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Day 46-50: Fern Burn Hut to Lake Middleton Campsite. 2640.5km-2503km - šŸ„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ


Day 46/64 šŸ„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ


šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


Motatapu Alpine Track


ā„¹ļøStats: Thursday 15th February

Weather: cloudy with little bits of rain šŸŒ§ļø

From: Fern Burn Hut

Start time: 8am

To: Roses Hut - 12 bed - full

End time: 4.20pm

Accommodation: top bunk - in the hut

Terrain: 2 major climbs and descents. Ridge walking, exposed sections, grassy tuffs.


šŸ„¾Km: 13.7

šŸ¦¶Steps: 17590


Total Km: 2657/3028 =88% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: $0 loving these no spend days!


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 7/10

Fatigue: 4/10

Ease of terrain: 8/10


ā­ļøHighlights: the route was lovely - challenging sections, but very enjoyable. Plus the huts have been excellent- a really good section šŸ‘


šŸ”ļøChallenges: right foot went through the vegetation and I ended up falling down on the track. It was all fine / just a little shock!


I started to lose motivation towards the end of the day, I could see the hut in the distance, but it took so long to get there!


šŸ’­Thoughts: I didnā€™t expect the hut to be as busy as it was. When itā€™s busy and I donā€™t think Iā€™m going to sleep well I try and have a little afternoon nap. Even just 90mins of semi-sleep can help me with rest and recovery. šŸ’¤


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Day 47/64 šŸ„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ


šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Friday 16th February

Weather: windy šŸŒ¬ļø then hot & sunny ā˜€ļø

From: Roses Hut

Start time: 8am

To: just outside Arrowtown

End time: 6pm (I took a few longer breaks)

Accommodation: tent ā›ŗļø

Terrain: good track paths, a stream. Grassy tuckocks, forest šŸŒ³


šŸ„¾Km: 13.9

šŸ¦¶Steps: 17819


Total Km: 2679/3028 = 88% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: $0 - nice to have another no spend day šŸ„³


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 7/10 lovely day

Fatigue: 3/10

Ease of terrain: 5/10 - 2 semi steep climbs. Otherwise a lot of descents.


ā­ļøHighlights: walking the low route ie. The river! The weather has been amazing! Some of the views have been spectacular šŸ˜šŸ˜šŸ˜


šŸ”ļøChallenges: my quads are feeling it from all the steep descents. Otherwise all good.


šŸ’­Thoughts: Iā€™m wondering if I have time to complete the section I missed out on? I have 2 weeks left after I reach Queenstown.


So I could Bus it from Queenstown on the Sunday afternoon to Twizel and walk from 2473 to 2616 (143 km) and then catch the bus from Wanaka to Queenstown and then continue to do the final 317kmā€¦. Do I have time and do the buses timetable work for me?


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Day 48/64 šŸ„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Saturday 17th February

Weather: Sunny ā˜€ļø

From: Just outside Arrowtown

Start time: 7.15am

To: Queenstown

End time: 1.30 pm

Accommodation: Adventure Queenstown Hostel - bed šŸ›ļø top bunk - (6 people)

Terrain: roads & cycle paths. Concrete - hard on the feet šŸ¦¶


šŸ„¾Km: 32.3

šŸ¦¶Steps: 40,525


Total Km: 2710/3028 = 89% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: accommodation $68

Food resupply $111

Dinner out - 2x Tacos šŸŒ® & a cocktail $48 šŸø

Water purification tablets and painkillers $30


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 7/10 - solid day šŸ‘Š

Fatigue: 2/10 - feeling good

Ease of terrain: 4/10 - easy walking as it was flat. But the roads are a killer on your feet. I really felt it towards the end of the walk.


ā­ļøHighlights: Iā€™ve decided to go back and do the section I missed! Iā€™ve got my buses booked (intercity bus to Twizel and bus from Wanaka to Queenstown) itā€™s a tight schedule with a lot of Kms but Iā€™m going to do it!!! Canā€™t wait!!! Bring it on!!!


šŸ”ļøChallenges: deciding to only have 1 cocktail instead of 2! šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚


šŸ’­Thoughts: places like Wanaka and Queenstown have been super busy - so itā€™s worth booking your accommodation in advance.


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Day 49/64 šŸ„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ


šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


Rest day / bungy jump day!


Sunday 18th February. Hot & Sunny ā˜€ļø

Accommodation: youth hostel - top bunk


šŸ’°Costs: bungy iump $410 including photo and video @ajhackettbungynz

Food resupply $53


The Nevis is 134m (the highest in New Zealand). šŸ„³


ā°8.5 seconds of free fall before the bungy kicks in!


āš”ļø what a rush!!!


ā“would you do a bungy jump? Have you done one before


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Day 50/64 šŸ„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

šŸ“Supported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo


ā„¹ļøStats: Monday 19th February

Weather: windy šŸŒ¬ļø & sunny ā˜€ļø

From: Queenstown / Twizel

Start time: 8.05am / 11.40am

To: Lake Middleton Campsite

End time: 8pm

Accommodation: camped ā›ŗļø

Terrain: gravel road, grassy paths, gravel tracks


šŸ„¾Km: 29

šŸ¦¶Steps: 37,180


Total Km: 2503/3028 = 83% āœ…


šŸ’°Costs: šŸšŒintercity bus to Twizel $49


Subjective feeling out of 10 on:


Enjoyment: 8/10 - itā€™s always nice to be walking again, especially when the weather is good.

Fatigue: 3/10 - I feel well rested

Ease of terrain: 3/10 - pretty flat, easy ish walking


ā­ļøHighlights: Iā€™m excited to be coming back to do this section that I missed out on. šŸ„³


šŸ”ļøChallenges: iā€™m just hoping the @msr_gear tent holds up - itā€™s been windy šŸ’Ø. And I am scared to put the tent up in the wind now. In case the pole does break again.


Iā€™ve set the tent up in an awful place. Itā€™s under trees and it is protected from the wind - mostly! but the ground isnā€™t the best. But we are making do.


šŸ’­Thoughts: Iā€™ve got a clear plan for the next few days and know where I need to be and by when.


Iā€™ve got to be in Wanaka on Saturday by 2pm at the latest for the 2.40pm bus šŸšŒ to Queenstown.


Iā€™ve got accommodation booked in Queenstown for the 24th and on the 25th Iā€™ll either catch a shuttle (if there is one). Or I will hitch the 80km around the lake to start the next section.


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