“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw
Day 101 to 103
- Day 101 – Greenstone Campsite to Greenstone Hut ; 24 km
- Day 102 – Greenstone Hut to Carey Campsite ; 28 km
- Day 103 – Carey Campsite to Mavora Lakes Road ; 17 km
Total hiked: 2797 km
Imagine the hills of the Motatapu but instead of climbing up and down every single one of them you are blissfully sashaying through, admiring their height from the valley below; welcome to Greenstone Mavora Walkway.
Continuing our adventure back on Te Araroa, N.D and I trotted from Greenstone campsite, around Lake McKellan and it’s similarly named hut to the Greenstone River for lunch. Both unaware that the most exciting part of the trail would happen that afternoon.
As we crossed a swing bridge we met a couple who were walking the Greenstone Cable Walkway. About two minutes after passing them we heard the lady running behind us yelling ‘help help help’. We turned to see her waving their newly purchased PLB in the air exclaiming that the light was flashing, all while a helicopter could be heard circling above us. Unfortunately they had leant against the outer casing of the device which had inappropriately set it off, while the rescue Te Anau helicopter service made up of a paramedic, retrieval doctor, winch-man and pilot had appropriately set off to find the not distressed couple. Well kind of distressed couple given they did accidentally set their PLB off, who knows what the bill might be? Watching the landing of the helicopter was both the closest I’ve ever come and most excited I have been on trail. It was so cool!
From Greenstone Hut the Passburn Valley with its tussock fields, patches of spongy moss and flowing Mavora river was stunning. Early morning fog that previously covered the lake would disappear to reveal bluebird skies that by afternoon created mountainous shadows on the trail ahead.
The surrounding ranges provided shelter from the wind leaving uninterrupted valley and views for our three day trot along the Greenstone Mavora Walkway. It also provided ample time for us to chat about our favourite parts of the trail, not just the Otago section but the entirety of Te Araroa. Which days were our favourite, what section we enjoyed the most, which climbs were the toughest, what noodle flavour our favourite, you know all the important stuff. 😛 We chatted about what we could do after the trail, the personal endeavours, professional goals and other crazy adventures we might want to try tackle… maybe not another thru hike just yet.
It felt liberating not just to have the option of doing anything but to now have the confidence at voicing an endless list of possibilities and dreams. It’s exciting!
On making it to Mavora Lakes we camped near the top of North Mavora alongside Carey Hut. The following day we trotted around both lakes with friends who kindly bought us back to Te Anau for a shower, resupply and feed; dropping us back on trail the next day refreshed for the last section of Te Araroa.
Thanks Mark, Jess and Alfie.
Happy trotting 🙂
GC Chronicles 
Now this sounds like a bit I could do!
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Go you guys. Nearly there!!
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Once again fantastic views, well done the pair of you
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