Arthur’s Pass to Methven

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Day 58: Arthur’s Pass to Hamilton Hut over Lagoon Saddle (30km, of which 20km walked / 6.5 hours)


A bit of a late start today as we wanted to have a proper breakfast in the cafe! 




We hitched to Cora Lyn Road to avoid having to walk 10km along a State Highway. Once we were on the track it was immediately uphill but not unpleasant. And boy oh boy, it was so worth it! Once we popped out in to the open we had THE most amazing views of mountains all around and big river beds below. It was incredible! I just could not stop looking at it. 


We stopped for lunch whilst we still had the views and then started to head back in to forest.  


The rest of the day did not disappoint. It was incredibly varied with stream crossings, rock faces, more forest and more. 

















Hamilton Hut has the most impressive fire place we have ever seen in a DOC hut. The envy of many a house I am sure! 


Day 59: Hamilton Hut to Lake Coleridge (Harpers Campsite) (approx 20km/ 6 hours) 



Hamilton Hut in the early morning light. 

Today we made our way down the Harper River, crossing a number of times as we loosely followed a 4WD track. 


The views of the mountains were incredible. And to add to it all, there was a small section of “Pinnacles” to see today. We dropped our packs and made our way over to them to get a closer look. Roger and Charlie went all the way up in between the Pinnacles themselves whereas I just went part way up the grass infront of them. 
















We continued along the 4WD track, crossing more streams for a while before rising up out of the riverbed towards Lake Coleridge. The lake is a stunning turquoise colour, with milky edges where the canal feeds in to it. All very soothing and gentle to the eye. 




A beautiful bright sunny, but windy, afternoon progressed in to a warm, but windy, evening with whispy cloud formations overhead. One of the slightly more unusual features of our campsite is a wooden platform (predicted, by a retired engineer I know well, to be the foundations for some kind of shelter). No shelter for us but a great platform to lie down and look at the sky and all it has to offer. 








Day 60: Lake Coleridge to Methven (via Lake Georgina) (walked 18km)


          Taken from inside our tent


      Sunrise view from our tent 




Today was a very easy walk along a road from the campsite to Lake Georgina where the shuttle was scheduled to pick us all up at 2pm. 


The views as we strolled along the road were amazing! We were very spoilt. 


















We all got to Lake Georgina early so had time to chill out in the sunshine waiting for our ride. 


The reason we had booked a shuttle is because we have to detour around the Rakaia River. This is not something you are recommended to walk across and, as it says in the Te Araroa trail app, it does not “damage the integrity” of the experience by getting driven around. 


Most of us decided we would like a night in Methven so Brian, our driver, dropped us off there, with possible plans (weather dependent) to pick us up tomorrow to take us to the other side. 




Day 61: Methven (0km)


The weather forecast for this afternoon was heavy rain. None of us have a problem with walking in the rain but it was rumoured that our next leg involves numerous river crossings so the five of us took a zero day. 

















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