Day 27: Camp Bay to Pelorus

Start: Camp Bay (1,724km)

Finish: Pelorus (1,801km)

Distance for the day: 77km

Cumulative distance: 1,801km

South Island distance note: the total mapped distance for the North Island is 1,623km, however with the diversions it was significantly more. The South Island starts at 1,700km, but even with the Cook Strait distance there is still a gap. However as mentioned before, I am certainly well in credit with mileage, as my Garmin distance gauge confirms!

I was definitely excited about today’s run; my first full day on the South Island, and a spring in my step from the euphoria of the Cook Straight crossing yesterday. I also had the best part of the Queen Charlotte track to tackle, and I knew the running would be good from yesterday’s ‘taster’ (24km). It was some of the best running of the whole trip so far, helped somewhat by the cloudless skies which amplified the incredible views. The trail generally follows a forested ridge, in some parts on the thinnest slither of land with water either side. Being well graded, and dusty/ rocky underfoot, it was fast and attackable, something I was certainly in the mood for.

This afternoon wasn’t quite so grand. It got a little bit too hot, and the highlight was an ice cream in Havelock. It was a lot of road with short trail sections between, but at least it was still pretty quick, allowing me to nail 77km and reach the edge of my next big challenge, the Richmond Range. Ahead of me I now have a 100km section of inaccessible trail, but served by a series of DoC huts which my traverse will be based around. I will set off feeling fresh in the morning, and hopefully crack it in 2 days.

It will therefore be quiet here for a day or two….

Early morning on the Queen Charlotte Track

A typical view, this one towards Picton at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, with the Inter Islander heading into port.

At the end of the Queen Charlotte Track (71km total)