Ngamoko Rd – Mangatewainui Stream
Ruahine Forest Park
Wednesday 7th November 2012
The morning dawned crisp and clear after yet another “cold snap” which had left another coating of snow on the Ruahine Range. We drove south to Norsewood, turned into Ngamoko Rd and arrived at the new car park after a slight detour up someone’s driveway! New signage and stile lead us over the paddock and onto the old road winding up into the foothills. The sun is out but there’s a cool breeze from the south, making it pleasant for walking. The old road narrows and becomes a track lined with flowering tree daises, Rangiora, beautiful Clematis hanging from trees and winding itself over shrubs. Ferns, mosses abound on the southern slopes, Manuka and scrubby bush on the northern slopes. Three hours after leaving the car park we reached the turn off to Makaretu Hut.
It’s a good lunch spot, sitting in the sun with views to the main range. A bit further along the ridge the signpost to Leon Kinvig Hut then the track leads down to the Mangatewainui Stream.
The stream seemed to be easy to walk down, not much water, smooth shingle and grassy corners. An hour and a half later we left the stream and made our way over farmland to the road end where John, Ken and Vic had driven the van round to meet us. It was only 3.30pm we had made very good time, and all had thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Trampers – Dorothy Sole, Murray White, Isobel Holdaway, Kelvin Shaw, Peter Slagter, John Marshall, Vic Bullock, Diane and David Hills, John Burrell, Ken Ross, Robyn Smith, Keith Moretta, and reporter Alison Greer.
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