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Day 53 — Intercargill to BLUFF

32.5km

506m ascent, 502m descent, 31.0m/km grade

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Day 52 — Riverton to Invercargill

36.2km

398m ascent, 407m descent, 22.2m/km grade

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Day 51 — Otautau to Riverton

25.6km

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Day 50 — a Farm to Otautau

27km

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Day 49 — Telford Campsite to a Farm

33.5km

1157m ascent, 1358m descent, 75.2m/km grade

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Day 48 — Aprima Hut to Telford Campsite

21.4km

1139m ascent, 1179m descent, 108m/km grade

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Day 47 — Highway 94 to Aparima Hut

22.3k

976m ascent, 869m descent, 83m/km grade

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Day 46 — South Mavora Lake to Highway 94

14.4k

349m ascent, 471m descent, 57m/km grade

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Day 45 — Taipo Hut to South Mavora Lake

30.9km

747m ascent, 839m descent, 51m/km grade

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Day 44 — Lake McKellar to Taipo Hut

Roughly 30km, Unknown Elevation

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Day 43 — The Routeburn, ending at Lake McKellar

36.8k

2876m ascent, 2820m descent, 175m/km grade

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Day 42 — Arrowtown to Queenstown

28.9km

679m ascent, 780m descent, 50.6m/km grade

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Day 41 — Almost Roses Hut to Arrowtown

26.9km

1422m ascent, 2205m descent, 135m/km

This was two very different days.

The morning and early afternoon saw lots of elevation and wet feet. The trail ran next to a river then through the river along a jeep track. Bush-bashing and wet feet.

The late afternoon was easy and cruisy — where the jeep track left the river and eased into town.

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Day 40 — Glendhu Bay to almost Roses Hut

22.6km

2230m ascent, 1341m descent, 158m/km grade

This ended up a long day, a late start but also a fair amount of elevation. I didn’t make it to Roses Hut; instead, I reached the highest point of elevation and cowboy camped in the tussock. I woke up wet from all the condensation.

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Day 39 — Lake Wanaka to Glendhu Bay

15.8km

411m ascent, 409m descent, 58m/km grade

I left Wānaka at 6pm and didn’t reach the campsite until 9pm. A lazy stroll on flat road.

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Day 38 — Albert Town to Lake Wanaka

11.8km

225m ascent (lazy), 225m descent (lazy), 38.1 m/km grade (lazzz…)

A half-day by any measure. The terrain was flat and dry — I reached town well before afternoon. Enough time for groceries, a shower, a haircut, surveying the local shops and also two-and-a-half meals.

Whoever manages the local signage deserves two promotions! Top notch.

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Day 37 — Breast Hill to Albert Town

25.9km

413m ascent, 1696m descent, 81.3 m/km grade

This is tied for my best campsite. A beautiful view, stars overhead, and the faint sound of sheep sleeping not far away.

The morning was a steep descent, several thousand feet with an aggressive incline. But then entirely flat to Lake Hāwea and also easy walking to Albert Town.

I ate my weight in hamburger at Lake Hāwea— the ‘hunger buster’ inclusive of two fried eggs. I used the last pinch of bun with the remaining yolk.