It looked like it was going to be third time lucky for some of us reaching the communications tower atop Wharite Peak. The day dawned cool, crisp and cloudless and after a good trip south, we started along the pretty Coppermine Stream track just before 9.30am.

The tower in view at last

A cool lunch break on top

Another box ticked, finally.

Trampers: John Marshall, Vic Bullock, Ken Ross, Peter Slagter, Paul Exeter, John Burrell, Robyn Smith, Hilary-Heath Caldwell, Dennis Mitchell, Tony Pluymers and reporter Alison Greer

On the way out of town, we could see dark clouds over the Kawekas. However, closer to the car park, glimpses of blue sky raised some enthusiasm.

We went up Trials Spur and up the steep exposed section of the track before having a brief stop at Dominie Bivvy for a drink and a snack.

As the cool breeze seemed to be getting stronger, several people put on parkas and warm gear.

The tarms just below the Kaweka North Ridgeline

The rest of us went along to North Kaweka. Here the breeze seemed to die out, the clouds lifted and we spent some time looking all around. We could see Whetu to the north and out over Hawke’s Bay, but could not see Ruapehu.

We headed down past the tarns and further down to what seemed like a nice lunch spot. Then clouds started rolling in and the wind started to pick up, so we had a short lunch.

Descending from high point 1179

Further down, we found the turn-off into the beech trees. The shingle sloped area is starting to regenerate so the area is changing. A couple of old cairns further down marked the turn-off.

We headed down the track and dropped into Makahu Stream. Here the trampers in front must have disturbed a wasp nest, as those behind got stung, Alison tossing her pack off and disrobing as a wasp had got under her tramping top. It sure did sting, she said. Before reaching the main track, we passed a hunter and his family who must have been staying at Makahu Hut. The main track to Kaweka Flats is reached, and then it is an easy walk back to Makahu Saddle.

We got back to the car park by 1.30 pm.

A good day.

Trampers: Alison Greer, Jude Patton, Rochelle Elgie, Marc Marchall, Sue Marshall, John Gray, Ian Sainsbury, John Marshall, Murray White, Paul Exeter and reporter Geoff Donkin

The good ship “Metro” left Winery Docks at the appointed time of 7.30 am on a fine and sunny morning with Capt Kelvin Shaw at the helm and his usual motley crew on board.

We sailed off down to the Port of Mangleton where we disembarked and set forth across farmland towards the promised treasures of Bob’s Spur and beyond. The track was in fair condition albeit somewhat slippery and after climbing steeply, we passed out of the bush and into more open scrub and outcrops of rocks. The climb afforded excellent views of the Mangleton area, with its rolling country, greened up by the recent rains.

We were pleased to welcome back Club Captain Alison after her sojourn down among the delights of Queenstown and the “Thailand Tiger” aka John Gray, whom his partner Sarita had kindly loaned back to us for a short time. Kelvin had been less than frank with his neighbour Wai, who has joined us on a couple of trips. He told her it was a trip over farmland and would be quite easy. Ever sold used cars, Kelvin?

Emerging from the bushline onto the scree slopes

As we broke out into the scrubby tops, things became more difficult. The ground was very uneven and you could not see where to place your feet amongst the scrub. Much debate took place as to whether or not we were too high or low in relation to the entry into the bush which was not marked with orange markers or cairns and was known to be difficult to locate. However, we did have John Marshall and Vic Bullock flash us from the first trig point (with a mirror, in case you were wondering!). To reach that point was a creditable achievement for two veteran trampers.

Thanks to Alison’s sense of direction and eagle eyes, we found the first entry point into the bush. We passed through that to another open area and began the process again and then a third time before we entered a patch of bush and found a sheltered spot to have lunch. Prior to that, the north-westerly wind was so strong it had nearly blown us over in the exposed areas.

After lunch, the punishment began as we set off down Three Fingers Spur. Initially, the bush was reasonably easy to navigate through. However, we soon found that we were out into scrub, and the navigating became extremely difficult, as the tracks were overgrown.

At some point, Alison disclosed that she had just remembered that the last time she was here she vowed never to return. She could have told us earlier! Individual members cast about through thick scrub, seeking the elusive track. Time and again, we found ourselves having to re-establish where the crest of the spur was so that we didn’t end up in some difficult watershed.

Unless you were there, it would be hard to imagine the extent of our difficulties. The scrub was over head height, even for those long-fellas amongst us. Keeping the party together and in contact was challenging. Time and again, we struck false leads which resulted in us pushing and heaving and wriggling and contorting our way through the dense scrub – only to be thwarted and having to try and go back again.

