7 hot shower and comfy bed, and “meet the locals”. It is a fantastic concept – to walk from one end of the country to the other, taking in all the geographic variety New Zealand can offer: the ocean, estuaries, wetlands, bush, forest, volcanoes, glacial landscapes, braided rivers and high-country tussock grasslands. Culturally you are also spoilt for choice – en route there are remote back-country huts to stay in, maraes to visit, small country pubs and local stores to quench your thirst and provide some conversation. Locally, the Te Araroa trail runs from the Rakaia River to the Rangitata (the major rivers are not included in the trail and walkers are warned to be very cautious about crossing them). After crossing the Rakaia at the gorge bridge, the trail begins again on the south side of the river at Glenrock Stream. Here there is access through farmland to take walkers up on to the tops at Turton’s Saddle, which is near the boundary of the Hakatere Conservation Park. Ten kilometres farther on is Comyns Hut, an old musterer’s hut that is a good place to stay the night before following
Tramping the Te Araroa trail – a tramper looks back towards Clent Hills Saddle.
streams and tussock-covered slopes to gain Clent Hills Saddle. From the saddle there are fabulous views of the Lake Heron basin and once down the other side there is Double Hut for the next night’s accommodation. The trail comes out on to the Heron-Hakatere Road near the Lake Emily turnoff then leaves it again just after Buick’s Bridge, heading over the old glacial terraces that are so characteristic of this area. The track goes between Mt Guy and
the Dogs Range and then sidles above Lake Clearwater. Having Te Araroa going through our backyard showcases our stunning local landscape to hundreds of walkers every year, and the trail’s popularity is likely to increase as word gets out – there are many internet reports and blogs made by walkers that sing the praises of “a long walk”. Walkers dropping in to local towns to resupply shows that conserving the back country and its biodiversity is not just worthwhile for
Comyns Hut provides a welcome place to stay on the route from Turton’s Saddle to the Ashburton Lakes.
the birds, tussocks and lakes but contributes to the monetary system as well: a
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