Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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The Mohaka: Up-and-down, and all-round drama

April 15, 2010 by Ken Ross Leave a Comment

Waitere Station, Wednesday, April 14 2010

Trampers: Ted Angove, Gary Bowler, Vic Bullock, Alison Greer, Rosemary Jeffery, John Marshall, Sue and Peter Martin, Keith Moretta, Kelvin Shaw, Robyn Smith, Peter Slagter, Gordon Tapp and Ken Ross

From the top of the Mangaharuru Range (Bell Rock or Taraponui), you can look north-west into the Mohaka River basin, onto some very interesting country: a vista of farm, forest and bush with distinctive land formations and the dramatic Mohaka River rushing through it. In the middle, at the end of Waitara Road, is Landcorp’s Waitere Station, the location for our tramp. We’re grateful to have permission to tramp on this farm.

The beautiful Mohaka River

Our route was a clockwise circuit, starting from the station’s new cattle yards. We followed farm tracks westward, until dropping quite steeply to a river terrace and our first expansive views up the river.

Our search for an easy descent to water level didn’t prove successful and so the technically difficult, ungainly and undignified five-point crawl was generally adopted for the final drop. We took an extended drink stop in this interesting section of the river, on large flat rock platforms featuring ancient shell fossils. A waterfall spouted from the cliff face opposite.

The view of Te Kooti's Lookout in the distance

We worked our way downstream, clambering over and around large boulders along the river’s edge to our lunch spot, a deep swimming hole – but there were no swimmers. And then we climbed steadily, to be rewarded with expansive views up-river to that distinctive peak, Te Kooti’s Lookout, and to our route ahead, a hanging valley between towering buttressed limestone cliffs. The climb through the valley is dramatic, with amazing rock formations on both sides. From the top of the valley, it was a short traverse around to the airstrip and then downhill back to the woolshed, where we found our wheels.

The weather had been near-perfect: Sunny with a clear blue sky, plus a few fluffy white clouds to add interest to the photos – and just enough wind to keep everyone cool.

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Waitere Station

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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

May 2025 News

The NTC AGM was held on 22 May. The officer positions for the club are: Di Reid - President, Sue … Read More

April 2025 News

The AGM for 2025 will be held on 22 May. Where we're headed in 2025 The first six-months' … Read More

Latest trip

A damper on our day trip: Cloud turns to mist, mist becomes drizzle, then it pours

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
  • Taraponui i-Networks camera
  • Weather forecast

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