Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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A damp tramp back into the mists of time

April 29, 2009 by Ken Ross Leave a Comment

Upper Te Hoe Hut, Wednesday, April 1 2009. Map: V18

Trampers: Alison Greer, Ron Morison, Vic Bullock, Penny and Arthur Mead, Paul Exeter, John Marshall, John Mason, Robyn Smith, Peter Slagter, Peter Youren and Ken Ross

We left the van in the Pukahunui car park in the Whirinaki Forest Park to do the in-and-out tramp to the Upper Te Hoe Hut. Light misty rain was falling. It wasn’t long before the rain gear was donned. Why didn’t I put my leggings on, too? The overgrown track soon had us really soaked. Lesson learnt. Some of the party reached the hut while others returned earlier as they (and the weather) dictated.

At the crossroads in a misty rain forestThe track climbs steadily through very distinctive, even foreboding, rain forest. The misty rain added to the effect. Very old – even ancient, to my eye – gnarled moss- and lichen-covered beech trees form a dense canopy. These trees are draped with a range of epiphytes. Large mountain cabbage trees line the track, together with large patches of lush Prince of Wales Feather ferns. This forest is unique and was apparently enough to get David Bellamy excited with words like “one of the best Mesozoic plant communities remaining on Earth”. And we were there.

From the high point (1200m), the track gradually loses height as it winds around before seriously dropping down (or so I’m told) to the hut “in” the upper reaches of the Te Hoe River.

Bird life was noticeably absent. It was only back near the van that we encountered some. Maybe it was a bit too cold up higher. It certainly was on our day. The map does say “snows often in winter”.

All were back at the van by shortly after 4pm. The later ones missed out on some of the dual birthday celebrations for the two Johns, though we saved them a few treats. It was a happy way to end a great day in an interesting place.

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Te Hoe

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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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January 2023 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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