By Aria Willson, age 10
In mid-February, I spent six days tramping the Greenstone-Caples Track with my mum. The loop walk was 63 kilometres. We stayed in five different huts – three DOC huts and two Deerstalkers’ huts (which used to be DOC huts). Before we started, I was most excited about seeing the different huts along the way, but I was also kind of nervous that I might not make it back alive (just joking!).
Outside NZDA Upper Caples Hut. Photo: Erin Willson
The first thing I noticed when we started walking was all the sheep. They were everywhere! For our route, we walked up the Caples Valley, across the summit, and down the Greenstone Valley. A normal day on the track meant waking up at dawn to have hot oats, saying goodbye to the friends we made overnight, and then walking most of the day in the heat. We took lots of breaks, went swimming whenever we could, and ate plenty of Eskimo lollies to keep going.
Not so ‘secret’ swimming hole a 10 min walk from Greenstone Hut. Photo: Erin Willson
Wildlife and Unexpected Guests
My favourite part of the tramp was when a cheeky robin tried to fly off with my dry bag – no joke! It was way too big for it, but that didn’t stop it from trying. The robins were actually an unexpected highlight of the whole trip. They were so bold and curious, hopping around us and getting into our stuff whenever they had the chance.
We saw so much wildlife! There were big groups of riflemen flying around, looking way too fat to be able to fly properly – adorable! Juvenile fantails flitted around us as we walked, and many nights, possums threw parties on the roofs of the huts, making a huge racket. Along the rivers and wetlands, we saw heaps of Canadian geese. And then there were the cows – lots of cows and calves, sometimes right on the track.
View from NZDA Mid-Greenstone Hut. Photo: Erin Willson
We also met lots of people who had seen takahē, which was really exciting since they’re so rare. We didn’t see any this time, but maybe next time! Another strange sight was a sheep stranded on a little island in the middle of the river. We had no idea how it got there, and it didn’t look like it was planning to leave anytime soon.
The Worst Parts: Sun and Sandflies!
The hardest part of the tramp was walking through the Greenstone Valley in the full heat of the sun. It felt like it went on forever, and there was no shade.
The sunshine upon hitting McKellar Saddle. Photo: Erin Willson
But the worst part? Sandflies! We live in the North Island, and I had never seen sandflies like that before. They were everywhere. If I went outside to go to the toilet, they’d get caught in my hair, and when I came back inside the hut, they’d still be in my hair. I got covered in bites, and they were so itchy.
Time for a cuppa in the NZDA Mid-Greenstone Hut. Photo: Erin Willson
Meeting People From Around the World
Another highlight, along with the wildlife, was all the people we met. There were trampers from all over the world, and it was cool hearing about where they’d been and where they were going next. One night we also shared a completely full hut with DOC rangers doing track work and I think I might be a DOC ranger one day.
On our last night at the Greenstone hut, we missed meeting a famous person! Belgian ultra-runner Karl Sabbe, who was trying to become the fastest person to complete the Te Araroa trail, arrived after we were already asleep. He left at 4 a.m., long before we woke up, so we never got to see him. He did go on to break the record, though!
The stunning boardwalk across McKellar Saddle. Photo: Erin Willson
After finishing the tramp, I got to share my adventure with my school and my Cub Scouts group. It was cool telling everyone about what it was like to spend six days in the backcountry.
We made it! 6 days in the bush, the longest both of us have ever done. Photo: Erin Willson
One thing I learned on this tramp? I can walk far. My advice for any other kids thinking about doing a big tramp: “Don’t let a bird steal your bag!”
And yes, I’d definitely do another one. I’m going to tramp the Abel Tasman with my parents and little brother and sister over the April school holidays!
All smiles on the last day in the bush. Photo: Erin Willson
Thank You!
A huge thank you to FMC for awarding me the Youth Scholarship! I wouldn’t have been able to do this awesome trip without financial assistance. Also thanks to my mum for coming with me (since I’m literally not allowed to do it on my own yet).
We’re delighted to share another trip report from recent recipients of the FMC Expedition Scholarship. Applications close annually in mid-September. For more details on how to apply, please visit the FMC website at www.fmc.org.nz/
