Hump Ridge to Teal Bay Track

Track cutting through overgrown crown ferns

On 19–21 September 2020, seven members of Permolat Southland worked on a track to Teal Bay, following on from track maintenance work they began two years ago.

Situated in southeast Fiordland, this 4.7-kilometre-long track begins from a 4WD vehicle road in the Rowallan Forest, near the South Coast. It climbs through forest to the northern end of Hump Ridge, where it intercepts the track descending down to Teal Bay on the shores of Lake Hauroko (this was the section the team cut in 2018).

The Permolat Southland Team

​The team, comprising Alastair Macdonald, Sally Tucker, Lois Bishop, Annabel Newman, Gavin Sinclair, Kerry Mulvany and Stanley Mulvany enjoyed fine weather, and on the first day walked to the tops of the Hump Ridge and began cutting the track downhill. By late afternoon, they had completed about half the track. Crown fern and sapling re-growth took the most effort.

Team members also affixed new markers where needed, and exposed old ones covered in moss. A kea pair came and checked out progress. Blue skies the following day saw the team split into two to complete the rest of the work. ​Altogether, the team worked for 105 hours, and completed 4.7 kilometres of track. Permolat Southland gratefully acknowledges the support of the Backcountry Trust, DOC and Rowallan Alton Inc, the traditional landowners of the area.