Hollyford Track - NZ (warning 27 pics = 4.6MB)

[Kainas]

The Hollyford track was my favourite track I think. It was adventurous, and we were often reminded of the dangers of being out in the middle of no where. The Demon Trail, the three-wire crossings, the seals, and walking around the point to see how much harder the pyke bay route was (we didn't dare take it).

The track was relatively flat, however two days of mud, followed by the Demon trail made up for it. The Demon Trail was my favourite section of track. It was the hardest, but the most rewarding.

The first hour or two of the track was very well maintained, as well as the stretch from Martin's Bay Lodge (guided walkers) to Martin's Bay Hut (poor walkers). The maintance really reflects the clientele, as the guided walkers seemed to think they were very special indeed. Nothing like having the little hut invaded by nosey walkers wanting to 'see how hard the other half had it'. Full credit to their Guide, who arrived with the bulk of them and told them not to go inside (he understood the open doors equals sandflies, and we thank him for it).

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[Kainas]

Fiordland reminding us just what a beautiful place it is.

Some sections of the track were maintained to a high standard, this (I think) was largely to cater for the guided walkers.

Oops, thought we might have to get out feet wet there...
We were very excited to see this. So far (being new bushwalking) we really had never got our feet wet!

[Kainas]

Starting to notice how much wilder this track felt compared to the Routeburn (which we had completed only hours before).

We were warned continually (by guide books, and later by an old bushman living in one of the huts) about the dangers of river crossings.

[Kainas]

Lake Alabaster Hut, we did a huge day (23km over 8hrs) to get to here, but we were glad we stopped at this hut instead of the previous hut. Much bigger, and we had it to ourselves.

I had to face up to getting my feet wet and they pretty much stayed wet for 2 days.

[Kainas]

The day just started of beautifully, the track ran very much alongside a lake/river

Very excited to use one of these bridges. There were about 12 of them along the track, including a 90m one (picture down further)

The Track starts to show its true colours today. Basically lots and lots and lots of mud. I honestly think my insistance on not getting my boots dirty added an extra kilometre to the walk. I am positive there would have been 30 to 40 holes just like this one.

[Kainas]

The Track suddenly became hard, way harder then the Routeburne

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The trail started to resemble the demon trail. Walking up very rocky, wet creeks, and then walking down very mossy creeks on the other side. For 5-6hours we looked at our feet, and carefully placed each footstep.

This photo really reflects what the days 'downhill' walking was like.

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[Kainas]

Still trying to figure out how to get over this one without getting my feet wet.

Met this old guy in the hut. He was living there for 3 months (very tidy guy, turns 83 in April). He is searching for a plane that went missing 60 years ago. He found a part of the plane washed up a decade ago while he was searching for Moose with his mates. He told a lot of good stories...he talked non-stop. He also put the fear into us telling us about a good number of his mates who had drowned out in the backcountry.

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[Kainas]

This is the 90m long walk-wire. We took a 45min detour so we could check it out.

Martin's Bay Hut (at the end of the track)

[Kainas]

I like this picture, we had organised a rest day at Martin's Bay. The whole day to go check out the seals.
Of course..that meant it rained so badly we were forced back to the hut.

The seals were not the 'big colony like in the documentries' that I was expecting. Instead they were hiding *everywhere* and scaring me when they barked at me. Consequently, all of the photos are taken by my husband.

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We tried approaching the point from the other direction, to get closer to the seals, but as you can see it was impenetrable.

[james cav]

From what ive seen theres at least a couple photo comp contenders in there. Looks awsome. Cool pictures!

[Kainas]

Last day, just a nice short walk back to the airstrip.

The airport terminal

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[Kainas]

The charter plane coming to pick us up...representing a few days rest before we tackle the Kepler (that one will be coming soon).

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Thanks for you patience with the downloads....

[Kainas]

From what ive seen theres at least a couple photo comp contenders in there. Looks awsome. Cool pictures!

Thanks, give a monkey a camera, and 4/3000 are bound to look half decent
At any rate they are all taken on the wrong continent! Going through these photos makes me want to go out camping again...so hopefully we will have some Aussie ones soon.

NB. Another mad person with who can't sleep?

