Day 50 - Friday 23 February 2024

On the move again today; I left the motel in Nelson at 09:00 with a definite plan for the day before ending up in Blenheim. Today I was going to go via Nelson Lakes National Park.

The first target was Lake Rotoiti, and the hour and a half drive went without incident ..... until I arrived at the shores of Lake Rotoiti, at which point I had to pull up suddenly. I was not expecting a view like the one I was presented with, and once a few WOW's had escaped my lips I pulled up to park on the lakeshore. 

This I think has to be the best view of the trip so far; I'm struggling to think of one that betters it. A bit of time for photos and videos, then I put the hiking footwear on. Many months ago I'd marked a loop track here to hike; 4km and about two hours is what the official national parks blurb said, so off I set.

Through the forest just back from the lakeside, after 10 minutes a sign indicated that the loop track was both straight ahead and off to the left; I took a left, and immediately found myself climbing through what seemed to be an ancient woodland; it looked like it had been undisturbed for centuries barring the rough hiking track.

Up and up I hiked in the still and humid air; I'd not learned my lessons of previous hikes and was wearing a cotton shirt that was soon soaked. After what seemed an age but was 45 minutes, another sign showed that the loop track turned right off of the long distance path is had shared up until now. Onto a lesser used undulating and twisty path, in many cases clambering over rocks and tree roots. 

I had a couple of instances where a root nearly tripped me, and I could hear my dad saying 'will you pick your feet up', so I did pick my feet up; it's funny how after all of these years dad is still looking out for me. Thanks dad! The path started to descend, and ran beside a burbling stream for a while before all I was left with was the sound of my own feet, and the buzzing of the insects.

There was no viewpoint to be had on this hike; the reward was when I returned to the lakeside, and the views from the shore.

I could see where the car was parked, but it was still a half hours hike away, so back around the lakeside until I joined the path I'd taken to complete the loop. Then back around the shoreline to the car, and a rewarding sit down.

After leaving the lakeshore, I visited the National Park office; there was another lake I was keen to visit, and this was about 45 minutes away, but to then get to Blenheim I'd need to retrace my steps to where I was. So, onto the road to Lake Rotoroa.

A very pretty drive through a valley, and I arrived at Lake Rotoroa at 13:30. Straight down to the shoreline, and as I was taking photos I felt my legs getting bitten by sandflies ..... they didn't take their time! Lake Rotoroa wasn't as immediately stunning as Lake Roroiti, but it was beautiful; the valley at the far end of the lake was wider, showing more of the hills behind but perhaps without the same drama.

Because of the sandflies, I didn't stay here long; it was now around 14:00, so I set the Satnav for the final target of the day; Mount Vernon Lookout just outside Blenheim. A two hour drive bought me to the car park at just after 16:00, but the car park was closed with a sign saying that all of the farm paths were currently closed.

Foiled in my efforts, I programmed in my accommodation for the next two nights, and within 10 minutes I had arrived. All checked in, and a load of laundry on before updating todays adventure in the blog. The town centre is about 10 minutes away, so I'll finish the laundry and then wander into town to find something to eat; it's been a long time since breakfast!