A NZ Ramble.

[kanangra]

It has taken me a while but here is an account of our trip to NZ in March. In my planning I had thought the trip to be ambitious and that is how it turned out.

We arrived in Q'town late in the afternoon and after buying a few supplies headed out to the Routeburn CP. It was 7:00PM when I dropped my mate there and I headed off to park the car at our finishing point which left me with a jog of about 6 k's back to the start of the track. This meant it was just coming on dark as I set off. Great evening to be on the trail with a full moon which meant I didn't need to use the headlamp. At the turn off to the Flats Hut I noticed a shadowy figure on the moonlit flat. It was my mate who had set up camp by the river. Quickly we had dinner on the boil but it was still 11:00 local time before we hit the sack.

We were away early next morning, hitting the track before sun up, as we had a big day ahead. Pulled into the Falls Hut for breakfast which we took on the front verandah. Situated right on the bush line this hut is more like a small village and we were quickly on our way again. Soon we had good views of the lower flats.

Routeburn Flats

The route then continued up into the sub alpine zone where there are expansive upper flats.

The upper flats

The further we went the more the views opened up.

Upper Routeburn

And opened up.

Views back to Mt Earnslaw

Till at last Lake Harris came into view.

Lake Harris

TBC

[icefest]

TBC

I can't wait.

[kanangra]

A NZ ramble Cont.

The track sidled around and above the lake.

Routeburn Track

View of the lake outlet with the lower flats in the background.

Routeburn Track

old track marker.

On the track.

TBC

[The Trout Hunter]

Looks like a great trip.. Amazing photos.. Keep them coming

[kanangra]

A NZ ramble cont.

After climbing all morning we finally crested the Harris saddle where we had our first view out over the Hollyford Valley.

Shelter on Harris Saddle. Track on right going up to Connical Hill.

Harris Shelter.

It was still early and so we decided to take the side trip up to Connical Hill. This gave great views in all directions.

A view of the Upper Hollyford. In the middle distance is Livingstone Range behind The Key Summit. We would camp on top of the range that night in the saddle half way along. The Routeburn track sidles along the Hollyford Face in the foreground.

A view down the Hollyford Valley to the coast. Lake McKerrow in the distance.

Another view looking up the Hollyford Valley. Livingstone Range in the far distance.

TBC.

[wayno]

note: the campsite he mentions on the livingstone range is off the track, you're only supposed to camp at the designated campsites or at least 500m from the track.

[kanangra]

As we climbed Connical Hill views began to open up on the other side of the country through which we had come.

View of Lake Harris. NB Routeburn Track in bottom right hand corner.

After soaking in the views from the top and chatting to a couple of the local girls we made our way down again.

View on the way down.

View of the track on the way down.

Another view on the descent.

The side trip had taken us an hour return. As things would turn out it was an hour we probably didn't have but it was worth it.

Back on the Routeburn track.

TBC

[wayno]

i was talking to some aussies on conical hill.... they pointed to a black blob in the snowfield on the other side of the hollyford valley, they asked me if it was a person. I explained that blob was about the size of a large office building, they couldnt grasp the size of the valley that rises from sea level to peaks over 2500m high.
if you ever go up there, have a look around at the miniature plants underfoot, tiny little ground hugging plants in amongst the rock, tiny succulents, a microcosm of a forest....

[kanangra]

Yes I agree. The scale of the place really takes some getting used to.

K.

[kanangra]

I think the next section sidling high on the Hollyford face had to be my favourite part. The views into the valley were amazing.

Hollyford Valley

Soon we came upon the Dead Man's track junction. It was here that I had detoured down into the valley at Guns Camp when I had last been through this way. Then that was 35 years ago.

Deadman's track.

What a day!

It wasn't all hard work.

We then rounded the point and were greeted with these views down into the Lake McKenzie basin.

Lake McKenzie

TBC

[kanangra]

That's it for today. I'll have to leave it till tomorrow. At this rate the posting of the report is taking longer than the trip itself?

K

[Lizzy]

Love the Routeburn- stunning tramp and region

[kanangra]

A NZ Ramble cont.

After lunch at McKenzie Hut we set off again.

View of Lake Mc Kenzie from the hut.

After climbing out of the basin the track resumed sidling.

The Orchard, a natural clearing by the track.

Beautiful mountain views in all directions.

Scene from the track.

Passed by Earland Falls.

