Leave Nelson Friday after work (or some cars might leave around lunchtim e?), stay 2 nights at Collingwood Holiday Park, which has various sizes of cabins plus tent sites (at own cost). Cabins are $65 for 2, plus $ 20 per e xtra person (bedding provided), or $55 for 2 if you bring your own bedding. Please have a look online and email me your preferences. We'll have to pay a deposit.https://collingwoodholidaypark.co.nz/

Kaituna Track Crossover, fit, 8-9 hrs, 21km, marked route, never done by Nelson Tramping Club, I think (nor m yself).

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nel son-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kaituna-track /

"The track starts from Bainham near Collingwood and continues right through to Westhaven Inlet on the West Coast (8-9 hours). The route climbs over two ridges before reaching Knuckle Hill.

Beyond the Kaituna Fork s, the track changes to a 'route' and is suitable only for experienced and fit trampers. At the forks there is a river crossing which is impassable in flood.

There are northern rātā, pukatea and rimu, nīkau palms, heketara, wineberry, kāmahi, and māhoe, many species of fern, orchid , fungi and perching plants, plus a wide range of birds: kererū, tūī, fanta il, tomtit, robin, rifleman, silvereye and bellbird."

I got an email response from a Doc staffer in Takaka in late July regarding currrent track conditions:

" It is a 8-10 hr walk depending on your speed and usually walked west to east, but can be done either way. It requires a goo d level of fitness and does involve a steep descent/climb depending on whic h way you walk it. I walked it just before lock down and the track wa s in great shape and well-marked but it will now of course be a lot wetter (greasier) and the rivers and waterways will have a lot more water in them. The river crossing at Kaituna Forks can be problematic if there has been r ain for a day or two."

If the river crossing is imp ossible, but the skies are clear, we'll climb Parapara Peak (1240m) instead, (8-9 hrs, fit),

or we'll walk Cape Farew ell/Wharariki Beach/Puponga Hilltop/Kaihoka lakes loop, (medium) depending on weather.

Bad weather alternatives: Aorere Goldfields loo p, Kaituna walk, Pupu Springs, Mussel Inn.

Mt Stephens, (1300m), 7hrs, route, 7km one way, re turn the same way, medium +/fit,

The route up on to Mt Stevens, 1300 m, the highest point in the Wakamarama Range provides won derful views of the Aorere Valley, south to Gouland Downs and the West Coast.

Drive home Sunday evening. (Or stay anot her night if you dont have to work on Monday)