In 3 hours my friend and I managed to complete the 6.5 kilometer track, and even timed things so that we were leaving the mountain just as it decided to rain!
From the main visitor center the track plunges straight into native forest. It was a rough but clearly visible track that steadily climbed, although it was not nearly as steep as I had expected (a welcome surprise). The majority of the climb to the hut was wooded, but the views when suddenly arriving at the hut were fantastic. It was cloudy over most of the mountain so we did not get to see the summit, but there was an impressive gorge visible on one side of the hut.
The hut itself was lovely, with 16 bunk beds, wood heating, space to prep food and a lovely wooded rustic feel. I have not yet stayed in any of the huts around the mountain but have mentally flagged this one as potentially the best option for a first hut-stay.
From the hut, the track continues up a rather serious number of stairs, definitely the steepest part of the hike. As we climbed higher there was a rather odd sensation of being almost entirely removed from the world due to the clouds, which by this point had descended far enough that there was visibility up and down the track but not off to the sides much. It must have been my day to be a hobbit wandering the NZ wilderness haha!
But the track soon merged with the summit climb, onto a 4WD track that was a quick way back down to the visitor center, something to be grateful of when it started raining.
Pictures below :)
Check back soon for a grad school update and have a good week!
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