4. Joan's New Zealand Adventure

By Joan Brick

While I have always loved camping and bushwalking since I was in Girl Scouts, I only really started doing serious hiking in the last five years.  With work and family activities keeping me busy during the week, the weekends were as just as hectic, thus restricting my time for interests I enjoyed to those after 7:00pm which really was not conducive to hiking. After I left work to care for John, I decided that I needed to find an activity that was both physically and mentally challenging as well as socially stimulating.  A Google search put me onto the Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club which laid the foundations for many of my hiking adventures with the club and on my own.  My early hikes were close to Ballarat and included the Grampians, Mt. Cole State Forest, Brisbane Ranges, You Yangs, Steiglitz, Great Ocean Road and Werribee Gorge. Each walk, though challenging, only wet my thirst to try new hikes  with varied terrains. The first walk that I put my hand up to do that I knew would test my hiking ability was the climb up Mt Kosciuszko in Dec 2016.  Having a very supportive group of fellow hikers assisted me to face the challenges we encountered which included snow, ice and wind on our way up Mt. Kosciuszko and other hikes in that area.  It was an amazing trip with such beautiful scenery that gave me the incentive and confidence to keep stretching myself to new limits.  I have since enjoyed a few hikes here and overseas but one that stands out  was the Routeburn/Greenstone Valley in the South Island of New Zealand.  I organised this through the Milton Rotary Tramping Club. It was a full 5-day, 4-night hike (68.2km) carrying a full pack. The accommodation was in huts with bunks for the Routeburn section of the tramp and an upgrade to lodges with bunks in the Greenstone section.   All of us on the tramp carried a share of the food and helped prepare it at mealtimes as well.  The most difficult items to carry were the loaves of bread as not letting them get squashed was a real challenge! There were  6 Australians and 20 New Zealanders with some of them being the fittest retired farmers I have ever met. 

We set off on Day 1 under cloudy and cool conditions but the sun gradually made its appearance and we quickly warmed up as we started our first climb toward the Routeburn Falls Hut.  This section of the track presented some amazing scenery with turquoise rivers and heavily mossed trees which made one feel they were in the middle of a fairy tale.   As we continued our climb to the first hut, the views were breathtaking from valleys and lush green mountains to waterfalls feeding into winding rivers. 

Our second day was misty and drizzly as we forged up rocky and uneven terrain to Harris Saddle. Standing on the highest point of  this track afforded us incredible views of the surrounding landscape.    

We were grateful for the occasional breaks in the weather which allowed us glimpses of the beautiful Hollyford Valley as well as assisted us in not having to contend climbing over very wet and slippery rocks. We arrived at  Lake Mackenzie Hut which was nicely nestled next to beautiful Lake Mackenzie in a very lush valley.  This was my first experience with a wall to wall bed base with 20 individual mattresses.  Though this which would not pass social-distancing requirements in these days, it was a welcomed sight for us bushed trampers.

We ventured off to Split Rock beautifully covered in rich green moss  and tested our skills in squeezing through the split  from one end to the other.  Though rain was on the radar for our tramp on Day 3 to Howden Hut it was helpful in making Earland Falls look even more spectacular. We lunched at a very crowded Howden Hut which was the finish of the Routeburn Track and beginning of the Greenstone Valley track.   Our first experience on the Greenstone Valley track  was through  the lush green bush and then an open valley surrounded by many hills. We finally arrived at McKellar lodge which provided us with nice hot showers as well as a drying room to get some of our clothes dry.  

 

It was nice to have a very lay back in theevening recapping our previous days walks. Day 4 saw rain continue to shape the conditions for our tramp through the Greenstone Valley. Mother nature provided a number of challenges on this section with climbing up and over large tree roots, rocks, large puddles , mud and deposits from the cattle grazing in the valley. We also encountered a large rock fall which again tested our agility and balance.   Upon our arrival at the Steele Creek Lodge we enjoyed  the novelty of crossing over the creek on  single person swing bridge which was a bit of a novelty.  Another hot shower welcomed us and a night having a nice chat about why we tramp in places such as this.  The conclusion was that when you tramp it’s about experiencing  and appreciating these natural wonders in all weather conditions even when it may put us a bit out of our comfort zone. 

With a big Day 5 ahead we were up before the sun and made our way with our headtorches through fields taking in the starlight sky above. Again, we walked through the open valley filled with somewhat large muddy puddles and long grass  but we enjoyed the view of  the hilltops surrounding us bathed in early sunshine. In coming close to the end of our journey  we saw a return  to the bush  with moss laden  trees, beautiful turquoise rivers and ponds and one big hill to conquer at the end.   Having completed our tramp we enjoyed  lunch together, farewelled each other with hugs and wished each other good luck on their next tramp.  Upon reflection I thoroughly enjoyed this trip in all aspects. The terrain and treks were challenging but the views of the landscape and natural features made it all worthwhile.  I enjoyed letting Mother Nature see her in all  her moods and splendour and being humble enough to go with the flow and just enjoy the ride. The best part of the tramp was being  with others who though may never cross my path again were with me for a moment in time to share this experience!