TA Day 10

TA Day 10: Saturday 28 December 2024

Aparima Huts - Princhester Road / State Highway 94

Today we wanted to reach Te Anau so we started early again. Thomas, as usual, left before us. The trail started off nice, long grass that was a bit itchy but other than that it was fine, and we made lots of progress. We almost caught up with Thomas, but then we sat down to have breakfast and he disappeared in the bush.

Klara and Lukas started after us but we never saw them, but either way we kept going.

After some time in the grass, we actually caught up to Thomas (for real this time). We had read that the terrain would be bad, and Lukas jokingly said to him:

"I wonder when the shitty part starts!?"

And as we headed off into the forest and left Thomas behind, it didn't take long until it started. It was almost like Stewart Island - steep ups and downs, roots, rocks and also some mud. We put a podcast on and trudged on.

When we fiiiiinally, after some time in the forest, reached the hut, we felt veeeery happy and relieved. At the hut we met a TA SOBO walker, and her mother who had joined her for the holidays. They gave us a lot of advice on how to best hitch, which was really needed since it would be our (or technically Kim's at least) first time hitchhiking! Crazy.

Just before leaving we met Thomas again which felt good. Maybe even for the last time this time... Who knows?

We said goodbye, and walked the last kms out to the road. About 20 minutes later we were in a car on our way to Te Anau. On the way there we even stopped by their house and got invited to tea and fruit! So lovely! And once in Te Anau we got a short little tour of the town as well.

The rest of the afternoon/evening we went to resupply, caught up with some things and just enjoyed ourselves!

Today's:

Distance: 22.47 km

Ascent: 777 m

Descent: 910 m

Tent nights: 3/10

Weather: Mostly sunny, some drizzles in the afternoon