January 28, 2026
Lilybank Rd/ Boundary Ck to Tekapo to Twizel
TA km marker 2428.6 to 2498.3
Hiked today: 9.7 km

We started the road walk back from our campsite toward Tekapo, hoping that we could get a hitch for at least some of the distance. There was very little traffic going our way at 7ish but after about 10 km a man pulled over and was happy to take us and chat along the way. We arrived around 10 am and met up with 3 southbound hikers who had camped the night near us. We swapped hiking stories while having a second breakfast with Harry, Kim and Lachlan before leaving them to make plans for our next step.

From Tekapo, there is a 54km stretch of path mainly beside a canal to the next town of Twizel near Lake Pukaki. Unfortunately it seemed that there was no available campsites by the road, and the possibility of fines for camping unless in a self-contained vehicle. A lot of hikers choose to hire bikes and ride but Ros was reluctant especially with her sore wrist. Our alternative plan was to hitch a ride there. It turned out to be very easy. Pauline, a lady originally from Poland, but living in NZ for 30 (or was it 13) years was keen to have company to chat with as she drove to work. In fact, just after dropping us off, she stopped 30m along the road to give another hiker a lift!

So we arrived in Twizel by lunchtime, booked ourselves into a private room in the Backpackers hostel, and set about seeing to our town chores – laundry, showers, contacting family, resupply and cleaning and sorting gear ready to start the next step tomorrow. Ros has a sore Achilles tendon so has made heel raises for both shoes cut from a wettex. Hopefully that will fix it, otherwise plan B is to tape the heel (in case friction in the shoe is the problem). Ibuprofen should help too. Plan C is new shoes but we won’t get those until maybe Wanaka.