Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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A visit to Iron Whare via Pinnacle Stream

February 22, 2014 by Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Iron Whare, Kaweka FP, Saturday February 22.
Map: BK37

The planned trip to Back Ridge Hut changed when we reached the turn-off for the viewing point on Kaweka Road, on our way up to Makahu Saddle.

The outside loo, right next to the track approaching Iron Whare

The outside loo, right next to the track approaching Iron Whare

We jointly decided that some of us would do the round trip to Iron Whare, Kaweka Flats Biv, and out to Makahu car park, whilst one of ‘the girls’ would drive the van to the car park and they would walk to Iron Whare from there. Transport problem solved for those of us doing the round tramp.

We started from the water reservoir, heading north to pick up the hunters’ track which follows a ridge down to Pinnacle Stream. Patches of scree, with low scrub and various markers tied to the manuka. Spot the next marker was a good game, but it was easy most of the time. Just follow your nose down the ridge.

We reached Pinnacle Stream, and hopped across it, so no wet boots. Again, there are markers (not DoC orange ones, but multicoloured tape) indicating the ridge to climb up to Iron Whare and some of my own markers left about two years ago, on a Duke of Edinburgh training exercise (orange plastic ribbon).

The climb has got steeper for the two old fellas, but they did OK for 75- year-olds. We reached Iron Whare, a historic hut which is in a great spot, but has no water nearby. We decided that it would be Kaweka Flats Biv for lunch. This is 40 mins away on a well marked track (DoC orange markers). We met the other party (the girls) coming to Iron Whare. The old fellas decided to wait and join them on their walk back to Kaweka Flats Biv.

A good lunch stop at Kaweka Flats, in the shade of kanuka bush, as it was becoming a hot day. We would have fried up on the tops.

Dropping down to the stream from Kaweka Flats

Dropping down to the stream from Kaweka Flats

The walk back to Makahu is an easy one, and in the bush most of the way, excepting the five minutes when walking upstream.

We had a short, easy day while the rest of Napier were sweltering in the heat at the Art Deco events.

Trampers: Ted Angove, Paul Exeter, Marc Marchal, Geoff Donkin, Jenny Burns, Alison Greer and Julia Mackie. The girls: Denise Payne, Sue Titter, Sue Marshall.

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Iron Whare, Kaweka Flats Bivvy, Kaweka Forest Park

About Julia Mackie

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News

March 2023 News

March 1, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

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

February 2023 News

February 4, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

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

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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