sleep in and store my bike all other stuff. 400 bucks cheaper than my van but much newer and in a very good shape.
Right now I'm sitting again in Raurimu at the canoe rental station where I found some work for the next 3 days. Whats going on next? good question. There is the possibility to work as a dive guide and skipper for 2 Americans. Starting over next week in Picton. Hopefully this will come true. Exploring 4 weeks the Fjordland by boat over and under water while earning a good money... press your thumbs!!

Heaphy Track and Able Tasman

Quite a long time since I posted. Not by days, but by date. The last post is published later because of the network coverage in New Zealand. I will never complain about ePlus in Germany :-) When you leave the village, you go into the mobile phone desert. And often the village it self got no coverage. But that's the way it is.

Anyway we send some lovely days in the bush. The Heaphy Track is one oft the great walks and as often told the most varied. We started at Brown Hut.
The first day is only upwards. No, not steep, very moderate. The scenery is forest, nice views over the valley. All the Huts are also offer campsites, toilets and drinking water. You have to book your nights in advance and it costs 12 bucks each person and night. Sleeping in a hut is a bit more expansive, therefor you do not need to carry your tent and a cooker. Just food and sleeping bag is needed.





The second day brought us over a platy. a bit cloudy it was just perfect to walk. Around 13°C. This day we passed mostly huge ferns and moss. The track wasn't very busy and we normally meet just a few people the day. The camp sites where quite and always clean. This evening it was a bit rainy but still comfortable.




Day three took us down to sea level and we camped at the Heaphy Hut. The Heaphy River flowing into the ocean and here is the Hut next to the beach. A beautiful sunset and a Small fire with BLABLA shortened the evening. But if you came over to the South Island always bring sandfly protection with you. These Small flys are all over, but this place are the worst one so far. They like dark colors and as soon as they landed the bite. Little annoying vampires about 3-4mm Small. You will learn to live with them :-) We did. Shortly before you reach this lovely place you are walking through the jungle. Huge trees, lianes, palms and tree fans are along the way and sometimes you wandering though a kind of hall build by plants.






The last day brings us along the coastline. Sand beaches, Palms, a salty breeze from the ocean and always a beautiful lookout. The last swing bridges crossing creeks. Depending on the tides you have to be careful. Some beaches are only passable during low tide. The tide table is presented at the Heaphy Hut.



The Track ends in Tokaikai where we caught a shuttle together with a D.O.C Ranger to ... and he gave us a lift to Westport (1.5h). We had to spend the night there at a Hostel. The bus next day drove us to Nelson (4h) where we stood another night. Next morning I caught the bus to Motaka and later on to the Brown Hut (4h). All together the way back is apx. 500km. So if you consider walking the track, organise a person who brings your car around (apx. 200NZ$). But anyway the Heaphy Track with his 85km is worth it to spend a few hours in the bus and to nights in the very calm city of Westport ("where the dog is buried") and Nelson witch is a Small busy city.

After we had my Van back we headed to Able Tasman National Park and stood there a night at the campsite. Sunny weather and the blues sea with white beaches gave us the feeling of Caribbean. We booked a two days freedom kayak tour and with 3 other German guys we were taxied by a water taxi to Onetahuti Beach. But before you are able to go on tour you need a security briefing and some exercises at the beach. The guide told us to lean against a wave to prevent going up-side-down with the double kayak. To be able to act like this on both sites, we had to do it again to the right. Shit, the waves are still coming from the left. Studied Idea which costs me my Oakley sunglasses and another boy his normal glasses...pissed we finally lunched from the beach toward a Small island where we saw a colony of seals playing around between the rocks. The Weather was cloudy and a bit rainy. But anyway we were wet so we didn't matter. some lagoons and Small beaches later we arrived at Achorage, the D.O.C campsite.



The second day was just lovely sunny weather and as calm sea. We passed the Adele Island and reached the Fisherman Island at midday. A Small beach brought us close to a family of seals. Snorkeling and swimming with them was just cool. They had 3 babies playing around as we watched. Our lunch we spend at a beautiful lonely beach and arrived at 2.30 back at the rental office.
Now we are sitting on the ferry back to Wellington. Ready to hike two more days and 3 more days kayaking a river before I lift Valentin and Stef to Auckland....