It’s now day three into 2019 and it’s up early for the hike up the Matiri Valley to Lake Matiri. This involves about 6km of 4WD track before walking 5 km up the Matiri River to the Matiri Hut. This lake was formed approximately 300 years ago and I would say coincides with the last big alpine fault movement that dropped a massive side of a mountain across the valley to block off the river, hence forming Lake Matiri. The first part of our journey was up the Matiri West Bank Road before we got another test for our Suzuki Jimny as the 6km 4WD section of the track was very rough in places with plenty of mud. Once we had reached the point where the Matiri River West Branch meets the Matiri River we were then on foot for the next 5km to the Matiri Hut at Lake Matiri. The start of the walk was a hot one as the sun was high and there was no shelter in the open part of the track, the tentacles of the over grown blackberry bushes constantly reaching out to create multiple scratches to save the sandflies the job of digging for blood, relief came when we enter the thick forest further up the valley. About halfway up, the track which climbed and followed the river had collapsed and there was a 200 meter section of rock hopping along the river. The size of some of the boulders in that river was amazing… some were the size of large trucks and I would say were part of the original mountain collapse as they were too big to have come down the river. Once out of the river it was pretty well plain sailing for the next 2.5 km to the lake hut. The bird life on this walk was so awesome, tui’s, fantails, bellbirds and welcome swallows flittering up and down the river, we haven’t heard so much bird song in the bush for sometime. On our way in we passed a couple of trampers heading in the opposite direction, on giving them a pleasant hello guys the response was more of a grunt than a greet and it was obvious they did not want to be delayed. The Matiri DOC Hut is a well maintained hut, was tidy and clean inside. We and the sandflies sat down to lunch outside overlooking part of the lake, both species enjoying a meal. With lunch over we started our way back out and as normal the return trips seem to be a lot faster, but all in all a lovely short hike and a well enjoyed day. It is absolutely amazing what we have found in the Murchison area, so many swimming locations, cycle rides, walks, tramps, fishing spots and 4WD tracks, very well worth the visit.