From the peak of Breast Hill to Albert Town Campground
Hiking time: 08:00a.m.-02:00p.m. and 04:15p.m.-07:30p.m.
Daily/Total distance: 24km /872km (230.5 hitched/skipped, 84 biked)
Steps: 36809
Weather: clear all day

I woke up this morning before the sun was really rising. The last night wasn’t the best sleep I have had on trail. Even though it was only light, there was a constant breeze going all night long, which really annoyed me as it kept rattling on my tent. It was also quite chilly. My sleeping quilt is good, but it still crept into my bones. So I was up and watching the sun rise from the entrance of my tent.

At 8am, after drying my tent in the morning sun I was off. The trail followed a fence down going down and up in places, quite steep as well.

After 45min I arrived at the hut and made a stop. Here I could use the toilet and get more water for the day. So I set my filter running, hung out my tent again to really dry it and went to the dunny. Then I liberally applied sun lotion before heading off again.

Now the trail followed down the ridgeline, very very steep in places. The track also wasn’t very wide and I had to concentrate to make sure I don’t tumble down one side. Regardless of the steep descent though, the views of the surroundings and the Lake were spectacular.

While travelling down I stopped to talk to a couple from America who are house sitting in Wanaka and having adventures in the surrounding areas. There are a lot of day hikers about, going up to the hut and down again. I continued further down.

At some point the trail led right through gorse bushes which scratched me up quite a bit. That was very unfortunate.

While continuing further I then met a guy who remembered me from before. Turns out, he is the guy from the second couple that gave me a lift out from Hackett Hut to Nelson when I couldn’t continue into the Richmond ranges due to my Knee. The world is a small place. Especially New Zealand.

I Was quite glad when I finally reached the lakeside. Now I would walk mostly on flat ground all the way until Wanaka. At first though I followed a gravel road to the Gladstone reserve before going further into Lake Hawea.

While walking along the lake I found some Boysenberry bushes with some ripe berries along the way.

The path continued on besides the lake on a cycle/foothpath track. There weren’t to many people about though and I was mostly by myself. I stopped at one place to talk to some locals who were working in their garden. We talked about the floodings the previous month and they told me that the lakefront is quite a bit closer to them than it usually is.

At 2 pm I reached the town and went to the Saliz store to get some lunch in the form of fish and chips. I also drank liberally from the free provided water while eating. The meal was very good, but by the end I was getting really stuffed. At that point I realised that the meal was to much, especially with the litre of water I drank while eating. Due to that I spent 2h sitting in the cafe to digest until I could even thing about moving on.

At 4:15pm I continued on, after ordering a chocolate donut and pineapple ring to take away for dinner. I got going very slowly, feeling to full to really move still, but I had planned to get to Albert town for the night, as camping there is only 7$. So I ventured on. Past the Lake Hawea control gates, creating the Hawea River.

After about an hour I came about a part of the river, where a standing wave has been created. Parts of the river were reshaped to create a funpark for Kajaks. Here I found a bunch of people surfing in the wave. I made a stop and sat down to watch them for about half an hour. It was interesting to see and I would have liked to give it a try as well, but I couldn’t be bothered to get wet.

After this break I was felling less stuffed and the continuation of my travels were much more comfortable. The last hour I was mainly walking through big fields with some trees on them. There were plenty of rabbits running about around me.

Just after 7pm I came about the Swingbridge coming towards the Camp ground. There was a father with his 2 children walking about at the same time. He offered me a lift into Wanaka, but I declined, as I didn’t want to pay for 2 nights in town. As I reached the camp ground office to sign in at 7:30pm he drove by with his kids and offered me some lollies, telling me that I am an inspiration. Very kind to hear that. Then I went to go and find a good place to pitch my tent and get everything settled for the night. Fetched some water from the river and started my dinner of another Ramen Bomb.

At 10pm I got ready for bed. There were other people who kept going about the campground in their cars. I had picked a bad spot to sleep, as I was right in line for the incoming cars and they kept shining their lights towards me. Tomorrow I’ll reach Wanaka and hopefully get my Socks replaced.