This track is also a good walk with many spectacular views. Steep at times, but very rewarding.

I passed through the regular fir forests, but also through the original New Zealand birch forest.

This time the track was not so smooth, and gave a little resistance here and there. Irritating with crossing mountainbike tracks in places, but on the whole well marked. Also this track goes above the tree limit. The spectacular view is enjoyed in cold and extremely hard wind. This made me decide against the Ben Lomond track. I am just not equipped for this. The 1300 m climb would have been challenging enough, but after feeling the strength of the gusts of wind at more moderate levels, I realise it would be foolish.

I did not complete the track as defined, but climbed again to the Skyline Gondola complex, where people enjoy such things as bungy jump, paragliding, and a sort of downhill racing on a concrete track sitting on a small cart with wheels. Homo ludens. I enjoyed an icecream and the view before taking the gondola down to lake level.

On the itinerary; Milford Sound tomorrow (weather permitting), and a tour today on the lake with the steamer TSS Earnslaw.