From Camp Stream Hut to Tekapo
Hiking time: 08:30a.m.-04:30p.m. to change
Daily/Total distance: 34km (15 hitched) /689.5km (230.5 hitched/skipped)
Steps: 34972
Weather: clear sunny and warm

While everyone else in the hut got up at 6am, I as lazy and waited until 7:30am before getting up. I was still not quite warmed up from the previous day and didn’t fancy going outside into the cold of the morning. At 7:30am though I slowly got moving. Knowing I would walk out to Tekapo this day, I didn’t change into my still wet leggings from the previous day but kept my warm and dry longjohns on. Everything else was as usual. The shoes were sadly enough still wet, but that as to be expected. At 8:30am I then at off beneath a nice and clear blue sky.

The track started out with a river crossing right at the start. I managed to find stepping stones though and could keep my feet from being soaked again for now. Even with the sun already out I was still chilled from the previous day and wearing my long sleeve and rain jacket.

There were further river crossings that I at first managed to keep dry at. But then came a crossing which had no stepping stones and it was back to soaking wet cold feet. At least the heat from the sun had increased by this point and I only wore my top and nothing with longsleeves any longer. Then the track siddled up a mountainside, away from the river. It was quite steep and I had to watch my steps in order to not keep over on the wrong side.

The track continued further up until I walked on a mostly flat area at the top. Now I had great views of the surrounding mountains, all with their tops covered in fresh snow. I could also see the blue colour of lake Tekapo as well.

I continued on this level for quite some time. Mesmerized by the surrounding mountains. I enjoy the sight of snow covered mountain peaks.

Then the track started to slowly continue downwards towards the Lake. The terrain here was quite hilly but the track went mostly in between the hills.

Along this section I met two NOBOs and stopped to walk to them for nearly an hour while they had lunch. Then I continued on.

Towards the end of the trail the track followed next to a river, though never actually descending down towards it. Instead the track continued down to the road, where it is 13km a long a gravel road before reaching Tekapo.

The road wasn’t travelled on a lot. As I reached it, I changed from my longjohns into my shorts. The sun is now fully blazing and there is no grass on the road for me to get allergic reactions from. So on with the shorts. Then I applied more sun lotion. As I was just finished and about to put my pack back on, a car with a boat on a trailer stopped to give me a ride into town. Well, this beats walking in the blazing sun without any shade. They them dropped me off where the road crosses the one going into Tekapo and I walked the last km into town myself again, passing the beautiful waterfront and the Church of the good Sheppard.

From the Church I had a further 2km to walk until I finally reached the holiday park. I bought some food on the way and was weighted down by the additional 3kg I bought of Ginger Ale, Eggs, bacon and 500g of coleslaw. I checked in at the holiday park for the lodge backpackers. There I spread my things out from my pack, put my smelly pack and shoes outside the room and then went to do my laundry. Everything beside my toggs went into the washing machine and I was left to walk around in my bikini and rain jacket.

After getting the laundry done, I walked back into town to get fish and chips for dinner before heading for the Tekapo Springs, where I had a booking for a reduced entrance at 6pm. Then I spent the rest of the evening soaking in the hot water and reading. By 9pm I had to leave and went back to the backpackers. I had a very nice view over the Lake at this time

Back at the backpackers I was hungry again and made one of my pasta packages as a second dinner before turning in at about 10:30pm. As there was no good phone reception and the WiFi sucked I just succumbed to my tiredness and went to bed early.