Paparoa Track Day 1

At the start of the track, near Blackball.

Across a good old DOC swing bridge.

An old gold miner’s hut which is a few hundred metres off the main track.

It wouldn’t be a NZ tramp without wekas.

As we got higher, there was rata in full bloom everywhere. Absolutely beautiful.

This is the historic Croesus Top Hut, just below the new Ces Clark hut.

Ascended to around 1,000 metres above sea level, for this great view.

The Ces Clark Hut. We didn’t stay overnight here, but did have a much needed lunch break. Took around four and a half hours to get up to it.

We decided to take the 70 minute side trip to Croesus Knob, which is around 1,200 metres elevation. Was not kong in distance, but quite steep.

Great views from the top. Could see the Tasman Sea, but Mt Cook was hidden by clouds.

The track ahead.

Around three hours of tramping on the ridge line after Croseus Knob.

Very pleased to see this as one of my boots had started to disintegrate (the surface was very hard and rocky most of the way) and started to clip my foot, giving me a large blister.

Moonlight Tops Hut, where we stayed. Great warden who gave a very informative talk, and unusually has a view which includes in the distance the next hut we’ll stay in.

One of the views from the hut.

Everyone in the hut gathered on the hill to watch the sunset, which did not disappoint. A few wild goats turned up to watch also.
Dinner was a nice curry, and we did a few rounds of cards before bed.
The first days saw tramping of 22.99 kms, 36,164 steps and 1,267 vertical metres ascent. Was pretty tired, and sore, but very satisfied.