The highest point en route – Mt Luxmore.

Still bright and shiny at the start of the hike.

Gerry crossing the Waiau River at the start.

Lovely to walk in the shade of beech, kamati and podocarps.

Lake Te Anau in the back. We stopped for a quick lunch in the shade – hence the “shady” photo.

Tent pitched, fire going and a tipple in the cup. What more could a girl ask for.

Sunny and very hot once we reached the tree line, unsheltered from the tree canopy.

Leaving our packs in the path to climb the last bit to the top of Mt Luxmore.

here must be millions of similar pics out there – doing the touristy thing and get your photo taken by a fellow hiker at the beacon.

Lonely in the saddle since my horse died.

For miles and miles the path meanders on the ridge with magnificent views to both sides.

Taking a little break in the mid-day sun.

One of the two shelters on top of the mountain. This one being Hanging Valley Shelter.

At our final camp, covering every inch of exposed skin (preferably in more than one layer!) to try and avoid the pesky sandflies.

Very unusual bright purple mushroom.

Back at the start on Christmas day. Hoping next time we come down this way, we’ll the doing the Kepler track trail run.

Evidence of sandfly havoc when skin is exposed for just a short while.

23 December 2012 (15.1km) – Rainbow Reach car park to Brod Bay

It is exactly two years since our last multi-day hike/tramp. And to top it off, we haven’t been very active on the running front over the last year or so either. But we thought this hike would be a nice way to end the year and hopefully entice some new years resolutions on the active front.

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