[james cav]

Oh yeah the rules.hmmm maybe they should be opened up a bit for the australia comp. to include NZ. might level the playing field a little with our tassie nieghbors. Not that the mainland doesnt have plenty to compete but most members of this site probably prefer a certain type of terrain found in abundance in tas. oh yeah and NZ. has this been disscused before or are we treading on the toes of a tramping new zealand site?

[Kainas]

I have no idea. But you seem to be correct about that 'certain type of terrain'. Without wanting to change the topic, is Tasmania really like this?

[Ciaran]

A very nice walk, looks like the weather wasn't too bad there. Was the gentleman staying in the Hokuri Hut? That hut is a popular place for the many hunters who frequent the area seaching for deer. Was lucky enough to share this hut with 2 hunters who gave me some slices of venison on my third day through this walk. I can tell you it was absolute heaven eating that meal that night .

Do they still run the jetboat from Martins Bay to and from the Pike Confluence?

Last time I was there the Martins Bay Guided Huts were slowly being washed into the river with only about a metre of river bank remaining. It was the end of season and work was to start on moving the huts further inland. Even looks like the hut at Lake Alibaster has been refurbished as well.

The 90m swing bridge, is that the one that crosses the Hokuri river? If so, it's a much safer option than crossing where it enters the Hollyford river.

All in all some good shots, and more to come? Have to say the best places I've walked. Can't wait to visit again.

[Kainas]

Yes the old guy was in Hokuri Hut.
Yes, the 90m bridge was the one after that hut.
Yes, the jetboat still runs, but I really think that if you use it to skip the demon trail then you are missing out (different matter on the way back of course).

Agreed, this was my favourite of the three walks.
The kepler track photos are still to come (and the website which will have about 4 times as many photos, plus our journals entries, food diary, pack contents, where to buy the best hamburger in the world...etc). Stayed up all night last night getting the comp (like a mock-up) for the website done ~~sometimes I struggle to sleep~~

[Ciaran]

I used the jet boat to come out from Martins Bay as there was a severe low approaching with predictions of a one metre rise in the Hollyford River. The current was enormous through the confluence of the Pike and the Hollyford rivers, scary stuff!! I then walked from the drop off in terencial rain back to the start of the walk.


Looking forward the the Kepler pics. Done that one a few times in both directions. Best done in the snow.


You'll be back!!

[MJD]

Thanks for posting those. Nice pictures and tale.

[Darren]

Top job.
It’s really nice to see photo journals about people’s trips. We seem to talk so much about gear etc but this is really why we are all here.
I am very envious.
Darren

[Son of a Beach]

I have no idea. But you seem to be correct about that 'certain type of terrain'. Without wanting to change the topic, is Tasmania really like this?

In some ways it does look a lot like Tasmania (temperate rainforest, large trees, moss, ferns, mud, mud, mud - although the mud didn't look too bad in any of those photos). But in other ways very different. The water looks a lot clearer (galcier run-off? no tannin?), and of course the plant species are very different, and the mountains much higher.

I have no problem with NZ photos being entered in the Australian competition, at least until the competition becomes too crowded. It's not Australia, but it's our nearest neighbour (if not geographically, at least culturally), and a lot of Australians have holidays there. I'll have to go in and ammend the rules to for this.

[Darren]

NZ Is a state of Australia. Isnt it???
Darren

[Kainas]

I have no problem with NZ photos being entered in the Australian competition, at least until the competition becomes too crowded. It's not Australia, but it's our nearest neighbour (if not geographically, at least culturally), and a lot of Australians have holidays there. I'll have to go in and ammend the rules to for this.

yay!!

[johnw]

Nice photos Kainas, these and the Routeburn ones. I hope to get over there one day .

[james cav]

I havent looked at this thread for a bit for fear of having suffered foot in mouth with my sugestion of including NZ photos. Im really happy to see it taken on board. Cheers.

[Kainas]

Yeh, steady goes...we have only just made the Tasmanians here realise that there is an even bigger island to the north of them.

[flyfisher]

Ahhhh, we are aware of it, but why would we leave here to come there.
There is enough exploring here to last 2 lifetimes.
FF

[iandsmith]

Very interesting and worthy of a look. Thank you for sharing.
Cheers, Ian