Four nights at the South Sea Hotel, and in the meantime, I booked a water taxi to Fred‘s Camp Hut.
Considering it was my 15th visit to the island, and I had extensive walking during that time, it was unusual that it would be the first time I’ve ever been on a boat on Patterson Inlet.
Unfortunately, the operator had a three-person minimum for the 25-minute voyage to the head of the inlet, and I needed a return trip as well, so it was ridiculously expensive.
What the hell, my friends were spending money willy-nilly, having overseas holidays for weeks. I didn’t need to pay for accommodation with my annual Backcountry Pass, and had plenty of tramping food.
An 8 30 am dash over the water on a beautifully calm morning, and suddenly, 9 am, the quiet slowly descended on Fred‘s Camp jetty.
I spent time collecting firewood to help dry out the damp hut later in the day, and settled in for my four nights.
One thing about Rakiura in mid-winter, the sun rises after 8 am, and sets just after 5 pm. That’s a long dark night. 15 hours of darkness.
But I had a book to read, and gathered plenty more firewood.
So, why this choice?
The hut is off the beaten track, on the little-used Southern Circuit, and I was the first name in the hut book for six weeks. Likely to have the place to myself.
The hut overlooks a beach, has its own jetty, and looks straight down the inlet to the east.
Additionally, a significant blue mussel bed is available at low tide. A tasty entree before my less appealing dehy food dinner.
There’s actually not really anywhere to walk. I did sample 20 minutes each way on the track on successive days, but it is possible to re-injure my knee, and I didn’t want to do that.
Better just to rest up.
A guide to the night’s accommodation: Freds Camp Hut
