After breakfast we set off to climb to the summit. A small mountain behind the town of Akaroa. The weather was cloudy but very mild.
What a climb. It started off on a road out of town, but within minutes it became almost vertical. We were soon out in rolling hills and the steep climb continued. After a couple of hours of vertical, we came to a crest and decided to walk down the other side before coming back to do the summit.
The bay side went through forest but it went down again. After a wee spot of lunch, we walked back up to the crest and then tackled the hike up to the summit. The track was through thick brush and broom. At times we were on all fours, clambering over rocks. Our legs were being scratched by the bushes. When we reached the top the wind was howling. We had to sit down in the gusts which blew you over. We were surrounded by bright yellow broom which smells of peaches.
It took us as long to get down as it did to get up. Once off the summit route we headed back to town. The steep tracks made our knees ache. WE met a couple of horses on the way down. The horses here are huge and sleek in NZ.
Akaroa is a very quaint place with good quality houses with the most amazing gardens. Lots and lots of roses and some of the biggest honeysuckle you have ever seen. Beautiful place with very friendly people.
We made it back to the Motel, showered, put a wash on and John had a snooze. We popped to the local internet café to upload the blog and to book our Helicopter Glacier flight and hike fort this Thursday, on the Fox Glacier. The weather is supposed to be good on Thursday.
Todays hike was probably the steepest hike we had done so far in NZ.
We relaxed in the evening. We wanted to use up some of our food, so Fiona mad a rice, pea, Sweet Corn and Chicken thing. Very nice!!
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