New Zealand Walk: Sunrise Hut for Lunch
As I write this the sun is streaming in my study window from a near-cloudless sky. But this is Thursday and yesterday was Wednesday what a difference a day can make!
So despite my best intentions we approached the Sunrise car park (along a rather unmaintained ‘road’) to emerge into low cloud, mist and the occasional drop of moisture. To add to the general mood, we were informed that the forecast for the hut was 4C!
So it was on with rain coats and pack covers, and 25 of us commenced the walk just after 10am.
The beauty of the bush soon made up for the weather conditions, as we admired the fresh new growth and some stunning large clematis flowers. Also appreciated was the almost complete absence of the soft and wet brown mushy stuff (aka mud) which seems to have followed us around all year.
Most of the party reached the hut, including two who hadn’t been there before which is always nice to see. Some were heard to comment that the track has got longer and steeper since last time, lending credence to my belief that the hills are still geologically active!
We enjoyed the cosy comfort of the hut, which thankfully was not as cold as we had been warned.
The descent was also achieved without incidence, some making it a race to the bottom, while others took their time to observe nature’s show.
Coffee etc at BP Dannevirke completed an enjoyable day out. Apparently we walked 11.8 kms, and reached an elevation of 1310 m. Interestingly, even though we started and finished at the same point, we climbed 814m and descended 809.