Upper Makaroro Hut, Ruahine FP, Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026
Banner Photo: At the Rocky Knoll (978) with views of Mangleton Valley
This was the first overnighter of the year and four trampers decided to take the opportunity of two days out in glorious weather. We left Taradale at 7am, starting our walk from the Sentry Box parking area just before 8.30.
Yep, we have a way to go yet
The climb up to the ridge was as steep as ever, and tougher with an overnight pack; but we made it to the ridgeline where we were treated to several whiteheads fluttering around. After a break, it was on to Parks Peak Hut for lunch. There was sign of someone staying in the hut and, according to the hut book, he had gone to Kylie bivvy for a day walk! We later saw him and that was indeed what he had done. Young legs had clearly helped.
Lunch break at Parks Peak Hut
After lunch came the downhill which, particularly near the end, is very steep and – for 10 metres or so – the track is on the edge of a vertical slip. Not Fiona’s favourite part of the tramp! But all went well and we arrived at Upper Makaroro Hut around 2.30pm. There was no-one else there, so we could all claim a bunk. Nevertheless, Fiona chose to set up her tent.
The weather was fabulous; sunny but not too hot. The Makaroro River, which flows in front of the hut, was up but clear. Fortunately so, because it is the hut’s water source.
We had taken over a job usually done by a friend of Sue Trotter, to clean the hut as part of the Love Our Huts campaign; so that’s what we did, after a hot drink.
Di volunteered to clean the hut toilet
Out came the cleaning agents and cloths. Di opted to clean the toilet, which ended up totally spick and span. Fiona scrubbed the mattresses and got rid of most of the mould. Mary took charge of the windows and the floor and I washed the inside walls and removed weeds and plants that were touching the hut. After an hour or so, the work was done and we could move in.
On the way to the hut, we had noticed a trapline that came all the way down to Upper Makaroro Hut. There were quite a few catches in them, so Di and I intended to clear them on the way out the following day. But at about 4pm, a man arrived – and he was doing the traplines. He explained how the entire Northern Ruahines are now covered with traplines, managed by the Mauri Oho Trust. The following day, he was going on to do lines on Totara Spur and the tops. Impressive!
The red hot viewing seat
Still later, a couple arrived with a dog. She was inspecting the tracks on behalf of the Back Country Trust, to see which ones needed maintenance. So there were seven of us at the hut and we were all volunteers of some sort! Fortunately, the three others had tents.
A whio in the river showed itself several times. He seemed to be alone, but the man doing the trapline told us that he had seen the female too and believed he had heard some chicks.
The following day, we made a 7am start to make the climb back to Parks Peak Hut in the shade. At Parks Peak, we caught up with the man who’d been to Kylie biv, plus two friends who had joined him. He said he was quite tired; no wonder, after that hike…
On our way back to the Sentry Box junction, we bumped into Colin Jones, who had walked in to meet us and perhaps walk out with us. However, he decided to go to Parks Peak Hut first, so we went on by ourselves. The descent to the car park was hot and seemed endless but, by about 12.30pm, we were back at the car.
It was a great weekend and a first for Mary and Fiona to Upper Makaroro Hut.
Trampers: Di Reid, Mary Campbell, photographer Fiona Bryant and reporter Elly Govers
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