​Day 117. Wanaka – Fern Burn Hut. 26km. Total 2609km. We agreed on a lazy morning as we went to bed late but my room mates wake me up at 6.15am so I go out for a walk in the sunrise. (We only got beds in different rooms).  The weather looks promising but still cloudy…

​Day 113. Top Timaru Hut – Pakituhi Hut. 24km. Total 2549. Another night of not sleeping as my knees hurt. I promise myself to go and see a doctor in Wanaka…. The wind was blowing the whole night and I was happy to be in the hut well sheltered. All 7 of us in the…

​Day 111. Twizel – Sawyers Creek Bridge. 35km. Total 2478km. Yesterday evening we had a nice dinner in a pub with Mark and Pall, eating homemade smoked salmon as burger, so yummy! Maybe it was the cider, but I finally slept well, mainly because I managed to sleep on my back so my knees wouldn’t…

​Day 108. Camp Stream – Lake Tekapo. 35km (hitchhiked about 15km). Total 2389km. Another night I didn’t sleep well. As Tekapo is known as the best area for star gazing I was hoping to see at least the stars but after a clear blue sky the whole day it was overcasted at night. As I…

​Day 106. Peel Forest Campsite – Trailhead – Crooked Spur Hut. 9km. Total 2324km. It’s good to sleep in for once after all the long hiking days. I feel like having all the time in the world but suddenly it’s 10.15am and I still need to pack up my stuff and walk back the few…

​Day 104. Methven – Trailhead Rakaia south – Manuka Hut. 38km. Total 2283km. Finally a great day! There was a big storm last night but no rain! The sun is out and it’s still very windy. As the ride to the Trailhead is only at 9am, I take the time for a good breakfast and…

​Day 102. Arthur’s Pass – Trailhead – Harpers River / Avoca river. 26km+10km by car. Total 2209km. The rest day was good for my knee, but I feel a bit anxious about the trail and the coming river crossings. Tim met a nice guy living at Arthur’s Pass who drives us in the morning to…

​Day 100. Lockestream Hut – Morrisons Footbridge – Arthur’s Pass. 22km. Total 2150km. A nightmare.  After some well needed sleep Shelley and I start at 7am, thinking it will take us 6-8h to the Morrisons Footbridge or some more to Upper Deception hut in case we decide to continue. It’s cold and the sky white…

​Day 96. Anne Hut – Boyle. 29km. Total 2061km. Everyone is up at 6am and it feels very rushed to have breakfast and pack up our stuff. It’s been raining at night and I was so happy about being inside the hut! We hike out into the drizzle and my feet are already wet after…

​Day 93. Upper Travers Hut – Blue Lake Hut. 15km. Total 1990km. Last night was difficult, I wasn’t tired in the beginning and read a book. Then I couldn’t sleep and was so hungry. I ended up eating a muesli bar and finally sleeping afterwards. But as today is a big day, we start at…

​Day 91. Saint Arnauds – Lakehead Hut. 10km (+20km). Total 1955km. As always, not much sleep once I am in a town. Too much information from friends and family needs to be processed in my head, all the people I met today plus the food organisation etc occupied my head at night.  It’s raining as…

​Day 89. Hunters Hut – Red Hills Hut. 18km. Total 1928km. I wake up pretty often during the night. It’s very windy but in the early morning the day promises to be beautiful again. And so we start to hike again. Uphill. Over the red rocks again. Through riverbeds with red stones. Through some mud….