We leave Christchurch on Friday night and sleep at the Marble Hill Campsite on our way to the start.

Jeff prepares the morning brew.

We drive most of the way along the 4wd end of the road but decide not to push our luck and start our tramp before the 4wd car park

Our route (anti-clockwise).

Walking along the last few paddocks before we enter the national park.

Wet feet straight away crossing the Matiri River West Branch.

A basic shelter provided by DOC serves as a reminder of how often the river floods.

Morning tea at Lake Matiri Hut.

Catching mayflies for one of Lynette's colleague's research projects at the Cantebury Museum.

Mayflies for study.

Sick of the up and down of the track we decide to walk on the nice flat sandy river bed.

Lucky for us, the track has been re-cut just the previous week. It definitely improved our speed.

A short stop at McConchies Hut to read the log book.

Enjoying happy hour at our lovely camp on the Matiri River complete with camp fire!

A chilly breakfast on the river.

Our route from the Matiri River track to the Thousand Acres track.

The track includes too many colapsing mud steps for our liking.

The track leaves the Matiri River.

Nice ridge walking for a change.

The clearing at point 736. This is where we leave the track.

Climbing the steep ridge to point 1326.

Pausing to enjoy the view. Mt Owen (1875m) is on the horizon just left of centre.

The final steep bit to the top.

On top of point 1326 looking across to the Haystack.