Again, we escaped the conveniences of a town and were on the bikes by the crack of mid-morning (as Andy eloquently put it); there hadn’t been that much weather to miss really. But the overnight recharge in Queenstown, along with all the food, was most welcome.

Ok, one food picture. Not my usual breakfast while bikepacking, or any time at all. Delicious.

Easy trails around the lake got us through and out of the resort with plenty of room to chat amongst the morning dogwalkers, joggers and cyclists.

Certainly was worth waiting for skies like this.

Down beside the Kawarau before switching to up the Shotover at the confluence, it was all familiar going – albeit in reverse to event routes that have previously taken me through here.

Over the old Shotover bridge, past a head on the river flats, and looking up to Coronet Peak.

A steep climb soon greeted us on the alternative route to Arrowtown – apparently the main trail back down the Kawarau was closed at some point, I didn’t miss the lumpy bit through the deer farm. So backroads it was, some of the signage was easily missed it seemed as we ended making our own route towards the Millbrook resort. Whoever shoehorned a visit to the resort up a nasty climb obviously hated cyclists. Riding through the golf course and interspersed luxury houses was a little odd, and we’d even showered and done some laundry the previous evening.

An early lunch in the sun opposite the famed Arrowtown bakery done, as well as stocking up for second-lunch, we were finally ready to get into the day proper. Riding up Tobins Track was nowhere as steep as I remembered from having far too much fun in the opposite direction, there was shade to start but that soon disappeared. Things flatten out, comparatively, between the end of the track and reaching the Crown Range Road (the most direct road between Queenstown and Wanaka).

Back towards Queenstown with a little more elevation.

Joining the busy road, the surface was smooth and the climbing quite alright – around ten percent. A warm still afternoon, past the farmland we gratefully stopped at the small streams cascading to and under the road to rehydrate.

I spied a turnout and wanted a better view, letting the others get ahead. Down to Gibbston.

Strangely empty road, apart from the two bikes that I now had to chase down.

Finding a lot of energy from somewhere (blood and energy levels back to normal, whatever that is, by now), I eventually managed to catch Rachel and was surprised as I was catching Andy to hear even more exuberant greeting from a passing car than the other toots we’d had. Eventually I realised it was Olly, who I rode/pushed/carried much of TTW with, hanging out a window. Excellent to catch up at the road summit before he continued to Coronet for some mountain-biking. Onto 4WD track, we pushed up and around the corner for second-lunch out of earshot of the traffic noise.

Pushing up 4WD tracks through large tussocks and spaniards is becoming a habit, especially with Andy and Rachel as companions – fine by me as it promises big views, new places and long downhills. Past the switchbacks there was even some riding to be had as the climb slackened.

Rachel’s photo.

Ditching the bikes briefly, an unencumbered walk on the last little bit to Rock Peak was welcome – as was the three-sixty degree panorama.

Mt Cardrona, not much of a ski field at this time.

Spaniards smell remarkably like pine cleaner. Who knew? Well, we did as Andy had been telling of it on the previous trip. Rachel’s photo.

Things kicked again, but more rideable than I thought.

Towards Quartz Knoll, the highest point of the day, as we approached Mt Allen.

Somewhere over there, hidden, is the hut we were looking for.

The push up to Quartz Knoll, looking back to Mt Allen. Nevis Valley, from the first day of the trip, way off in the background.

Standing on Quartz Knoll looking southwest-ish to Rock Peak (left, midground). The Airways installation to help passenger jets land at Queenstown visible.

East to the southern part of the Pisa Range, it would keep until the following day.

Time for the Type I fun to start – fast, rocky, open descents.

More climbing, of course, on typical ridge riding.

Plenty more ridge to go before dropping to Tuohys Gully. The roads to and of Snow Farm and the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (testing of pre-production cars in winter) visible on right.

There’s a hut down there! Not ours though, although that track at the back is also for the following day’s climb.

More enjoyable downhill to the gully, four hours it took us to get our bikes the sixteen kilometres from the road summit – but there was a big lunch in there, as well as three diversions on foot to various high points.

Aha, there’s our hut! One last fun descent and even a stream crossing.

Thankfully no crazy talk of pushing onto the next hut (many hours away), six o’clock seemed a reasonable time to knock-off for the day and soak in the last of the sun as it deserted the valley.

Adorable wee hut, and we had it all to ourselves.