• The Arthur Range on the way to Kiwi Saddle Hut, looking back towards John Tait Hut. | Kahurangi National Park
  • Leaving the tarn under Point 1398 on the Matiri Ridge and looking back to yesterday's efforts. | Kahurangi National Park
  • Eventually the scar will become less of an imposition on the landscape as the granite turns a grey colour. | Old Ghost Road

tramping new zealand

45 almost epic adventures on the South Island & Rakiura

south Kahurangi National Park blog | February 2016

After 38 days wandering around the northern section of Kahurangi National Park I zipped back to Nelson for a refresh, just missing another 180 mm dump of rain.

A couple of weeks later, a few domestic things sorted, body fully rested, I headed back to have a look at the southern section of the park.

The north bit had some surprises: the Dragons Teeth, that bash up to the Ministry of Works Hut, and then the granite knobby type area of the Mackay Downs.

I had planned a circuitous route from the start of the Wangapeka Track south to Murchison to begin, then on to the newly completed Old Ghost Road.

This is what eventuated . . .