Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey starts the Rakiura Track from Lee Bay, following the island's northern coast to Maori Beach, then continuing over a hill to the secluded and sheltered Port William.
Today's Journey
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Starting the Raikura Track from Lee bay under misty rain, the track passes under a huge red chain link, the "other end" of the white chain I had seen cruising out of Bluff Harbour yesterday. |
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Bridge over the Little River estuary in a short break from the bush. |
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Walking along the remote Maori Beach where a sawmill was once based, but is now part of the national park allowing the surrounding bush to regenerate. |
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Heading over the forested hill between Maori Beach and Port William. |
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Descending through spectacular moss covered rimu forest towards Port William. |
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The beach in front of the Port William camping ground looking back towards Maori Beach. The rain has stopped falling and the sky is starting to clear. |
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Inside the Port William Hut, where I'll be staying tonight. This is the first outpost of civilisation I have seen since leaving Lee Bay. |
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The sky clears over Port William giving a nice view of the new jetty and of the spectacular gum trees planted when a small settlement was established here, but didn't last long. |
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View from the end of the beach across the calm harbour to Maori Beach. This had a great potential as a sheltered port, but the subantarctic humid climate makes living here too difficult. |
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The cirrus clouds glow orange in the late sunset. The Maori name for Stewart Island (Rakiura) means glowing skies. Tonight it was certainly living up to it despite the lack of any aurora. |
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