New Years Stewart Island Adventure

After bidding Mag's parents goodbye I collected on my Christmas present: a trip to Stewart Island including eight days on the Northwest Circuit.

The track starts in forests of large rimu and kamahi. "Undulating" became our new favorite word as the track, though never gaining much altitude, goes up and down and up and down (and up and down) over headlands and through river valleys as it follows the coast. A favorite break time activity was counting on the map how many ups and downs to the next hut (though it is not condusive to maintaining one's sanity). Hardier varieties of ferns dominate under browsing by introduced deer.

Crystal clear ocean laps against the beautiful sand beaches that are found on all sides of the island. And it is always sunny...

West Ruggedy Beach

Sometimes the track to get to these beaches is a bit steep, though:

Sunrise at Hellfire Pass Hut. From this ridge one can see both the sunrise and the sunset. Bonus if you spot the tui in this picture! Winds blow sand up 200 meters and over Hellfire Pass so one can sit and read and watch the sun set in dunes far from (and above) the beach. We saw kiwis here at the hut and a little way down the trail. Surrounded by huge rata this was one of my favorite huts.

Though we amazingly didn't have any rain on the trip there was still plenty of mud! Mag demonstrates excellent mud sliding form. At this point in the trip she actually said she liked mud! For its cushioning properties apparently... Eight hours of hiking gives one plenty of time to draft many poems and songs and disparaging comments about mud and sandflies.

Mud It's squishy and dark It makes sounds like a fart It really breaks my heart When uphill I must start. I sink up to my knees It's just like sticky grease I say "Oh God please Help me across these." -Erik

Mud Mud Mud Stick to your boots Sucks you by the feet Can't get around it Can't fly across it I tried to jump Fell in the pond Oh Merde! -Mag

The last day took us through failed sheep farms and swamps. I'm sure someday they'll pull a perfectly preserved sheep out of here...

A cairn on Christmas Village beach guides water taxis to the hut.

Bonus Picture! Golfing at St. Clair (Dunedin) with Mag's parents.