Other than the odd shower, the weather was very kind. Nor was there much of the infamous mud. The beaches became classic west coast beaches once we dropped down to Smoky Beach, and at Long Harry we watched some Yellow-eyed penguins leave the surf (from a distance). The next rocky beach low tide enticed Alan to collect some kina and paua, which provided an excellent appertiser. At the lovely Waituna Bay, we helped a lovely DOC ranger with a group of volunteers collecting flotsam and jetsam.

Dawn at Hellfire Pass started misty, then we had a little visitor. The Stewart Is kiwi are not fully nocturnal and near the huts they seem to ignore trampers.