VAN VOORHIS FAMILY BLOG

Well, we’re still on our post hike euphoria from the Milford Track, and we’ve gone ahead and booked 2 more multi-day hikes. We leave next Sunday (Feb 8th) to go to Christchurch/Akaroa to do the Banks Peninsula Hike (@ 22 miles) and then do swimming with dolphins on the day after. Just to make it interesting, we’ve signed up to do the 4 day hike in 2 days – since the 4 day seems to easy. It should be a beautiful hike and we will hopefully see amazing views and wildlife on this walk. Of course, we will be praying for good weather, as I’m sure it’s no fun to hike hours and hours in the driving rain. This hike will be “unguided” – but we can get food on the way and the accommodations are not rustic huts.

We also went in today and signed up for the 6 day “Grand Traverse” which combines the Routeburn Track as well as the Greenstone Track which goes out of Glenorchy (45 minutes from Queenstown) – just 46.6 miles with 5 days of actual hiking – a cake walk!! I’m thinking that our experience on the Milford Track was exceptional – with fellow hikers, guides as well as weather, and am hoping for somewhat the same in the upcoming tracks. We also figured that after the Tongariro Crossing – any ascent or descent seems easy (in comparison). We might be deluded – but I am really happy that we did that first and got it under our belts.

At the moment, we are all in a slight “Fergburger” coma (a great burger joint here in Q-town) and most likely will call it an early night tonight. I’ve played 4 tennis matches in the last 2 days (2 mixed, one women’s doubles and one singles) and I’m happy to say I went 3 for 4 – so not too shabby. Hopefully that will make my back home tennis partner Betsy happy to know that I’m not in total withdrawal from the sport.

I’m continuing to try to crack the whip with the kids for home schooling. We’ve got church again tomorrow – and hopefully will be making a trip to Wanaka, maybe Glenorchy and do bungy and jet boating sometime in the next few weeks. Never dull with the VV family.

Thanks for continuing to travel with us! J

Milford Track
Distance: 33.5 miles
Day 1, First ,we woke up in Queenstown and drove to Te Anau. Then we had a small lunch and drove 20 min to Te Anau Downs. After we took an hour boat cruise to the start of the track. Once there we had a 30 min hike to Glade House. When we got there we met our guides, Marcus, Blake, James, and Emily. Next we took a shower and went to the lounge for drinks. Then we had comedy hour. Every country had to sing a song for there country. USA sang, take me out to the ballgame, Australia sang Waltzing Matilda, I have no idea what Japan sang, New Zealand sang Bah Bah Black Sheep, and Germany sang a lullaby. After we had dinner and the generator went off at 10 pm. Then we went to bed.

Day 2, We woke up from our bunkhouse at 6:45 and went to the dining room to pack our lunches. I made a ham sandwich and a peanut butter sandwich. Then at 7:00 we were off to Pompalona bunkhouse. It was a 10 mile hike through dense forests and dense rain. I was greatful for the rain because you get lots of waterfalls in the mountains that you normaly wouldn’t see if it wasn’t raining. When we arrived at the lunch hut, it had a view of Hirire Falls. Hirire is Maori for waterfall so it is waterfall falls. When we got to Pompalona we first took a shower then went to the lounge and had appetizers. Later Marcus gave us a breifing of the next day. Then we had dinner and went to bed at 10 pm.

Day 3, Today was the hardest day, the Mikinnon Pass. We got up and had a good breakfast and were off for the hardest day of the track. When we got to the bottom of the pass (which took a couple hours) it was a lot of zig zags up, but once you get to the top you have a great sence of accomplishment. Plus there is a monument which helps the feeling. Next you walk 20 min to pass hut where you have lunch. After lunch you go all the way down the other side of the pass. The views were fantastic on the way down. But it is very steep on going down. So steep I thought it was harder than going up! The last miles are the toughest. Once you get to Quintin lodge you can take a side hike to southerland falls. It is the 5th highest waterfall in the world. Me, dad, and Anna actuly went behind it. It was awesome. Then we went back to the lodge and had dinner. Later we had the breifing for the last day and went to bed.

Day 4, Today was the final day of hiking on the Milford Track. It is the longest day of hiking at 13 miles, but not the hardest. Today we walked to Sandfly Point and had great views all along the way. At Giants Gate Falls we had lunch. I was about to go into the stream when an eel came right up into the shallow waters. My dad and Anna touched its tail. I was about to but dad scared it away. Oh well. The last three miles of the hike were fun because you knew that you were getting closer and closer. When we finally got Sandfly Point it felt great! About an hour after we arrived a boat took us to Mitere Peak
Lodge across Milford Sound. I took a shower, had 3 cokes, ate dinner and went to bed.

Day,5 Today we woke up at Mitere Peak Lodge and had breakfast. Then we took a boat cruise out onto the sound. The views and waterfalls were awesome. After the cruise we drove to Te Anau via coach. We stayed overnight there and the next day we drove home to Queenstown.