Day 3: Camp Bay to Cowshed bay

Up at 6 am for breakfast (oats, dried cranberries & nuts) with all the TA hikers, before we hit the track at 8am.

Straight uphill climb for 2km to make our way up to the ridgeline which we basically followed for 26 kilometers today.

The track was so muddy and slippery, all I have to say is thank goodness for hiking poles, they are a lifesaver!

The walk was pleasant through native bush and mossy almost rainforest like patches and then you'd hit the top of the ridge and be greeted with the most stunning views over the Queen Charlotte Sounds.

We ended up camping down at Cowshed Bay this evening, all of us who we camped with the night before.

Ben & Lena from Australia, Conny from Austria, Tim from NZ, Alex from Mexico, Teneka from Australia, Astrid from Holland and Johan from Canada.

As soon as we arrived we put our tent up but in true style it then poured rain for a good hour.

Laura and I still went for a dip in the water to wash ourselves and get the mud off before getting into warm clothes and cooking dinner with everyone.

One thing I love is the social side of this already. It's amazing how you can put 10 strangers together and you all stick with each other and look out for one another. All offering advice, food, peanut m&ms (hikers crack) and a lot of laughs. Our campsite was only about a 10 minute walk from a lodge with a bar. All using the excuse that it's almost Christmas so we should go and have a drink. Muddy boots & all we turn up at this lovely lodge, all the locals enjoying their Christmas parties and then us uncouth crew rock in. I appreciated the flushing toilet!

Sitting down at the waters edge again as I watch stingrays swim around just off the shore and the Tuis flying all around in the flax flowers, the wekas poking their curious heads out of the bush every so often to see if there's a feed. There is something so serene about NZ bird song.

Tomorrow we are heading another 20 or so kms to Davies Bay to camp our last night on the queen Charlotte track and then will walk out Christmas morning.

Ren x