Bruce Hopkins does not love the mud in Southland.

Bruce Hopkins Trail Diary - Week 30, 27 April - 4 May 2018
Te Anau - Invercargill

"Just been raving and ranting about some a-hole walking off with my hiking poles from the hostel in Te Anau!

"On the way to Aparima hut in Southland I endured three and a half days of misty, freezing cold drizzle. Ended up having a weather day in Aparima with Edd Barber who I have connected with three times now while on Te Araroa in the South Island."

"Five other trampers arrived that night and a damn fine fire kept the hut warm!"

"And now it begins to get slightly strange as the end of this 6 1/2 month odyssey draws near.

"Getting so close but the craziness continues! I'm missing my family big time, blessed to have been able to get this far."

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details