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New Zealand 2016
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Now re-joined with Andy and Andrea, we prepared for the final outing of our trip: a two-day outing along another of New Zealand's scenic Great Walks: The Routeburn Track. Normally this track is done as a traverse, but the logistics of this were too difficult for our timeframe. So, we planned a there-and-back variant along the track over two days, staying overnight at one of the track's huts.
Glenorchy Road
Classic NZ
Ready for rain-venture
The weather, unfortunately, wasn't co-operating with us for this outing. The overall forecast was for rain, sometimes heavy. With no flexibility left in our schedule, it was do the hike or go home, so we suited up in our rain gear headed out into the wet.

Our walk along the Routeburn went about as best as could be expected, given the conditions. The initial walk in through thick forest to our hut (the Routeburn Flats hut) was wet, but not without its charms. We spent the remainder of the day in the hut, playing cards and watching the inclement weather outside. Early before sunrise the next morning, we got up and started the alpine portion of our journey, taking advantage of a short weather window that opened up. Making very good time, we climbed up into the alpine terrain across the highest part of the Routeburn Track, where it crosses the Serpentine Range. The gloomy skies and scottish-like moorscape created a haunting, Bronte-like atmosphere.
Trailside Waterfall
Stormy Day
Passing the time
Morning Moonglow
Left Branch, Routeburn River
Traverse above the lake
Scottish-like Grandeur
Beginning journey back east
After summiting a small peak adjacent to our turn-around point at Harris Pass, we began to retrace our steps, heading back east along the Routeburn Track. Our brief weather window closed by noon, and on the final leg to the trailhead, the rains returned. We finished our last hike in New Zealand in a fairly steady downpour.
Routeburn Flats Hut
Crossing Routeburn River
Finishing in downpour
We returned to Queenstown to dry out, clean up, and prepare for the journey back to Canada. We spent the next morning wandering a bit more around Queenstown's center, then headed off to the local airport to return our rental vans and check-in for the flights home. We said goodbye to Lori and Brian, who were staying for another six days, then boarded our plane bound for home.
Final NZ Sunrise
Farewell to Connells
Beginning journey home
If - after reading this short report - you want to read more, I encourage you to read the main trip report. There is a lot more detail in the main report, along with [literally] more than ten times the number of pictures. Alternatively, you can use the table of contents to look at any one of our days or outings in greater detail.
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[ Return to New Zealand Home page | Intro | Hobbiton | Home Base North | Hawke's Bay Cycle Tour | The Taupo Area | Waitomo Glowworm Caves | The Rotorua Area | Tongariro Alpine Crossing | The Great Lake Ride | The Capital - Wellington | Crossing the Cook Strait | Tasman Great Taste Ride | Rain Day in Nelson | Abel Tasman Kayak and Hike | The Great South Drive | Aspiring National Park Backpack | Queenstown | The Routeburn Track | Epilogue | The "Short Report" | GPS Data ]

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