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When we left Wellington our twin objectives were to walk the Routeburn . and Hollyford tracks. Until we arrived in Queenstown-we were unsure of which we would do first but eventually decided on the Hollyford. Lunche time on Tuesday 28 December saw us beginning the long road walk to the - ‘Start of the track, Thankfully we were able to hitch lifts most af the ‘way. And so began 7 glorious days in the Hellyford valley. By New Year's Eve we were out at Martin's Bay aftcr having walked the infamous (& rightly so!) Demon Trail. A magnificent sunset closed 1982 and a brilliant sunny, day heralded the beginning of 1983. We caught a jet boat back to Lake Alabaster and saw the scenery we'd missed while walking. A well earned rest day was spent at Alabaster. Until this stage we had seen nobody else on the track except the half dozen people walking in the same direction as ourselves. As we were walking out we ssed the equivalent of at least one Tiki tour-bus of people beginning the track. The remoteness of the Valley: and the feeling of being alone were a real highlight of the trip. On the last night in the valley the weather turned bad and stayed bad. We-didn*t mind as we'd hac 7 sunny days and at times. it had beem-too-hot_even for the-sandflies so we had been able to-sunbath in peace. wove n/4
4, A quick stop at Gunn's Camp for moro bars and cans of coke and then on to the Routeburn., The first night was spent at Howden Hut which was complete with flushing toilets, gas on tap, inside running water, tilly lamps and thousands of Australians, After the quietness of the Hollvford we found it hard to adjust to the more populated and’ commercialized ($4 a night hut fees) Routeburn, Next day we headed off for McXenzie Hut, At this stage Teresa developed a problem with her achiilss' tendon which meant she wag unable-to continué, Having gone all that way to walk the Routeburn I decided to carry on, though didn't Do eagarty enjoy it as the weather was bad and there were ° . too many Austreiians, A few deys in Queenstown relaxing and playing at being tourists finished off a really superb holiday. On the trips Teresa O'Brien end Karen O'Byrne