One of the things I wanted to do down on Rakiura was go for a good hike out into the wilderness. The middle of nowhere. I relish the feeling of being alone but for the birds. But I also enjoy sharing these experiences – so I waited a week for James to join me, and we set off for Mason Bay. It’s a long sandy beach on the west coast, and there’s a great (if very muddy) track that cuts across a swampy valley to get there from the Freshwater River, an easy water-taxi ride away from Oban.

I don’t want to put too many words to this experience, so below are a collection of photos. Suffice to say, I’d do this again in a heartbeat, in the middle of winter where we had the DOC hut to ourselves, and there was just enough weather to make it wild. Falling asleep to the sound of Rakiura tokoeka. Finding rare endemic plants in the dunelands. Despairing at the amount of plastic debris washing up along the beach. Bulging packs, sour worm lollies, and a chorus of pīpipi. Maybe I’ll write it all up one day. But for now, enjoy a quick escape to the wilds at the bottom of Aotearoa.