Earland Falls.

It was mid afternoon before we rolled into Howden Hut.

On the approach to Howden Hut.

TBC.

[wayno]

in the four times i've been to lake mackenzie that looks by far the lowest i've seen the lake, tht could be about to change with the curent forecast, the queensland cyclone is heading for nz good timing, i'll be there at easter. last time i was there the rock and bush headland opposite the hut was an island and the lake extended across the track....

[kanangra]

Yes I thought it looked low. So low there were in fact two lakes. A small one near the hut and the main one.

K.

[wayno]

the lake has no water course running out of it, even though its in a hanging valley 700m above the floor of hollyford valley. the water slowly seeps into the ground...

[kanangra]

I did wonder about that. I didn't think I crossed an outlet creek.

After a snack at Howden Hut we pushed on towards The Divide.

Lake Howden

From there we climbed up to Key Summit and then onto the nature walk which ends at a lookout across to Lake Marion. From there the tourist track was left behind and we continued up the range.

View down valley showing the route of the Routeburn track.

Tarn on Livingstone Range

View back in the direction we had come. NB the hanging valley at left of shot which holds Lake Mc Kenzie.

Very pleasant walking in the early evening.

TBC

[GPSGuided]

Most impressive!

[icefest]

in the four times i've been to lake mackenzie that looks by far the lowest i've seen the lake, tht could be about to change with the curent forecast, the queensland cyclone is heading for nz good timing, i'll be there at easter. last time i was there the rock and bush headland opposite the hut was an island and the lake extended across the track....

I've been watching that in the weather models.

Look like you'll get a decent dumping.


I'm really surprised to see lake McKanzie that low. It must have substantial sub-moraine drainage to get that low.

[wayno]

pretty much the valley floor is glacial morraine and sediment... its been a pretty dry summer..... the lake can go up and down like a yo yo. there are occasions they close the track because its under so much water, but wait a day and its open again..

[kanangra]

With the level so low at the far end there was a really extensive beach that looked very pretty as we descended.

K.

[wayno]

would you believe me if i saisd it was geothermally heated??

[kanangra]

Now you tell me.

K

[wayno]

if it is, it would be the worst heated lake ever.... it's freezing...

[ofuros]

Nice tramping area Kanangra.....now I'll have google info for track in question.

[cajun]

Fabtastic report. Made me feel like I was there.

Thanks.

[kanangra]

As we proceeded along the range views began to open up both on the Greenstone side and the Eglinton side.

View of Lake McKellar and the McKellar saddle.

Lakes Fergus and Gunn on the Eglinton side.

Then we came to a promontory that gave excellent views of the range ahead. It was here that the faint track we were following disappeared all together.

View along the range showing what looks to me like a fault line? Tarn in distance is where we camped.

Closing in on the camp site. NB Greenstone Valley disappearing into the distance.

We camped on a rise above this tarn.

TBC.

[kanangra]

It really was a perfect end to a wonderful day. I can't really recall when I have enjoyed a day in the hills more.

Our high camp.

This is the reason we walk. Sitting there relaxing after a terrific meal watching as the setting sun illuminated the surrounding peaks. Does it get any better than that?

And that was just the first day!

K.

TBC.

[wayno]

i'm heading for the routeburn this avo. severe gales, gusting 100k's , torential rain forecast... snow on sunday, should be a blast. stay safe out there everyone for easter and ANZAC weekend...

[kanangra]

I have just remembered that I never got around to finishing this report. I left off at the end of day 2 at our camp high on the Livingstone Range. Next morning mist and low cloud rolled in making visibility difficult. At one point we became separated and a few anxious moments were spent before being reunited.

The mist rolls in.

We made our way gingerly along the range which was quite steep in parts. every now and again the clouds would lift and the views would open up.

Livingstone Range

View towards the saddle we were aiming for.

From the saddle there were views over the upper reaches of Cascade Creek. I wouldn't mind returning to explore this area some time.

Upper reaches of Cascade Ck. Note the saddle over into the East Eglinton in the centre of the photo.

From the saddle we commenced the long descent to McKellar Hut which is just visible in this photo.

Descent off the range. NB Mc Kellar Hut just visible at the bush edge.

The descent brought us out behind Mc Kellar Hut just where the Greenstone Track crosses Duck creek on a bridge. From there it is only 5 mins. to the hut and a late breakfast.

TBC

K.