Croesus Track, Take 2

Yea!  It is a sunny day (strange how the when the weather on the east coast is bad, it is bright and beautiful on the west coast) and a great day for a hike!  We had a big breakfast and warm drinks before getting our hut tickets to stay the night from the Department of Conservation and getting on the road headed over to Blackball and the Croesus Track. The trailhead is about and hour northeast of Greymouth, and Blackball is the town just below the start of the hike.  We drive up about 5km to the trailhead from Blackball.  In the carpark we got our packs set to go and met two Kiwis from Wellington (both biologists) who will also be staying the night at the hut (sleeps 16).

Inside the Gatorwaka on the way to Blackball

At the trailhead

Umbrella ferns

Tree ferns

At the first swingbridge

Map of the trail - we start above blackball and go over the mountain to the sea in Barrytown

Tupelo and I hiked in about 1/2 hour to the first swing bridge with everyone before heading back and into Greymouth.  Should be a wonderful night to see stars, and I hope at least hear a morepork and kiwi!  Can't wait to hear all about the rest of the hike tomorrow when we pick everyone up on the Barrytown side of the track in the afternoon.

Stay tuned, Meryl : )