The scenery and wilderness experience was really great.

However the DOC description of thos trail is woefully inadequate. We are a couple in our 60's, physically fit, avid hiking/backpacking enthusiast from Alaska. Based on the DOC description we thought the southern circuit would be an appropriate track for us. We started at Fred's camp and from their until Mason Bay beach encountered countless obstacles- endless tree roots, downed trees, water crossings, mud bogs, in short just a very rough unimproved, unmaintained track. We were not mentally or physically prepared for the obstacle course nature of the track. The only other folks we met along the way were young 20- 30-something in age. My husband was ready to be evacuated out by the time we reached Doughboy hut. It took us 1.5 times as long to complete each leg as was reported on the DOC website. Once we got to Mason Bay the track was much better and we ended up getting a water taxi from Fresh Water. I wanted to post this review to alert other older trampers of our experience and the reality of the southern circuit.

Reviewed almost 6 years ago

Water taxi to freshwater landing ($55/p.p.

one way), 4 hour walk to Mason Bay, very nice hut, good Kiwi spotting.

Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011