Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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The gorgy bit... where the river was to be treated with respect

Snap, crackle and plop into the Waipawa River

January 18, 2012 by Ken Ross Leave a Comment

Waipawa River Gorge, Wednesday January 18 2012

This tramp began at the end of North Block Road in the Ruahines. We had checked the water level in the Waipawa River on the way in and it looked ideal. Even so, some chose not to get their feet wet but instead climb to Sunrise Hut and beyond in search of alpine flowers. This suited the six of us who wanted to do the through trip downriver to the Pendle Hill Bridge, as they would be able to relocate the van for us. The weather was perfect: a clear sky and a little wind down the river although possibly a little too warm in the open latter part of the trip.

The gorgy bit... where the river was to be treated with respect

From the car park, it was off down the riverbed with countless crossings, past a waterfall then into the bush-enshrouded gorge. Over and around big rocks, in the main heading downstream but with some diversions to sort out a “do-able” route. We exited the gorge onto more open farmland at about the point Middle Stream joins the Waipawa and stopped for lunch at the confluence with Smiths Stream. We guessed that there wasn’t much shade ahead so had lunch under a tree before the second section, the open riverbed through farmland.

The flow from Middle and Smiths streams had more than doubled the flow in the Waipawa River, so caution was still needed on the continuing numerous crossings. As well as the constant babble of the river, we were hearing the snap, crackle and pop of lupin seedpods, lupins being the main vegetation along the river. At times, we got views back upstream to the ranges, which confirmed we had actually travelled quite some distance.

I had just been starting an internal debate about the difference between a tramp and a trudge but I didn’t need to conclude it as the bridge that signified the end of our tramp hove into view. I think we were all relieved that that section of the tramp was over. With perfect timing, the van arrived as we were enjoying getting wrinkled white feet out of our boots.

Trampers: Alison Greer, Vic Bullock, Kelvin Shaw, Gary Bowler, Denis Mitchell, Pamela May, John Marshall, John Burrell, Keith Moretta and reporter Ken Ross

Filed Under: Recent trips

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News

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March 1, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

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February 2023 News

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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

March 2023 News

Tramp List Amendments and Road Closures Due to the inability to access most of the Ruahine Forest … Read More

February 2023 News

Mokai Access to Iron Bark and Colenso Huts Copied from the Ruahine User Group (Private) Facebook … Read More

Latest trip

Racing (and beating) Cyclone Gabrielle

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

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