tramping new zealand

When I’d come to Rakiura with my brother, or various partners of the time, I’d been a bit more of a tourist around Oban.

On my own, I’d quickly launched into a two-week expedition around the top part of the island, then abandoned it for the mainland.

This time was different, as I was limited in my movement. But I could hobble over to Golden Bay to catch a water taxi to Ulva Island. I caught the scheduled 10 am crossing, but changed my return time when I found I’d have to pay for a minimum of two passengers for a midday return. It would be 3 30 pm when someone else would be going back.

That meant it was only $30 return. Okay.

Five hours gave me time to shuffle around the circuit and see the full western half of the small island.

And.

I had been slowly working up the hutbagger rankings. Not that I’m competitive. Much.

But it is a way to encourage seeking out new tracks in different areas of the country.

The DOC Bio Hut on Ulva Island added to my tally, so I managed to locate it, despite it not being shown on the Land Information New Zealand/Toitū Te Whenua Topo50 map.

The real surprise was to find the hut was located on one of the cutest north-facing, sheltered little horseshoe bays you could imagine. I sat on a bench and watched the red-crowned kākāriki flit about.

In the forest, a few kākā were making a racket. I managed to locate one of them.

The noise from the prolific bird life was intense when I first arrived, but by afternoon, they must have been having a nap.

A great day out.