Sudden Valley

Top of 15 m waterfall

This one day hike went through a steep-walled gorge (that was quite the challenge to get through). It eventually opened up into a wide open river flat (Sudden Valley)- very beautiful!

Milford Track

2nd highest waterfall in the southern hemisphere (Sutherland Falls)

The Milford Track is in the heart of Fjordland and is probably New Zealand's most famous Great Walk. It is 53.5 km over 4 days with 1070m in elevation gain. Our first visitors from Canada (Jennie & Mike) were planning to do it- so Brad and I joined them. It is really popular and we had to book it over 4 months in advance. We were really lucky with the weather- it normally rains 2 out of every 3 days in that area- and we had 3 days of sun and one day of rain. But the one day of rain was enough- it was the heaviest rain we've ever experienced. The waterfalls were spectacular though! Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures that last day. We were so soaked! Thank goodness there are nice huts for people to sleep in and cook & eat in- tenting in that much rain wouldn't be fun!

Otehake Hot Springs

This Weka (large, flightless & fearless) woke me up at 3am- eating my lunch!

Otehake River

The pools without anyone in them

Soaking feet in the hot springs

Lake Kaurapataka

The Otehake hot springs are naturally occurring hot sulphur springs on the side of the Otehake river. They are the perfect temperature- like a hot tub! When the water level is really high, you wouldn't even know they are there- but most of the time it is low, and they are big enough to fit in 10 people (with a little digging!) They hike is only about five hours each way and most of it is flat, but it is through two chest-deep, freezing cold rivers (that can get impassable if it rains a lot), and down a very steep valley wall where sometimes you have nothing but tree roots to cling to for your life- but it is worth it!