We started at the skating pond, just beyond the village. The pond had patches of ice in the shady areas but was definitely not skateable on Sunday.
We walked along the shared use MTB trails, up Duck Down to begin with. Halfway up the 2.5 km track we came to a viewpoint of the lake which looked stunning on this pristine cloudless day.
Maaike and Jo at the viewpoint halfway up duckdown
Next was Big Bush track which follows the ridgeline amongst mature beech forest. At the junction with Kaka track, we enjoyed sitting on the rustic seats next to the Bird Call box for morning tea, or was that 1st lunch?
Maaike and Emma at the Big BushKaka track junction
We continued along Big Bush until we came to the downhill Flying Moa track which took us back onto the open flats. Across the road from here we met up with the Rattler Rim track which follows the escarpment above the Buller River flats. It twists and turns through open clearings and manuka scrub. We had 2nd lunch in one of the clearings along this track.
On the Flat
We then rejoined the Skating Pond loop back to the car.
We were a small group of three, Jo K, Emma and Maaike.
Distance was 12.7 km at a leisurely pace that took us 3 hours, 50 minutes. Elevation 370 m.