I wanted to do something crazy. I wanted to push my limits. I wanted to do "a great walk" and so, I took off into the trail that lead 60 km across South Island New Zealand (but it didn't turn out how I expected!)

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It was already afternoon, sometime around 13:00, the sun was shining and the water was glistening... more than that, my guidebook was calling me into the forest. How could I not go?

I drove down to the ranger station to ask about the famous "Kepler" track, knowing it was 60km long and was meant to be traversed over multiple days exploration.

The ranger showed me the way. She gave me a map and told me the best place to start.

If you don't know about Great Walks, they are kind of a big deal in New Zealand and sell out quickly when the season opens. What that means is that the huts along the way to stay in (because these hikes are meant to be done over several days) are usually booked solid well in advance, leaving it nearly impossible to get a space for somewhere to camp if you're not quick to the draw.

Of course being the day of, this was the case and so she told me I couldn't get a bed and couldn't camp outside of the DOC (Department of Conservation) registered huts so, I was left standing at the desk, disappointed with not very much time to play around with and decided to go do as much as I could for the day.

Anyways, I got a little nudge from the young attendant I was speaking with to go for it, and feeling ambitious, I got a recommendation from her for a great coffee joint and I ended up at this cute little cafe called Sandfly that surprised me by serving organic coffee and juices and also had a vegan feature menu posted on their chalkboard! I was pretty impressed and left with a happy bounce in my step and a large Americano in my hand. (I don't always drink coffee but when I do, I make sure it's organic and fair trade!)

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I took off for the trail with a coffee in hand and a water bottle in the other. On second thought, I better chug said coffee to make sure I don't have to cart around the container for the whole time since there is an all trash in is all trash out rule on these trails usually (and why not give myself a little boost?)

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Well, I was flying with newfound energy and so I set off for the trail following the shoreline because I told the lady at the counter that I love water so she suggested starting from this end (you can start from either end of the track.)

I stopped dead in my tracks! LOOK AT THAT VIEW!

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I could still see my van from the car park at this point and I was already in la-la land! I came down to the water's edge to take a peak around the corner at the dam and what was beyond, through the forest and on the other side!

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I was just sitting down to admire my surroundings, OK? I wasn't tired! ;)

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Lake Te Anau was so full of life! I desperately wanted to get picked up by this boat but they were having so much fun they couldn't see me waving my hands around franticly ;)

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This is the very first look into the forest once you start through the path!

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An opening back to the beautiful lake called me to check it out and spend some time mermaiding out on the water watching the waves ;)

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This is a look back to where I started from- you can see along the coast that I have actually come along quite a ways even if it seems like I'm just lolly-gagging along taking photos (though, I definitely was also doing that!) ;)

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Back into the woods... on the way to Sandfly Point

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This was the first recorded stop on the route's map with toilet facilities and a small beach where some families were picnicking and launching their boats from (but as the name suggests, sandflies littered the whole area looking for a meal!)

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As I was crossing this bridge, I looked over the side of it and saw that blue wonderment calling out to me again!

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I stopped to play with my hair and collect seashells but the sandfleas wouldn't hear of it and ran me back up to the bridge!

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I was on the path for a couple of minutes I swear! But then, I saw another opening and some friends were hanging out in the lake, beckoning for me to come join! I couldn't resist!

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It might not be obvious, but due to all the off-roading and playing in the waters, time was passing by faster than I realized and I knew I needed to be back to my van before sunset so I started to dart into the mossy forests that had suddenly just appeared!

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It was here, when I was bent over checking out these mushrooms and feeling very intuned with nature that I met the most lovely elderly English couple out for a day's walk!

The woman who was very much a chatterbox like myself, ended up telling me the horrors up ahead- sandfleas by the millions she said. She rubbed my bare arms and told me if I wanted to keep my skin, I best come back prepared another day for another adventure or risk scratching myself to sleep.

I took her advice and decided I'd start walking backwards towards the carpark after I was finished taking in the freshness and pureness this pristine forest was offering. We talked for so long that her husband finally interjected to ask if they could carry on their romantic trip through the forest before the sun came down and so, I watched them make their way through the green, out of my vision and continued studying what was around me.

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When there is no noise, you can actually think.

I cannot tell you how powerful this was for me! I had been searching for answers to my life's challenges for months but with a scattered mind! Not here, not in the middle of the forest where all that was around were chirping birds and the occasional rustle of the trees.

I stopped and thought and thought and thought and then, I stopped thinking and just existed there with the fresh air in my lungs and cool wind blowing through my hair and found such beautiful happiness in those moments, it filled my heart with song!

I walked slowly, very slowly back out the same way I had come in, knowing the sun was setting behind me and that the insects would be looking for dinner soon.

It was such an enchanted, inspiring experience being there in those woods. Of course, I have these lovely photos which I felt compulsory to share with you, but I also have that bliss still within me. When I close my eyes, I still feel that wind, hear those birds, feel that joy!

Our planet is an extraordinary place with such magic! We must protect and value her. Nurture her, learn from her. She is our mother and provides us with all that we need. The love I was given this day was far more powerful than anything I could get in a store or online. This was pure magic from the Earth and I hope you get some of it transfered onto you through this share!

NOTE:
I thought that if a walk was sold out, it meant it was off limits but I found out in late 2017 that you can generally walk (there are some exceptions as some walks need transportation to access) the Great Walks as long as you don't try to spend the night outside of their huts. They use the money collected from these huts to maintain the trails! From what I have seen, NZ does a really good job at creating safe and easy to follow routes for people so, if the huts weren't sold out, I would have purchased a bunk in a heart beat! Since I couldn't, I also didn't want to miss out on one of the most beautiful sights in the country so I decided to walk what I could in the time I had! Point is, don't panic if it's sold out!

Next time I am in New Zealand, I am going to ensure I book my spot in the hut and complete the whole 60km, obviously this time I was unable to. Despite that "fomo" I LOVED my journey and wouldn't have it any other way. I'll definitely be back though and hope you get a chance to experience this incredible journey as well!

Sending you love as always!
XO,
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(All of these photos were taken with my 'One Plus 5' smartphone and are of course, are 100% original, taken by yours truly and shared with love!)