We start the drive loaded up with a Miles Better Pies — a pleasant surprise we uncover in Te Anau. We have to admit we've seen adverts for "pies" across both the North and South Island. They seem to be mostly packaged meat pies. Yuck. However, MBP makes them bakery fresh, heaped with fresh ingredients and we pick up two - still warm - to keep our tummy's company on the ride. We'll be honest though - they barely make it out of the city limits. The veggie pie is filled with pumpkin, potato and spinach and is achingly delicious. Gluten free they are not, but who cares?!?!
Buses loaded with people headed for Milford Sound clog the roadway and we do our best to avoid them. Along the way we stop at several lookout spots in the Eglinton Valley.
There are roughly 13 DOC campsites along this road, and we stop at all to check them out. With the exception of about two or so, all the sites are prime real estate with valley and mountain views, and freshwater lakes and streams running through them. We pick out our favorites in anticipation of the next few days of camping.
We stop at The Divide where we can hop on the Routeburn Track (another celebrated hike). The Divide is famous for its views of three major river systems (all heading out to different oceans no less) — the Hollyford, the Eglinton, and the Greenstone. We make our way up to the Key Summit. Only 3 hours return it provides some "hideous" panoramic views of the Hollyford Valley, and the Humbolt and Darran Mountains.
From here we can see across to the alpine lake Marian and decide that it will be our "tomorrow hike". The weather is fine, fine, fine. Sunny, but not too hot and ideal for hiking.
The Routeburn Track is lush. Cold glacial water seems to spring out from every rock face. After visiting the picturesque Howden Hut, Jenn decides that this would be the Great Walks trail she would like to hike if we had longer here.
We return late afternoon to the Cascade Creek campsite and have it all to ourselves — the river, mountains, and waterfalls. While I set up camp, Jenn goes for a walk to check out the site and is gone for over half and hour.
I start to get a bit worried. I figure she has most likely met someone around the corner and is busy chatting. I am right. Philip and Helena are from Germany and are driving around and sleeping in a Spaceship Camper (which they hate!). We trade good hike tips and pass along brochures from places we have already been that they are heading towards.
As the sun drops so does the temperature. Long pants, long sleeves and a toque are necessary, not just for the cold, but for the sand flies too!
After dinner we go for a hike around the Lake Gunn Nature Trail and walk through the red beech trees which are over 350 years old. We see tomtits and riflemen birds (which look like little flying eggs with wings!).
Returning to our camper we find that other cars and campers have come. By nightfall we are the nucleus, surrounded by the protons and neutrons of
tents and vans. We need to figure out a way to "hold our space"!
No comments:
Post a Comment