Introduction to today's journey
Today's hiking starts from Port William Hut, heading back along the track to the junction at the top of the hill before Maori Beach. From the junction I turn southward crossing the low hills of this end of Stewart Island until eventually reaching the peaceful North Arm of Paterson Inlet and staying in North Arm Hut before exploring the beach.
Today's Journey
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A spectacular golden sunrise greets me at Port William. The rain of yesterday is already forgotten with today forecast to be perfectly clear. |
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Leaving the hut in the early morning, I hike past the camping ground to return to the top of the last hill I climbed yesterday to head across this end of the island to Paterson Inlet. |
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A brief descent in the otherwise uphill through the dense forest to the junction. |
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Once at the top of the hill, the track passes some rusting remains of the logging industry and descends the route where logs were hauled into the valley to be taken downstream to the Maori Beach sawmill. |
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Once descended, the track passes through surreal rainforest upstream along the valley behind Maori Beach. |
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Crossing the main stream flowing towards Maori Beach about two kilometres downstream. From here the track rises two hundred metres to cross the top of the hills. |
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The hills are fairly flat at their tops creating a boggy track for a couple of hours as I cross southwards towards Paterson Inlet. |
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Eventually the track descends through the thick forest, sometimes gently, and in parts moderately descending a spur. |
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The beach in front of the North Arm Hut. The crystal clear water here fills a valley which flooded after the last ice age. This is North Arm of the much larger Paterson Inlet. |
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Watching the sunset as the tide rises and cloud covers the sky on this unusually still evening. |
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