Date: 19-20 November 2016
Distance: 12km

A lovely, sunny day to start off with.

A South Island Oystercatcher.

Following the Fern Burn river up the shadowy valley.

The fast-flowing stream is crossed via a sturdy footbridge.

Some muddy and wet patches along the way.

Very steep slopes – not for the faint-hearted.

As the valley narrows, the amount of cascades and waterfalls increase.

A sharp little turn with a sheer drop if you’re not careful, especially on the downhill.

Some very steep sections had steps to help you along.

Finally above the tree line.

The track winds its way along the ridges, offering splendid views if you have the guts to raise your eyes from the footpath.

Tiny path traversing the saddle of a hill.

The hut came into sight, but first you have to get down to the river and cross a side stream, before heading up again to reach the hut.

A beautiful tranquil spot.

Fern Burn Hut, built in 2008.

Two bunk beds – sleeps six people at the top and six at the bottom.

This is where it all happened for 18 adults and a baby.

Getting ready the next morning.

Some final photos of the hut before heading back towards Wanaka.

Fern Burn hut, set amidst the gorgeous Central Otago countryside.

Too close for comfort.

A huge slip just below the path did not fill me with confidence.

Returning along the saddle.

Finally back amongst the trees in The Stack Conservation Area.

Hesitantly making our way down the valley.

Beautiful tree-lined stream.

Another gorgeous day out in nature.

Almost back at the car, and already thinking about our next adventure.

Californian poppies by the toilet at the car park. If you don’t have lavender, poppies will have to do! 🙂

After the lovely night (albeit bitterly cold) at Meg Hut, we decided to head out for another two days on the trails. But first a good scrub-down was in order, so we spent the night at Glendhu Holiday Park to get ourselves sorted for the next trip. A quick top-up of supplies and a fresh set of clothes and we were all set to leave early in the morning. Continue reading →