Saturday 27th February: Overcast, cloudy with sunny patches and 15°C to 20°to 15°C
Moturau Hut to Iris Burn Hut: 16.2k slightly uphill: 6hrs
Accommodation: Iris Burn Hut
Rainbow to Rainbow Reach
Well graded track
Fast flowing Iris Burn
The tiny 7cm Rifle Bird
Tomorrow's walk is up there - really!!
Crossing the burn
Lunch perched on a hunk of moss
Misty walk across the Big Slip
Donna and Jan beside teh Iris Burn Waterfall
It's overcast but the walk along the slightly uphill track beside the Iris Burn is one of the prettiest walks we've done - even better than the Milford track, which we believe is over rated. (the best part of the Milford Track is the last day arriving at Milford Sound, not the track itself). Highlight was reaching the Rocky point Shelter in 2hrs 30 mins, well ahead of the designated 3hr signposted time.
By morning, the rain has almost cleared, but the lingering drizzle produces a beautiful rainbow, landing about Rainbow Reach where we were yesterday - named for obvious reasons. We're all up at 7am and soon eating porridge for breakfast. At 9.15am we're out the door and hiking the well graded track beside the Iris Burn up the valley. In 2hrs30mins, we arrive at the Rocky Point Shelter to have a morning tea break of muesli bars etc.
Moving on, we meet trekkers coming towards us. They had been hiking the high part of the Kepler Track through the storms the day before and told us horror stories of gale force winds and lightning strikes landing just metres away. We're hoping for better weather tomorrow! In one and a half hours, Graham spies a small area with several clumps of moss - perfect for lunch. We have rice crackers, butter, cheese and peanut paste, Donna and Milton have egg and tomatoes and Graham and Jenny have corn cooked the night before.
We continue up through the most amazing forest, still beside the Iris Burn. Then towards the end of the Iris Burn valley, we cross a spartan area known as the Big Slip where an avalanche in January 1984, caused by heavy rains, wiped out much of the vegetation.
The track then turns down at the last bit into a valley with the Iris Burn Hut in a field of tussock grass. We arrive at 3.15pm, and it only took us 6hrs. We get to choose good bunks before making a cup of tea.
Donna myself and Ian decide to trek further up the Iris Burn up to the Iris Burn Waterfall, hoping to see the famous Blue Duck, renowned for living in fast torrents. But after a muddy hike of about 30 minutes each way to the thunderous waterfall, there's no blue duck. We were convinced we did here one that was probably upset about our arrival and hooting to the others to POQ.
At 6pm. time for dinner - Back Country mince with veggies for us and also Graham and Jenny, and Donna and Milton have lentils and spices that Donna prepares with tender loving care being the best cook amongst us. All with the obligatory glass or two of wine. Beattie, a petit young Swiss lady is the ranger and she spares us the Phil lecture and gives us a short chat on hut safety and the weather tomorrow. GET GOING EARLY before the gales and heavy rain set in!
So we have an early night in readiness for an early start across the top of the Keplers to Luxmore Hut
Blue Ducks not this way either
Ian adjusting his camera
Ian and Jan beside the
CIan and Jan beside the waterfall