Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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One gorge too far…

February 16, 2011 by Keith Moretta Leave a Comment

Makino Hut – Three Gorges, February 16 2011

Trampers: Kelvin Shaw, Gary Bowler, Paul Exeter, John Marshall, Murray Goss, Ron Morison, John Burrell, Isabel Holdaway and reporter Keith Moretta

The previous period of high temperatures and humidity, typical for February, was replaced today with cooler, overcast skies and occasional drizzle.

Eight members headed towards Makino Hut from the Makahu Road, Makino car park, while Ron ambled around the base for the day, and he was assigned to bring the van to Middle Hill car park. The steep Makino ridge is never the best way to begin the day’s walk, but we were quickly among low scrub, bracken and manuka that had colonised the ridge.

After an hour, we entered beech forest where we passed Makino Bivouac, and after 90 minutes we had morning tea at the Middle Hill Hut/Makino Hut intersection. Paul, Murray, and John M had planned to go to Makino Hut, while the remaining five decided to cross the three gorges, to Middle Hill Hut track.

The three gorges crossing is mostly covered in beech trees. The geology is mainly metamorphic sandstone, often with cliff outcrops. The track is carpeted thick with beech leaves and the scene is completed by mature trees covering the region as a backdrop. There are signs that deer numbers have reduced, with huge numbers of horopito trees growing where beech trees have fallen.

Our descent into the first gorge is steep and eventually we arrive at a small stream. The ascent takes us onto a wide plateau, where we stop for lunch among some of the beech trees and leaves. There is little bird life, and we do not stay long as people begin to cool and stiffen with the cooler weather.

Our trail repeats the descending and ascending with two more gorges. We cross the Mangatutuanui Stream in the third gorge as beech trees are slowly replaced by manuka trees as we near the top. The trail returns to clay with loose rock, but it is welcomed by all as we join the Middle Hill Hut trail, four hours from the Makino Ridge track. Views of the three gorges from Middle Hill Hut trail give everyone a sense of the day’s journey. We quickly descend the ridge, and upon reaching the Mangatutuanui Stream bridge, a short riverside walk to Middle Hill car park is completed by five tired, weary but very happy hikers who’d had a wonderful seven hours.

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Makino Ridge, Middle Hill Hut

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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

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Latest trip

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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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