NZ Hike Day 10: Climbing in Mt. Aspiring National Park

The last day was a busy one. We started the day off at 6am, under the assault of the sandflies, which I imagine have tiny alarm clocks, as they sleep next to our tents. They check ours, set theirs 5 minutes prior and are ready to "be", the moment we step out of our shelters.

But the day was simply too enjoyable to care too much about those bloodsucking illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents. We drove for 30 minutes until we got to Brewster Path, which lies along Brewster Stream (sadly it was the last time my boots were to get wet in New Zealand!) and we started to ascend (surprise, surprise) Brewster's Peak. OK - I made that last part up - I'm not sure if the peak we climbed actually had a name but it was around 1,200 metres up and a solid 2 hours of fairly steep ascent, using tree roots as a natural stairway. It had rained fairly recently which ensured a lot of slip and slide and not of the fun variety. We broke the tree line at 1:45 mark and hurriedly clambered up for another 10 minutes until we got to the peak.

I think I could've spent the entire day on Brewster's Peak. It's so peaceful - not to sound too Bill Murrayish (check Groundhog Day) - but "I wish we could all live in the mountains at high altitude. That's where I see myself in five years.... "

The man who went up a hill and came down a mountain....

The gang...