Start – Rintoul Hut
Finish – Mid Wairoa Hut
Daily Distance – 15 km
TA Distance – 1924 km
Today saw a dramatic increase in the number of wasps and bees inspecting my hat. Mid Wairoa hut is a
haven for wildlife. Unfortunately it is all of the stinging, biting, inappropriately pollinating variety that
drives you indoors. This may explain the unusual situation whereby there isn’t a family of goats tending
the lawn at this hut. Unfortunate really as it’s a beautiful location overlooking 3 streams flowing into the
powerful Wairoa river.
The Wairoa river is the next obstacle that needs to be overcome on this seemingly never ending section.
To reach the next hut this river needs to be forded 8 times and is impassible during, or in the days after
heavy rain. Last week 13 people were stuck in this 6 bed hut for 4 days waiting for the river levels to
drop. Arriving at the hut this afternoon I unexpectedly encountered Matt and Mieka who had walked on
while I was taking it easy yesterday afternoon. They attempted the crossing today, but found the water too
strong, so have had to backtrack to this hut. This is a concern for tomorrow, but there are a group of us
who will attempt the crossings together, so hopefully they won’t cause too much difficulty.
Tomorrow’s trials aside, today’s walk from Rintoul hut was a continuation of the beautiful Richmond’s
scenery. Climbing above the bush line to the invitingly named Purple Top in the morning sun was a real
treat and even the forest walk sections had a well maintained path and a conspicuous lack of mud and
vines. Hopefully tomorrow will prove as pleasant and uneventful.
