Day 1: Brown Hut to Perry Saddle Hut (17 kms)

We left Takaka after breakfast. There was snow on the peaks (when you could see them …).

Drove north via Collingwood - Abel Tasman NP to our east.

We stopped for coffee at the Langford Store at Bainham just out of Collingwood. It is 96 years old and at one stage was the old Post Office.

Our start is Brown’s Hut at about 11:30 am.

We walked all day through alternating sun and showers. There was snow up on Mt Perry and lots of lovely forest of beech trees and the rain overnight ensured there was bountiful water in many places with numerous gushing waterfalls. 

The track from Brown’s Hut follows a route once surveyed for a road. Converting the track to a road has exercised the minds of proponents on both sides for years - from the 1930s from my reading of historical documents.

We had lunch near Shakespeare Flat which was taken standing as there was nowhere dry to sit and then it seemed such a long zig zag uphill afterwards to Aurore shelter for a short break before the last push of 5 kms.

It was a long climb all the way today - 17.5 kms - but thankfully just a steady climb, the last 5 kms from Aurore Shelter to Perry Saddle Hut the toughest section as the ground was very uneven and stony. We passed over the highest point at Flanagan’s Corner at 915 m - no view as we were shrouded in mist - and I was thrilled to see the 1 km mark to the hut.

I have to say I found the hut somewhat underwhelming when I first walked in: chock-a-block full of trampers and all bottom bunks gone (fortunately managed to negotiate a swap for me with a nice girl called Julia and one for MF when he staggered in later). 

Our guides Daniela (‘Dani’) and Miriam (‘Mim’) are currently preparing dinner after having a cuppa ready for us when we got in (Mim had raced on ahead). 

Clothes now drying in front of the fire. It is 100 m walk outside to the loo …

We are the envy of everyone else with our steak and veg dinner whilst the packet-eaters endure their various brands of ‘Back Country’.

Phone off to conserve battery. Early to bed as there are no lights. 

I cannot believe I am doing this.