I started north of Lake Ohau, and followed the Hopkins River up past Monument Hut, until Huxley River branched into it. Crossing Huxley River on a swing bridge, I followed it until I reached Huxley Hut. This was my first 2 day tramp, where I slept in one of NZ’s numerous huts.

My host, Andrew, recommended this track to me. It was a mix of walking in the dry parts of the river banks and through the forest on the sides of the valley. Two times I nearly couldn’t find the track and was thinking about returning the way I came. As I might be unable to reach a hut safely until dawn.

At Huxley Hut I met John and David, who have been staying there for three days already, as their plan of going over a mountain pass was nullified by a sudden fall of snow on Monday.

There was the possibility to follow it further up, to Brodrick Hut. But as the weather wasn’t looking that great on the morning of the second day, I decided to get the same way back, together with John and David.