Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

  • Home
  • News
  • Recent trips
  • Meetings and Events
    • Diary
    • Club meetings
    • Social events
    • Eezee Tramps
  • Gear and fitness
    • Tramping gear details
  • History
  • Contacts
    • Interested in joining
Mt Ruapehu's eastern side

Snap Happy – thank goodness I remembered the camera

June 10, 2012 by Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Waihohonu Hut, Tongariro National Park, Saturday-Monday June 2-4 2012

How many photos can you take of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe over a Queen’s Birthday weekend? Oodles: you just have to take one when you see it first, then get closer, then when it looks pink, then when the cloud partially obscures it, and so on. You get the picture; the scenery over the weekend just begged to be photographed.

Mt Ruapehu, from the Waihohonu trackSeven of us had decided that we would enjoy the new Waihohonu Hut. We all agreed that it was 5-star luxury. The lights at night, and hot water available were just two of the most immediate luxuries. The design of the hut, with a large kitchen/dining area, and separate bunkroom accommodations, made it feel comfortable even though the hut was full with each of the 28 bunks taken. The windows facing the two mountains, with the decking and table options which I suspect would be used more in summertime, gave the hut a palatial feel.

The original Waihohonu HutWe arrived at the hut around midday, and had the afternoon to go and explore the original Waihohonu Hut, and the Ohinepango Spring. The original hut was built around 1904, as a stage on the trip from the Whanganui rivermouth through to Ketatahi for coach and horse travellers.

What intrigued us most was the separate accommodation for the women, banished from the warm fire, and given only a mirror in their sparse bunkroom. The men, meanwhile got the main bunkroom, with the fireplace and no doubt were near the food store.

The Ohinepango Spring, emerging from underground sends up a huge amount of water which is clear and cold.

Back at the hut, we spent a night learning to play Quidler, a word card game that Kay had bought along.

Mt Ngauruhoe from Oturere HutThe next morning, we decided to go and visit Oturere Hut. The day did not look promising, but we put on warm clothing and battled the wind in exposed areas. The track initially climbs and then descends and then climbs and descends again to a bridge, with a small climb through bush, before emerging to the scree and rocky slopes that are characteristic of parts of the Round the Mountain track. Thereafter, no more shelter before reaching Oturere Hut.

We had a brew-up and a long lunch, out of the wind under the verandah, and explored the immediate environs. The view into the valley, headed by a cascading stream, out the front of the hut, just over the rocks, is amazing, as is the view looking back at Mt Ngauruhoe.

We headed back to Waihohonu Hut, and enjoyed a peaceful late afternoon. Most of our hut companions had moved on to their next destination. Another evening was spent playing Quidler, eating Paul’s pancakes, and other nibbles.

Mt Ruapehu from the eastern sideOn Monday morning, some of us decided that we would like to walk to the Tukino Mountain Road, where Ted and Paul kindly moved our vehicles. This would give us a chance to walk through the arid landscape that is part of the Rangipo Desert.

This marked the end of the walk, still with amazing views of Mt Ruapehu, with more photos of course.

Trampers: Ted Angove, Paul Exeter, Simon Hill, Geoff Donkin, Sue Martin, Kay Russell and Julia Mackie

Tweet
PinIt

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Ohinepango Spring, Waihohonu Hut

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our most recent trip

We had everything but snow…

We had everything but snow…

Southern Ruahine Crossing, Ruahine FP, 7 April 2018. Map: BL35/BM25 Banner Photo: Juliet in the bracken fern “The Southern Ruahine Crossing…” … Read More

News

April 2018 News

April 6, 2018 By admin Leave a Comment

Contents: NZ Walking Access Commission (NZWAC); Molesworth Consultation; Sunrise and Rangiwahia … Read More

March 2018 News

March 11, 2018 By admin Leave a Comment

Contents: Ruahine User Group Minutes of Feb 18th Meeting Manawatu Walking Festival; Sunrise and … Read More

About us

About us

We are a group of like-minded people who love the great outdoors. We tramp mostly in the Hawke’s Bay province, in remote areas such as the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges; but we also travel longer distances to new places, for longer walks.

The Napier Tramping Club was established in 1974 and has about 70 members. We belong to the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Inc (FMC) and run Saturday, full-weekend and Wednesday tramps, every fortnight.

Interested in joining us?

Enjoy the great outdoors, keep fit and get to know others with similar interests.

More information

Latest news

April 2018 News

Contents: NZ Walking Access Commission (NZWAC); Molesworth Consultation; Sunrise and Rangiwahia … Read More

March 2018 News

Contents: Ruahine User Group Minutes of Feb 18th Meeting Manawatu Walking Festival; Sunrise and … Read More

Latest trip

We had everything but snow…

We had everything but snow…

Useful links

  • Dept of Conservation
  • DoC Huts Use, Kaweka Forest Park
  • Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ (FMC)
  • Heretaunga Tramping Club
  • New Zealand Tramper
  • NZ Walking Access Commission
  • Wanganui Tramping Club

Useful links 2

  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
  • Weather forecast
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Copyright © 2018 · Napier Tramping Club · Sign In · Website by D2 ·