Saturday 25.03.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 2591
• Official kms: 22km
• Garmin kms: 24.52 (1.5km detour to accommodation)
• Total time: 8:05
• Calories burned: 3074
• Body battery: 7/10 (cold has now become chesty)
• Accommodation: Glamping tent in Hawea.
• Tent nights tally: 18
• Zero days had so far: 26

https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/walking-te-araroa-3000km-for-the-key-to-life

Track me live here:

https://aus-share.explore.garmin.com/curtiss

I woke well before my alarm again. Getting up just on 6am I was ready to leave just before 7:30am

3 people turned up on dark last night & then started cooking, so kept the rest of us awake until they were finally ready for bed just before 10pm. Being a 6 bed hut one of them had to sleep on the floor.

I set off 1st this morning, the trail was an old 4wd track & was a gradual climb of 400 metres before reaching the top & then become undulating.

It was 8.5km to the summit of Breast hill & took just over 2 hours. Absolutely spectacular views from here! I was in awe of the views. I FaceTimed Antonia so I could share them with her. 30 minutes later I got up & started walking again.

It was only another 2km to the hut that most stay at from Top Timaru. This was a very new & tidy looking 8 bed hut, a different contrast from my dirt floor hut last night.

I stopped for 5 minutes, filled out the intentions book & had a big drink of water. This next section was going to be painful as I needed to descend nearly 1000 metres over 4km down a ridge line to the lake.

My knees weren’t enjoying the descent but I managed to do it in just under 2 hours after taking it slow & steady.

Once down at the lakeside it was 7.5km to Hawea township, I decided I would eat lunch at the on the spot cafe. It wasn’t until 2:30pm that I arrived there, I also picked up supplies for dinner & breakfast as my accommodation is another 1.5km walk away.

I reach ‘The Camp’ just after 3:30pm checked in to my amazing glamping tent then finally got a hot shower, washing on & now I’m chilling out with a nice glass of red wine.

Tomorrow I walk into Wanaka where I will need to purchase a full resupply for the coming week. At least my washing is done & I have clean clothes!