Link to photo album.
We drove over Haast Pass from the West Coast to Makarora to start our second tramp of the trip.The route would take us up the Young River,then over Gillespie Pass (1600 m ) to the Siberia Valley ,with a side trip to Crucible Lake ,and on down the Wilkin River back to Makarora.We packed our tents as the huts would be very busy on this Waitangi weekend.These days you can keep dry feet on a shortened version of the route by using the Blue-Young link track and swingbridge at the north end and then flying out from the Siberia Valley or take a jet boat from Kerin Forks on the Wilkin. All a bit too much of a NZ "Experience" and we kept it pure and did the whole circuit with it's river crossings.
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| Crossing the Makarora River at Young valley entrance - this one a mere paddle |
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| Easy track in the lower Young |
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| A busy Young Hut with tents next to the helipad |
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| Andrew at the Gillespie Pass |
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| Mount Awful |
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| Our campsite in the upper Siberia valley |
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| Hanging valley below Crucible Lake moraine |
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| Crucible Lake |
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| Icebergs near moraine wall |
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| Looking down into Siberia valley |
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| Upper Siberia valley |
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| Siberia Hut afternoon brew stop |
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| Wading the Wilkin below Kerin Forks Hut |
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| Now much greater emphasis on bird conservation than in years past |
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| Recrossing the Makarora below Wilkin confluence - the deepest wade is left 'til last! |
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| Makarora River |
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| Alternative forms of transport for the "real experience" |
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The original plan had then been to move on through Fiordland via Te Anau but we guessed it would be heaving with tourists and so instead went to Southland through Central Otago. Lots to see on the way, old gold mines,settler villages and rural life as well as the impressive hydro works along the Clutha River.
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| Old goldmining machinery at Bendigo |
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| Welshtown ,Bendigo |
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| Historic shops at Cromwell |
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| Cobb and Co wagons at Cromwell |
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| Glencoe memorial , Southland |
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