En-route to Hanmer Springs

Saturday 24th November

Start of St James Walkway at Lewis Pass

We woke to another beautiful sunny day at our Marble Hill campsite and continued east on the Lewis Pass stopping at the car park for the western end of the St James Walkway which we heard was the longest tramp in NZ at 66km and 5 huts. We had decided to do the 1st day of this, up the Cannibal Gorge, along the Maruia River, to the first hut and back, which would take up to 7 hours - probably less for us with Len just having a day pack and, spoilt me, none at all.
We loved the beginning of the walk near the carpark - so much lichen hanging from all the beech trees and so still - it just looked like a magical fairyland and we felt quite awestruck. Such a pity that our little camera can't truly depict the same sight and feeling.

The walk is described as being a relatively easy one for trampers but it was quite steep and zigzaggy going down into and out of the gorge and in one place, before we got to the swing bridge, the track had virtually disappeared from a past avalanche which, with no snow, looks like a stony landslide. If you're bothered by heights, like me, you have to concentrate on being really careful not to slide down the stony cliff. DOC had thankfully fastened a rope to hold on to for negotiating the missing path and I was very pleased not be carrying a big pack. It felt much worse than the photo!

What you don't see is the big drop into gorge on left.

Parts of the walk we enjoyed and parts were tricky and I think we were quite tired still from yesterday's walk so after about 1.5 hrs (about halfway) we stopped for lunch and made the decision to turn back so we wouldn't be to tired for negotiating the tricky bits on the way home! On our return we met 2 large group of trampers, the first group being students from Aussie and the next group from Christchurch. They were all doing the 5 day tramp and some of them were finding it quite hard too!

A cup of coffee and a little siesta and we were on our way again having decided that we were ready for some cycling country after all the walking. We have had a little glimpse of Hanmer and are now camped a few km south in the NZMCA Park which we will use as our base for exploring and enjoying Hanmer Springs - I think a massage is a must and as we are allowed to stay in this camp for 3 nights we may make the most of it and stay for the whole 3.