Christmas in Fiordland

Let’s be honest one of the things that can keep us working hard throughout the year is the balance we gain from scheduling in breaks and downtime.  The annual Rationale Christmas Outing is one of the most anticipated of the team’s calendar. It’s a chance to get together and do something awesome in the outdoors. 2021 certainly came with some unexpected curveballs and challenges with Covid lockdowns, changing policy and work conditions impacting us all. The team were 100% ready for the ’21 Christmas Outing and a mission to the depths of Fiordlands for three days in the majestic Doubtful Sounds.

A typical bunch would book their travel in and out and leave the transfer from starting location to resulting destination in the capable hands of the professionals.  Never one to take the easy route, some of the team instead opted to make their own way in and out…Mountain biking and running the 32km between Percy’s Pass and Doubtful Sound’s West Arm.  It makes for eye watering stuff, with a climb to 1078m before descending.

Once at Deep Cove the team managed to squeeze in some Christmas activities and a bit of downtime before hiking up to Huntleigh Falls. The most adventurous of the group that made it the farthest were rewarded with some of the best views of the trip.

 

The remaining days were spent fishing, free diving for cray and relaxing in one of the most beautiful spots in the country. Uncharacteristically we didn’t have a drop of rain, but the waterfalls were most definitely still flowing – so we cracked the weather and still gained the Doubtful Sound bounty. If its on your bucket list and you haven’t made it down, I highly recommend it.

Even the sandflies got the memo and headed out of town for us (mostly). All and all a Christmas trip for the memory books.

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