Te Puia Hut via Makino Track (or along the Mohaka), Kaweka FP, Wednesday 19 February 2025
Banner photo: On the beach…
There were 11 in the van departing Park Island car park for the Wednesday tramp to Te Puia Hut. Thanks to Di for doing the driving. The morning was cloudy and, once we got into the Kawekas, coolish and a bit misty – but there was no rain.
Elly, Keith G and Kate were dropped off to take the Makino Track with their plan to meet the rest of us at Te Puia Hut. The remainder of the group started from the car park at 9am. Ted and Tony went at their own pace and didn’t continue to the hut. Ted stopped at the hunters’ bivvy, where he found new bunks were being installed. (And Ted was the only one of us to see a whio in the river.)
The rest stopped for morning tea at a small beach beside the Mohaka. The views were spectacular and the morning was warming up. (This was actually one of the hottest days of Hawke’s Bay’s 2025 summer, reaching 30 degrees in Napier.)
Chilling out at Te Puia Hut
Our bigger group arrived at the hut at 11.45am and the others comng by the Makino Track arrived 30 minutes later. We knew there was insufficient time to go on to the springs, so we stayed for lunch and left together to return to the van at 1.20pm.
Going in, the early part of the track from the car park had been cleared and this was much appreciated. However, further on, it was not in such good shape and some thought it somewhat unsafe in a few places. Di and Elly cleared traps along the track, finding a possum and weasel. The copious show of gorgeous purple berries against the dark foliage of the ink berry made a beautiful show.
Towards the end of the return trip, there was light drizzle turning to rain as we arrived at the car park. We were on the road back to Napier at 3.30pm.
Trampers: Di Reid, Elly Govers, Donna Weston, Sue Martin, Kate Fuller, Tony Pluymers, Barbara Edmead, Ted Angove, Keith James, Keith Gore and reporter Christine Briasco
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