Otanerito to Akaroa

Today was the big one for us two. a mere 8km on our first day and a lowly 6km on the second day , we were seriously concerned about the 10km third day! Not only that but it was going to be uphill too. SO much was made of the uphill slog in the accommodation that I was kept awake all night by the idea :-)
The idea was worse than the climb- I handle hills quite well and because much of the uphill slog was through bush it seemed to fly by. We were slightly disheartened to come out onto a beautiful plateau only to find we had another bloody patch of hill to climb. The view from the top was worth it though.

This was heading back down hill towards our destination of Akaroa. The reason i blipped this specific shot? Well imagine the view from the top of a stile (I did!) Then imagine one fat old bird trying to get her leg up onto the highest first step of a stile encountered on the whole three days AND 3km out from the end of the walk!!!!! TeeJay showed the way and even she grunted trying to get up onto it. I just stopped and stared it, hoping the longer I stared that it might somehow shrink. It didn't BUT TeeJay did spot the gate next to it - which I walked through :-)

My joy was short lived - the f***Ing last three km downhill was a bugger and I mean a BUGGER!!!
Blurb below
The first kilometre from Otanerito beach is through farmland alongside the creek, but for most of the way upvalley the route traverses Hinewai Reserve through extensive regenerating native forest and some mature old-growth beech forest. The gradient is gentle at first, following the lower reaches of Narbey Stream, with short sidetracks leading to waterfalls. The second half of the ascent is steeper but under shady forest canopies. Eventually you emerge into a parkland of native trees and pasture at Brocheries Flat, before making the last short climb to Purple Peak saddle, 590m above sea level. Akaroa Harbour spreads out below you like a satellite image. For the energetic, a 40 minute steep side track leads to the even loftier viewpoint of Taraterehu, or Stony Bay Peak, 806m. From the saddle the track descends quite steeply through grassy farmland gullied with native bush and surrounded by spacious views in all directions, finally entering town by Mt Vernon Lodge and Rue Balguerie.