January 7, 2026
Middy Ck Hut to Hackett Hut
TA km marker 1878.8 to 1897.7
Hiked today: 18.9 km

Again, as planned, we were up early and packed up quickly as we had spent the night in Middy Creek Hut. In future we will opt for tenting over the hut if weather permits. I prefer the privacy of our own tent and found the hut hot and stuffy. Neither of us slept well.

Today’s track started with a steep 650m ascent through forest. The path is a maze of tree roots. Although these are a trip hazard, they also make a stairway which holds the soil and assists our progress. We stopped at Rocks Hut for a snack and to use the fancy facilities (flushing loo) and then moved on. Apart from the steepness, we are tackling some patches of mud and are happy that for us the weather is fine and most of the mud puddles are tacky at the edges so our shoes are not doing too badly.

The morning ascent brought us above the treeline and we were rewarded with beautiful views to mountain ranges and, beyond, to the ocean.

Then we were back down to forest  and up and down passing another hut before we finally finished at Hacketts hut, tired and ready to rest. The sun is still hot at 6.30 pm. We would have had enough sunlight to hike further but the next section is 4 hours of steep long ascent and we definitely want to hike it in the cool of the morning.

Nathan, a hiker from the UK kindly offered to take our rubbish out with him as he was meeting an auntie bringing in his food resupply. We have spent a couple of hours chatting to John and Marie, a NZ couple who are similar age to us, who are hiking the complete trail.

The birdlife here is beautiful. As I write this I have been watching a local pigeon in a nearby tree. It has a beautiful plumage – local name is kereru. We have noticed beautiful birdsong in the forest and are not sure which birds we have been hearing. I will try and identify them with the Merlin app when I get an opportunity.