Just south of Ward a dirt road meanders for 12km up a wide glen to Blue Mountain Station which is the start of a fantastic walk to Sawcut Gorge. When we stopped the car to take a photo of a waterfall I discovered that not only was my camera battery flat but I didn’t have a spare with me!! Still discovering this before we started walking meant that I had a very light pack for the day ☺ I hadn’t brought a book either, but luckily had bought a copy of the Guardian Weekly in Blenheim before leaving.
It was extremely hot but this walk has the benefit of following the Waima riverbed for an hour or so to reach Sawcut. And following the river bed means literally that, with numerous river crossings and the occasional wade upstream. It was a good idea to get the boots drookit (drenched) from the start so that you didn’t have to worry about getting your feet wet – the cool water was most welcome.
The views were stunning, the river valley narrowed with steep cliffs on either side, plants clung to the sides and there were heaps (to use a NZ expression) of flowers. We stopped for lunch at a shady spot just before Isolated Creek joined the river. The marked path follows the creek a short way to Sawcut Gorge. The gorge is very narrow, reminiscent of the Zion Narrows and Antelope Canyon that I saw in Utah, but these cliffs are white not pink or red. The cliffs are about 150m high and the gorge is 2m wide. An incredible spot.
We continued on up the river, first on one side then the other and sometime up the middle. The flowers attracted butterflies, more species than I’ve seen in NZ so far. After about an hour we reached Isolation Creek Hut. Unfortunately we were not staying here, a lovely spot in a wide valley with great views to the mountains. Going back down the wind rushed through the first part of the gorge, luckily it calmed further down.
When we regained the Waima river we stopped at a deep water hole for a swim, cold at first then lovely. Plenty of rocks to sit in the sun to dry, whilst reading the Guardian of course!
Back down, the reflections on the river intensified as the sun lowered, and a short punishingly steep hill to climb to the car.
A beautiful walk and no photographs! I’ll have to persuade Helen to flickr hers.
