Kelly Tops, Arthurs Pass National Park

What a fabulous landscape! A surprise to me too, while west of the Main Divide (almost up above Otira) we found quartz and schist like rock on the tops. It's not a place I'd want to be traveling across in poor weather - very exposed and it would be a challenge if you couldn't see.

More glorious large

The climb up through ancient Rata, Beech and Mountain Totara forest was beautiful. Sadly NZ native bird song is the sparse these days. Introduced predators have seen to that. But we either saw or heard Tui, Bell Birds, Fan Tails and South Island Robins. There was at least one other bird we couldn't recognise.

The Kelly Tops were well worth a jolly good scramble around after lunch at Carroll Hut. Fabulous views and good company. We did some navigation work too - a skill that's never wasted and it's best to hone the finer points of a map and compass before you need it. A GPS is great but it won't help you if you're in a location/situation where it can't pick up a signal. Then you need your map and compass.

Carroll Hut isn't heated. The hut was rebuilt after the original burned down years ago. It's above the bush line and either wood/coal would need to be helicoptered in. The hut has double glazing and is insulated. It wasn't as cold as I thought it might be but the night was cool enough.

On returning from the tops to the hut we feasted well as always. A fine way and place to spend the last night of day light saving.