Wanaka to Queenstown

dBiggest dBurger dBrad's ever seen, let alone eatent!

Te Araroa section between Wanaka and Queenstown is an interesting mix of trail.  But before leaving Wanaka, one wants to have a burger at Red Star Hamburgers.  An amazing restaurant right across from AliBabba where one can get a great hair cut and shave.

dbBrad after hair cut and giant red star hamburger headed south from Wanaka

There is a new track which skirts a large farm in a river valley where hikers used to tramp.  Part of the agreement for the TE Araroa trail to go through the area (across private land) was for the trail to be moved away from the farm.  Several new huts built by these land owners complete the deal between Doc, Te Araroa Trust and private land owners.

Hut built in 2009 for DoC as part of an agreement for the Te Araroa trail,
 but paid for by landowner and Te Araroa trust (verify).

The trail then approaches Macetown, a mining town which sprang out of no where in the 1880's and was all but a ghost town by the 1920's.

The ultimate boot sole for New Zealand's Te Araroa trail.

Only a couple restored buildings and ancient fruit tries remind one of the vibrant mining town, with several hundred inhabitants, almost a century ago.

dbBrad white water tramping on the way to Macetown

The best approach to Macetown is in the river bed, weather and water levels permitting.

Summer is over and fall approaches as I get near to completing the Te Araroa Trail.

It's a beautiful river with evidence of high tech, micro mining happening here and there.  Four wheelers and motorcycles on the old mining roads let you know Queenstown, the tourist capital of the world, is near.

Restored building in Macetown (was the general store)

Macetown to Arrowtown follows an old road servicing miners of the past.  One follows this road just long enough to get the feel for it and then heads up over a big hill on a lovely track that drops you into Arrotown.  From here, it's a funky little walk into Queenstown.

Approaching Arrowtwown along the Te Araroa Trail.