Mid Caples Hut - Caples Track

Track time - 3 hours one way Distance - 18km return Difficulty - Easy (if you're happy to get you're feet a little wet)

Opting to do the 18km return on a winter weekend, We set off from Cromwell on our 2 hour drive to Greenstone Road End, on the last leg of road to the carpark we were met by some signs stating that there were 3 fords we would have to cross. Unsure if the absurdly low Subaru legacy would survive, we carried on.

My biggest worry being if the bleak weather continued the fords would be even deeper tomorrow for our drive home tomorrow. In the midst of the excitement about getting to the trailhead and being the only people there, besides one van we didn't suspect would be joining us in the torrential rain, my worries were soon forgotten.

The Track The track was more glorious than we imagined, The first few kilometers are ascending into the tree line but soon enough you head back down where you're met with the valley floor. If you're doing the full circuit this is where you may veer off over the bridge, we skipped past the bridge and over our first stream crossing.

You WILL get your feet wet, but the streams are very navigable with rocks to step on. The streams and slips make this track extra fun, we passed by lots of nosey cows grazing on the other side of the river. Majority of the track is by the river so you have an unlimited water source. We have been told by some locals that you can cross the bridge at the start and the tramp is easier walking along the flat grass valley.

Once you reach the next bridge up the valley, you're in luck, you've made it!

The Hut Realizing we were likely the only ones occupying the 24 bunk hut for the night. Jai quickly got started on the fire as we knew it would take awhile to heat the rooms and ourselves up. We had brought our own firewood, as I wasn't sure of the winter amenities but there was loads already chopped up out back in a shelter.

In summer, Mid Caples Hut has flushing toilets and a warden. For us we had to use the long drop, which we're pretty used to at this point. We lit up some candles, cooked dinner and played some card games. While the rain carried on into the night. . . .

It was pretty toasty overnight, but I seem to always overheat in my sleeping and have to strip down throughout the night.

We woke up to gorgeous blue skies, and we could see the mountains that had camouflaged themselves with the clouds yesterday. We were joined for breakfast by the local bunnies, outside on the deck. Then we swept out the hut, packed up our things and heading out on our 3 hour walk back to the car, a lot lighter and dryer this time.