Nelson/Marlborough | blissful hiker

I needed to get up before 5 am to catch the ferry, but what a treat for Raf to take

Q: Why did the weka shriek before the sun came up? A: Because he can. To be fair there were

A couple of kids do arrive last night, just as the sun goes down behind a mountain. They bring good

Tui and Sam’s loud morning stretch greet the day, overcast, just how I like it. It’s a different world down

I sleep well outside. It’s cooler and the stars come out, diamonds displayed on black velvet. There’s no relief from

TA Day 76, zero day, Nelson

“It’s hard to be more perfect than right now,” says Steve as we sit on his beautiful deck overlooking a

Today is my second side trip, to beautiful Abel Tasman park. Steve makes a plan and we head out with

Maggie brings me outside when I wake up to show me my good luck charm – a rainbow. Cary joins

The hut rattles and shakes in the wind, but when I step outside for the loo, it’s not cold. I

I grab two bars, pack Olive Oyl and head up Purple Top before sunrise. A family of goats meets me

I awake with a jolt from nightmares. I’d gone home trying to explain what I’m doing and then had one

This morning I wake up on the edge of Mount Richmond Forest Park and say goodbye to this glorious –

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do. With your one

Charley’s alarm wakes me around 5. He has plans to cross both passes today – and I’m sure he’ll do

Rain spatters the windows as the sky lightens, though wind seems to have stilled. Snoring and adjusting keeps me awake,

Kuba’s alarm wakes us in the morning. Usually just the sunrise gets me up, but last night there was a

It rains all night and I wake up so glad I walked both passes in reasonably good weather and that