North West Circuit, Stewart Island. 2012.

Updated 23 February 2017. Note: Play slideshow on fullscreen to see photo captions.

We completed this trip in 2012, leaving Oban on March 2nd for Freshwater (water taxi). 

3 March. The next morning was drizzly and had a leisurely walk (with our 20 & 25kg packs!) to Mason Bay 4hrs including visits to Homestead and Homestead Hunter's huts). Saw two kiwi en-route. Did a side trip in the afternoon to Martins Creek hunters hut, one whale skeleton in the creek.

4 March. Mason Bay-Big Hellfire. A dull cloudy day but dry. 2hrs10' to Waituna Bay, then the climb onto the Ruggedy Range (250m, 1.5hrs), the the long descent to East Ruggedy, many small streams and gullies, moderately unpleasant. Track had been re-routed since our 1999 map. West Ruggedy beach very pretty but lots of sandflies! A slow plod to the hut up a long sand gully, very pretty (orchids, one deer). 8.5hrs for the day including stops. Hut to ourselves, one Stella Artois found and demolished!

5 March. East Ruggedy-Long Harry. Nice walk to East Ruggedy beach (20'), then over a spur and down to the rocky coast for morning tea (2hrs10'), followed the bouldery coastline before crossing another spur. Old-growth rimu and manuka scrup attractive, more kiwi. Beginning to drizzle as we reached the hut (6hrs). Two other groups in the hut.

6 March. Long Harry-Yankee River. A shorter day, 4hrs45'. A couple of steepish climbs but nice beach walking too on Smoky Beach. More deer, a bit muddy near Yankee River, hordes of sandflies. Hut to ourselves, sandflies made wood-chopping a mission!

7 March. Yankee hut-Christmas Village. 2hrs20' to Lucky Beach (no sandflies here), saw 14 people today (7 parties). Great rimu forest after Lucky Beach, first hour after the beach quite good but track progressively worse later, tree roots especially. 7hrs to Christmas Village including stops, 3 Germans in residence, Whitetail deer outside hut as we arrived.

8 March. Mount Anglem, A perfect day, 3 hours to the top, great views, 2.5 hours down. Lovely sub-alpine veg: large-leaved dracophyllum, leatherwood, cushion plants.

9 March. Christmas Village-Bungaree (6hrs). Visited hunters hut en-route, track pretty good, hunting party just setting up as we arrived at the hut. Well hosted by these guys, copious alcohol, paua, blue cod, they apologised for the lack of venison! Great evening for our last night!

10 March. Bungaree-Port William (3.25hrs). A quick trip to Port William to meet our water taxi, then into Oban  for Lindauer and fish and chips. Great trip, worst mud by far just before Port William hut (deliberate on DOC's part??). Lucky with the weather, 44hrs walking plus 12hrs extra (Anglem etc.) Total altitude gain 4400m, 92kms.