Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Distance: 6.8 km
Start: Obscure turnstile on Homestead Road, Lake Coleridge
Lake Hill Track is yet another stunning walk in the Lake Coleridge area. Part of the 3000 km Te Araroa Trail, it is also described briefly in the downloadable pdf "Walks Around Lake Coleridge Brochure". It definitely has all the ingredients of a good walk: A hard to find start - a pleasant meander around a lake edge - fabulous views - rare and endangered birds - wet feet and even swimming opportunities.
We drove speedily along Homestead Road, but completely missed the track start, not just because we were chatting away but also because there is no car park - just a tiny sign and a turnstile at the fence. Blink and you will miss it. If you have gone past the Lake Coleridge Station (we had) then you've gone too far. We did a "U"ey at the corner of Harper and Lyndon Roads, consulted the topo and drove slowly back, finally spotting the tiny orange triangle of a track marker at the turnstile. We parked on the grass and donned wind jackets. It was blowing like billy-o.
The track begins by running along the base of Lake Hill with the slightest of inclines, across farmland up to a 'high' point where you get your first glimpse of Lake Coleridge. The lake is the result of retreating glaciers and hence the most beautiful turquoise blue you could ever imagine. A perfect match for Carolien's iconic long-sleeved tee and turquoise rings.
We descended out of the wind to the lake, got hot, shed jackets and meandered happily along the edge until the point where the lake, being rather high, overlapped the track and we were forced to wet our feet. Heaven forbid! We gingerly stepped in and felt the cold seep through. What a shock to the system.
Our squawks possibly attracted (or deterred) a pair of Australasian Crested Grebes. Native to New Zealand and listed as "threatened", these happen to be my second favourite bird (behind the Royal Spoonbill). In the distance a raft of New Zealand Scaup bobbed about like bathtub ducks (only black).
The track left the lake and went up the tiniest of hills, past a couple of cute baches and eventually out to the farm road which we followed all the way to Lake Coleridge Intake Road. The stunning views had become even more stunning. The turquoise blue of the lake now had a backdrop of snow covered mountains in the distance: Ka Tiritiri o Te Moana -The Southern Alps of New Zealand.
We returned the same way but dilly dallied at the sunniest grassiest spot on the lake edge. We ate apples and a piwakawaka flitted about. I had my togs and couldn't resist a swim. It was fucking freezing and thus understandably brief. About a nanosecond in total. But lovely.
We barely batted an eye at the submerged track on the return. Just squelched on through and were soon back at the car, satisfied in the realisation that we have now completed 0.23% of the Te Araroa Trail.
We headed to Terrace Downs for lunch. Here you can find boutique accommodation, a golf course and a stylish restaurant. I had never been and it looked rather flash. We were obviously not dressed for the occasion - I still had wet hair and was wearing my shorts over my leggings in true tramping style. Edel was sporting a pair of red Crocs. Luckily Carolien was looking stylish in her iconic turquoise long-sleeved tee and matching turquoise rings. The colours of Lake Coleridge. The waitresses looked us up and down and were wonderfully lovely and friendly. Smoked Aoraki salmon (possibly sustainable or unsustainable) and pesto and wine and coffees followed. A fabulous way to round off a fabulous walk.
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