Pt7 Day 24. Roses Hut to Arrowtown - 28/12/17.

Got up at 0600 with a bunch of others, including Bruce and Chris, and got away about 0715. Today turned out to be almost 25km in 7h45 walking time.  The GPS track is here.

Bruce and Chris headed off northbound to Highland Creek and beyond.  We really enjoyed meeting them, and hope to catch up with them again sometime in the future. Our sobo journey took us pretty much straight into a 540m ascent to Roses Saddle - initially a bit of a zigzag partly on an old farm track, then into some direct ridgeline climbing. Even with our usual regular micro breaks we were at the saddle after 1h15 - pretty much all downhill (I'm generalising!) from here.  It was a fine sunny day, although cool to start, and we stopped after 15 minutes to strip off as we struck the sun! Across the top the wind was quite cool so we just kept pushing on to warm up.  After 2 hours we stopped for our regular snack break in a nice little sheltered basin.

With Bruce and Chris, about to depart.

Off northbound!

The way we came yesterday. Bruce and Chris by the river about to start up the ridge.

Heading up our ridge with the hut and Motatapu valley behind us.

Already over Roses Saddle and heading down.

Absolutely looking the part :-)

Not unlike bits of yesterday and the day before!

From here we carried on down, eventually dropping down a steep little face into the Arrow River valley.  As we were walking down this face, another Karearea rose up out of the scrub in front of us and flew over to the next ridge.  At the bottom we could see an excavator and an old hut (Bruce had mentioned this last night).  It was here that we made a bit of an error.  We hadn’t read the notes before starting out (rookie mistake) - they said that if the river is OK then it was better to just follow the river bed.  Belinda was keen (even without having read the notes!) but I thought my sore foot (the deep blood blister underneath the ball of my foot) wouldn’t handle the constant walking over stones in the riverbed.  

​Anyway, we decided to take the high water track on the true left of the river.  Not a good idea!  It was the shittiest (really the best word to describe it) bit of track that we had experienced to date (perhaps a much less challenging version of the Flood Track up the Otira that we avoided).  It went up and down, often bashing through scrub and bush, with sometimes limited ground trail to try and follow.  Eventually it broke out into easier tussock, but we were not happy by the time we reached the river crossing at Macetown!!  It also dawned on us that this was the section that Bruce mentioned last night where it was better to use the river - we simply hadn’t connected the dots. We would advise anyone coming through (nobo or sobo) to definitely take the river option between here and Macetown if water levels allow.

​We eventually reached the crossing over the river by the campsite at Macetown and joined the 4wd track on the other side.

About to drop down steeply to the Arrow River. Excavator below (walked up the riverbed!).

One of the better bits of the horrid high water track.

Didn't take many photos of this bit!! Spent a lot of time going up and down over those little ridges through scrub.

Then at least the high water track broke out into some more manageable tussock - with a track partly alongside an old water race.

A family outing below us along the way.

Where we cross the river. People ensconced in the Macetown camping area across the river.

We had a little look at the historic remains as we walked through Macetown.  This can be reasonably busy as it is accessible by 4wd, so we had to watch out for vehicles for much of the rest of the day.  So we then effectively followed the Arrow River into Arrowtown - we had decided that we would take the alternative river route rather than going over Big Hill, as the bodies needed a bit of a rest from climbing!!  We were in and out of the river as the 4wd track often crossed the river and sometimes went down it for short periods - so the feet were cool!!  We did take a couple of detours off the road when offered - these often took us over or around river crossings (for walkers and cyclists).

One of the few restored buildings at Macetown.

Evidence of mining activity abounds.

Another of many river crossings today.

Quite clear water!

Track cut into rocky face on the other side of the river.

The Big Hill turnoff. As noted, we elected for the Arrow River alternative :-)

Found a little spot amongst the trees and lupins for a shady lunch.

Going that way. The Arrow turns right at the base of the big hill in the background.

Obviously mining activity is ongoing!

Saw this bridge and thought we would cross it. Took us on a little detour avoiding a couple of river crossings - nice for a change.

And at the end of this detour, another bridge to take us over a stream joining the Arrow.

Not just private vehicles heading up here. "Safari of the Rings"! *GLOIN*

Not a lot of passing opportunities for vehicles on the narrow road.

We passed an old water storage/collection system that we thought might be defunct but we followed a large pipeline down the road and river, hearing water in it at times, before eventually finding a sign near the end of the track saying it was an irrigation scheme - so definitely still in use!  We got back onto a local walkway (off the road) for the last bit into Arrowtown and found our way to the campground, which was a little off trail.  We had only been able to book a tentsite a couple of days ago but, as we arrived, David met us as he was heading uptown.  He had hoped to see us as he had a four bunk room all to himself and wanted to ask if we wanted to share it.  So we jumped at the chance (thanks again, David :-))!!  We sorted out the bookings at the office and then the three of us went uptown for a lovely meal (and a couple of beers in my case!).

We had spoken with our friends at Gibbston, Jane and Chris, who we were staying with after Queenstown (for a rest day!) and they suggested leaving much of our gear at the campground to be picked up by them or one of their friends.  So we thought that was a great idea to have a “slack pack” day to Queenstown tomorrow!!  As he is in no hurry, David is planning to walk with us tomorrow as well.

The concrete structure below was some sort of water collection system. Water was flowing out it back into the river but also into a pipeline.

The old stacked rock wall to support the road! That's where I took the previous photo from.

Looking down the river gorge - you can just see the pipeline in bottom right of shot.

Could hear the water flowing in the pipe - looks pretty old and has a number of repairs that we could see!

Still following the 4wd track :-)

Sometimes a bit hard to figure out where the road goes until you get there. Having a vehicle in the river helps!!

And a friendly wave from the tour operator. "Safari of the Rings" *B1LB0S*

Eventually reached town - chance for a nice cold drink at last.

Relaxing in our bunkroom for the evening - thanks again David :-)