Day 108 | Furneaux Lodge
29 January 2023 | 20°C
Does it make sense to climb up to a trail that is covered in clouds and probably muddy after last nights rain? Probably not, so we continue our journey along the road to have at least a view on the bay from there.
Despite the clouds and a slight drizzle in the beginning, it’s a nice walk that has something mystical. Also the wekas - some kind of chickenlike brown bird - seem to like it. A little weka family walks along the road … looks like it’s easier for weka mum to dig worms out of the ground after the rain.
There’s very few cars on this road where several land slides have washed away one of the lanes, not enough traffic to fix it apparently. Do some of the people here reach their homes by boat?
We join the trail again at Punga Cove, a lovely resort with several small caging overlooking one of the many bays of the Queen Charlotte Sound. Once we sit on the terrace of the restaurant for a drink, the sun comes out! Very tempting to stay here but we already booked a room in the morning at Furneaux Lodge, so let’s head over to Endeavor Inlet, the next bay.. It’s an easy, enjoyable walk along the coast just a bit slippery here and there. The trail is so wide and well maintained - like most of the popular Queen Charlotte Track - that two people could walk besides each other.
The dinner at the lodge is yum though a bit expensive but it’s our last evening on the South Island, so it’s time for a little celebration. Unfortunately, our plan to have a glass of wine in the hut tub doesn’t work out: the water there is disappointingly cold. Bummer! No luck with hut tabs these days … the one at St Arnaud was closed for maintenance, the one at Portage belonged to the manager 🥲😅
So we head over to the jetty instead where a little surprise awaits: some of the waves a shimmering just like they are illuminated by some kind of neon lights (an effect created by plankton in the water).
