A Bridge Too Far

The instant we are inside Gouland Downs Hut we regret we are not staying longer. It is the cosiest of huts, newly refurbished inside with a huge woodfire. The landscape around is also worth hanging around for, partly from its sheer beauty, and partly, for a change, because it does not depart from the track at impossible angles.

We arrive at lunch today in much better shape than yesterday. We cook up noodles. Tasty, but a little fussy. They depend also on picking up water en route, or carrying extra. Fortunately, we have plenty of water available along the entire route of the Heaphy.

So it's more of an excuse to practise using our new gear. They don't photograph all that well either.

Onwards. According to DOC, we have 1.5 hours to go to Saxon Hut, and so far they are bang on for today's travelling. Trish, Shona and Brian have arrived, lunched and gone on ahead. We recognise the value of a long lunch hour.

First stop, the Enchanted Forest, a persistent island of karst landforms in a sea of tussock, topped by a strange, moss-covered version of the New Zealand bush.

The area is honeycombed with caves We are just commenting on the likelihood of elves popping up when from under us somewhere comes a hellish cackle. Trish etc are taking time out to explore.

The camera does not do justice to this area. It fails to respond as the human eye does to the particular qualities of the green in this forest. Definitely eery.

Looking back a little further on we see a huge limestone cave across the valley. Some of the track notes we find carry warnings about the dangers involved in exploring around this cave, but there is nothing too ominous-looking from where we stand.

We continue across the Downs ...

...to the first suspension bridge, which, while not completely Number 8 wire and binder twine, might as well be as far as I am concerned. Carol takes it in her stride.

Later on, Miranda reckons it's much the same as the others we see later, but not tensioned as much, so that greater movement occurs.

I choose the ford and get across with dry boots.

 

 

 

 

 

Advice: Heaphy

Browns to Perry Saddle
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Perry Saddle to Saxon
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Saxon to Mackay
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Mackay to Lewis
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Lewis to Heaphy
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Heaphy to Kohaihai
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