Some three hours later, and with copious scratches and bruises to show for it, we broke out onto the head of the rocky slip. Not before Kelvin, who had led some of the navigating, went from hero to zero to hero and back again, as he found and then lost the track. Robyn decided on the way down that her mode of transport would be to sit down and slide down, while Murray tried to impress others with his acrobatic skills by tumbling some 3-4 metres while leaving some skin behind.

The rocky slip provided a swift means of ending the pain and shortly afterwards we were making our way back across the farmland to the van at around 15.40 hours and then home.

Trampers: Kelvin Shaw, Wai Anderson, Robyn Smith, Peter Slagter, John Marshall, Vic Bullock, John Burrell, Alison Greer, John Gray, Paul Exeter and reporter Murray White

The trips scheduled were for a day and weekend, but the weather forecast discouraged the weekend trampers, and so only six headed up to Longview Hut. Marc’s company has bought him a great Ford Territory. We were overjoyed, because his Toyota Camry had to bail out on the hill on Kashmir Road last time Marc took us up there.

Longview Hut appears in the rain

They are now logging the pines on the foothills, and Kashmir Road has been graded and widened on some bends to allow the logging trucks access. The last 500m up to the car park, however, has not been touched, so is still uneven with some ruts. A 4WD vehicle is still required for this stretch.

We could not see the tops, in fact the viz was about 100 metres. They appear to be creating a new track on the lower part, which is being built with a small digger; it is very wide, and zig-zags its way up the first 100m ascent. The old track is quicker, though a bit steeper.

The only slightly wet six

The light rain meant that we did not stop, and walked through the door on Longview Hut at 9.35am. Jeez, not even 10am yet. We all had a snack, and checked out the hut logbook. A week or so earlier, a visitor had commented on the rubbish left in the hut. He had kindly carried out what he could, so we decided to take the rest between us. Tui bottles and plastic drink bottles came out with us. That left the hut spick and span.

A coffee at the Sawyers Arms, Tikokino on our way home was enjoyed, as it was still too early for lunch.

It was great to have John Gray with us, on a brief visit from Thailand. Good fun, John!

Trampers: John Gray, John Russell, Les O’Shea, Paul Exeter, Marc Marchal and Julia Mackie

Again, it was a really great day to get above the bushline. We had a clear blue sky and barely any wind. It was cool in the shade, but you can’t have everything, and the first hour or so is steadily uphill so we were soon warmed up.

The view of Ruapehu

The climb up Kuripapango starts through pines but is mainly through beech forest, with enough clearings to give good panoramas back out east and north to the end of the Kaweka Range. Pines have really established themselves at the top of Kuripapango and overgrown the route to the signal mast.

The mossy track side

The hut is reached after a steep descent and hence some chose to have lunch while still enjoying the extended panorama and avoid the subsequent climb back up on the way home.

All were back at the van by 3.30pm so there was time to share our thoughts over a coffee before heading home about 4pm.

Trampers: Murray White, Peter Slagter, Dorothy Sole, Vic Bullock, Tony Pluymer, John Marshall, Hilary Heath-Caldwell, Ray Slavin, Robyn Smith, Collin McNatty and scribe Ken Ross

The scheduled trip to walk the Maungaharuru Ranges changed due to the clagged-in tops and forecast steady rain, with hail predicted by weather forecasters for the afternoon.

So a quick decision was made to go to Boundary Stream, and make it a short day walk. Arriving at the car park, we also decided to walk the one-hour loop track. This was indeed going to be a very short day.

The native bush reserve is a credit to DoC

The aviary, where all the birds get acclimatised

Trampers: Dorothy Sole, Alison Greer, John Marshall, Sue Marshall, Denise Payne, Sue Titter, Geoff Donkin, Rochelle Elgie, Jude Paton and Julia Mackie

On a beautiful clear blue-sky day, the planned trip up to Middle Hill Hut and then the three gorges to Makino Spur was changed, for the prospect of better views from the Kaweka tops.

Murray Goss took the van to the Gums car park so he could check out the fish in the Mohaka River, with a promise to return to pick us up at the Makino track car park on Makahu Road.

The open tops tramping in the Kaweka Ranges

We separated into two groups. The faster group of five, after a steady climb up Camp Spur, came out of the bush, found a good spot with a view and stopped for lunch. A bit later, we were joined by Ted, Paul and Lyn who also had their lunches, but they then returned to Middle Hill and the road end.

After lunch, the Whetu five headed on upwards to the track junction, and decided to carry on around to the Makino track. From the viewpoint, we could see the base of Ruapehu. The hour’s walk on the open tops with good views all round vindicated our change of decision.

