Fun, fun, fun

Te Puia track and Makino track, Kaweka FP, Saturday 5 May, 2018.
Map: BJ37

It was a good autumnal day, so 16 trampers set out, all with different motivations, but all wanting to enjoy the day. Five were first-timers and we all had a great day out.

Five went up the Makino Track to Te Puia and 11 from ‘The Gums’ car park to Te Puia.

There are lots of fallen trees debris along the Makino track. These were cleared after the storms in 2017, so now the track is really good. We found several traps which had rats caught in them. We advised Barrie, our local club trap line volunteer, of the trap numbers. He will be going up to check and rebait the traps. Barrie advised that the colder weather has increased the catch rate. Our thanks to the volunteers who do this valuable work. It all helps with the ‘Battle for the Birds’.

The Te Puia track was a good introduction to the first-timers. They visited the natural arch, en route. Those who made it to the Mangatainoka hot pools which are a further 40 minutes beyond Te Puia Lodge, also had a good time. Koen leapt into the Mohaka river and then dashed into the hot pool.

The Mohaka was certainly high, but running clear. Serveral fishermen were seen down below, fly fishing the opposite river bank. We also met some hunters and other trampers all heading for the hut. A party of 12 from Hastings Girls High School, doing their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, were also heading for an overnight in the hut. A busy night for those staying.

Hannah kept us entertained and had encounters of the unusual kind in the hot pools!

Stupendous driving, Sue… and fun, fun, fun.

Trampers: Gordon, Jenny, Juliet, John B, Hannah, Mana, Lynette, Sue M, Koen, Sue Martin, Jude, Denise, Peter, Gerard, Julia and reporter Fiona Bryant. Pictures, Julia, Peter and Fiona.