Our travels

24th February 2026 at 21:28 - Damian

John and I hiked up to Mt Oliver via Mueller Hut this morning. Six hours return including breaks. 1186m climb.

Perfect day for it with some incredible views. Also some bonus avalanches over on the flanks of Mt Sefton.

A view of the valley between rocks

View over the valley from Mueller Hut area

John and I at the top of Mt Oliver. Sir Ed's first mountain, apparently.

The route up and back. A climb of 1186m over 5.4km

24th February 2026 at 15:26 - Damian

Finally spotted a kea up at Mueller Hut above Mt Cook Village.

A kea posing. He's sexy and he knows it. (actually, he's got his eye on my abandoned pack)

23rd February 2026 at 19:36 - Damian

Clouds coming over the Southern Alps from the west. White Horse Hill DOC campsite.

23rd February 2026 at 09:26 - Damian

The Milky Way from Moke Lake at 5am this morning

A shot of stars

23rd February 2026 at 09:25 - Damian

We've been playing a LOT of 500. Haven't played for over a decade but it's an awesome game. Especially when you get all the bowers and the joker!

A winning hand

23rd February 2026 at 09:23 - Damian

We based ourselves at the Cascade Creek DOC campsite for two nights to allow a day to explore Milford Sound where we went on a boat tour. The weather held out until the second night where the wind and rain forced us to have to take down the bigger tent and set up the smaller, more robust MSR Elixir tent.

After the boat trip we walked up Key Summit which incorporates a bit of the Routeburn.

The van at Homer Tunnel. Very similar to the shot at Honester Pass in the Lake District

Us at the top of Key Summit

23rd February 2026 at 09:16 - Damian

Birds of Milford

Tui in evening sun

Kōtuku

23rd February 2026 at 09:14 - Damian

Sunrise at Albert Town campground

Brief flashes of colour as the sun rises

23rd February 2026 at 09:13 - Damian

Crossing over Haast Pass. A very brief, very cold dip in the Blue Pools.

Ally and John in the freezing water. We'd just got out.

17th February 2026 at 08:05 - Damian

Yesterday we drove from St Arnaud down to Okarito stopping at Punakaiki and Greymouth. We've got a chill out day here before heading over Haast Pass tomorrow to Albert Town.

Sunset on the beach at Okarito

17th February 2026 at 07:59 - Damian

On the second day at St Arnaud we walked around the lake counterclockwise from West Bay. Early start of 0700 as it's a 23km walk to the pub at Alpine Lodge. Windy on the lake but nicely cooling as we walked the circumference.

Us starting out full of beans

The view from Coldwater Hut at the far end of the lake

Crossing the river flat between Coldwater Hut and Lakehead Hut. Not so full of beans at the stage.

17th February 2026 at 07:54 - Damian

Our favourite bird, the South Island robin. It was jumping at my legs and socks catching sandflies while I was playing online chess on my phone outside. Could you ask for better than that?

The cutest guy in the world

17th February 2026 at 07:52 - Damian

After two nights at Momorangi we drove into Blenheim where we stocked up on 1kg(!!) salad leaves from Thymebank, did a bit of supermarket shopping and had delicious pies from Burleigh Pies.

Then a short drive up Wairau Valley to St Arnaud/Nelson Lakes where we pitched up at the West Lake Jetty DOC campsite for three nights.

We spent a lot of time chatting with the beautiful eels by the jetty.

The following day we hiked up Mt Robert in the morning mist and cloud and looped back down in bright sunshine with spectacular views.

View out the door of the Relax ski hut at the top of Mt Robert

Us at the summit just prior to the cloud burning off

John and Ally walking back down with the lake and ranges in the background

17th February 2026 at 07:43 - Damian

We made it in good time to Wellington for our 1330 Bluebridge sailing. Enough time to spare to grab a pie from Salut in downtown (see previous pic).

A quick shop in Picton for groceries and then on to Momorangi DOC campsite for two nights.

We've settled into a routine of day on/day off for cooking lunches and dinners which is working well.

The last few days were a bit rushed with having to decamp each morning so hitting the South Island and slowing down much welcomed.

A little shag drying its wings on the shore at Momorangi. Lots of stingrays here, too.

Calm boats

Our typical camp setup with Ally and John using the larger tent kindly loaned by our neighbours, Steve and Leona.

17th February 2026 at 07:36 - Damian

On the 10th we headed south to Ohakune where we'd stay overnight at the Mangawhero DOC campsite. A nice 30 minute evening walk down to the Powderkeg for dinner and back as it was getting dark.

John at Gollum's Pool on the Central Plateau near Waimarino and the Chateau

17th February 2026 at 07:31 - Damian

From Arapaoa we returned to Auckland to do multiple loads of washing, restock the van with things we'd forgotten and prep for the longer leg southwards.

A huge black crim tomato (with Vogels toast for scale) that needed to be picked at home.

17th February 2026 at 07:26 - Damian

On the 8th we drove from Maitai Bay to the bach at Arapaoa crossing by ferry at Rawene. We stopped off at Tane Mahuta and had a swim at Kai Iwi Lakes.

Dinner and yarns with Lynda and Paul at the bach

Compulsory stop for ice cream at the dairy at Kohukohu just before the ferry crossing to Rawene

16th February 2026 at 21:44 - Damian

I've been very slack with the updates. We're currently in Okarito on the West Coast. I'll backfill with more from previous days at some stage tomorrow.