Arriving at Makino Hut

As time was getting on, we had a brisk walk to the road end down Makino Spur, arriving at 5 pm where Murray Goss was waiting for us. We all headed down to the Pinks car park to get changed with the Ted, Paul and Lyn who had been waiting for a while.

We headed back to Napier, but were not able to get van the back by the 6.30 pm deadline.

Trampers: Ted Angove, Paul Exeter, Lyn Bowcock, Murray Goss, Paul Fletcher, Jennie Burns, Jude Paton, John Russell and reporter Geoff Donkin

This was to be a re-run of the aborted tramp of February 27 when high winds above Sunrise Hut and generally foul weather drove us down. Today, things were different. We were blessed with a clear blue sky and almost no wind. We were a little more conservative with our goals and planned not to do the return down the Waipawa River but be content with an in-and-out trip to “66” (aka Te Atuaoparapara), which suited the make-up of the party.

Sunrise Hut was a like a bomb site. Three builders were ensconced and had managed to make the place almost uninhabitable. They were replacing the gas heater with a wood stove, and installing double glazing, some windows and a false ceiling in the kitchen. It was good that we had planned only a brief stop there.

Checking out the views

We met a number of others on the day – but not Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, who was apparently on some other Route 66. Never mind!

The homeward trip was extended by some with a loop round the Swamp Track which is always worth the effort. This track passes through some very nice mature forest with lots of young trees establishing themselves. All trampers were back at the van by about 4.30 pm, feeling well satisfied with their day’s tramp – although some were more tired and scratched than others.

Trampers: Dorothy Sole, John Marshall, Tony Pluymer (visitor), Keith Moretta, Les O’Shea, John Burrell and reporter Ken Ross

Ted took the van with seven trampers to the end of Mill Road. In pleasant weather, the group followed the farm track from the end of the road to the river.

We followed the Moorcock Stream for about 100m before crossing over to the Tukituki. There was hardly any water in the Moorcock and the Tukituki was quite low. A path once followed the river, but today there is only the river to follow. This slowed us down a bit and it was about 9.30 when we reached the orange marker showing the turn-off to the Rosvalls track.

Tarn Bivvy - a good shelter in a storm

Unlike most markers, this one doesn’t connect with the start of the track, but is placed about 50m past it. We were all looking in the upstream direction, where a clear path simply stopped. Eventually, Ted had the wisdom to walk in the other direction and spotted the wooden signs that mark the start of the track.

Not far on, we stopped for a brief morning tea. From there, we were in for a typical Ruahine climb: Steep up for around two hours, following a good path. The top was reached by lunchtime and the bivvy was signposted as being another hour ahead.

We decided to have our lunch first and then continue over the tops. We could easily have had lunch at the bivvy, because we reached it in half an hour. It is a two-bunk affair, but with a toilet boasting spectacular views.
We lingered for about 15 minutes and then began our return. It was quick and easy. Going downstream, we found several stretches of what must have been the original path. By about 4.30, we were back at the van after an enjoyable day out.

Trampers: Ted Angove, Marc Marchal amongst the seven.

John and Vic did their own thing for the day, but the rest of us went to Happy Daze Hut across paddocks, through the river and over farm tracks. It took an hour to get to the hut. The hut was nice and clean, with kitchen chairs, so we took them outside to sit on and had morning tea.

We carried on along a track down to the river, and along it. Then Peter lost his hearing aid and went back to look for it. Now there were seven of us.

Happy Daze Hut

We came to a fork in the river with an island in the middle. We got confused here as there was a big orange triangle on the island, but there wasn’t a track. We knew the hut was up there somewhere. We went along the right fork and found another big orange triangle on the right bank, but that track went up to the ridge.

We looked along the left fork, but didn’t find any tracks or markers, so we decided to go further up the right fork and found a cairn and then a bit further on the markers and track up to the Makaretu Hut. We had lost two people and there were now only five. Jennie and I whistled and called out to Ken and Kelvin and got a couple of responses, but they didn’t get to the hut.

We ate lunch and then went back to the forks where Ken and Kelvin were having lunch. We set off back down the river and when we got to the turn-off to Happy Daze Hut, three decided to carry on down the river and the rest of us went up past the hut. We all met up at the last river crossing, having picked up Peter along the way.

Low river levels made the tramp a breeze

As we left the river to go back to the van, three got ahead and carried on along a track to who knows where. They had missed a turn in the track. The rest of us got to the van, changed, had some food and drink and a lie in the sun before the other three turned up.

A couple of the party had swims in some lovely pools. It was a great day, with a lot of laughs.

Trampers: Peter Slagter, Isobel Holdaway, Jennie Porter, John Marshall, Murray White, Tony Pluymer, Kelvin Shaw, John Burrell, Ken Ross and reporter Dorothy Sole