A change of plan reveals new discoveries

Blowhard Bush, Wednesday 11 June 2025
Banner Photo: Group selfie near a cave

A foggy start in Napier for this tramp and, with rain the night before risking high river levels, we changed our destination from Lotkow Road – Black Birch Range, to Blowhard Bush.

With five trampers in Juliet’s car, we set off hoping for better weather and – as if by magic – partway up the Taihape Road, the sun suddenly appeared.

We spent three hours exploring the tracks within Blowhard Bush, admiring mature, majestic matai and rimu. Tui, whitehead, robin and piwakawaka could be seen and heard.

Morning tea was enjoyed at Lowry Lodge. The lodge was originally built closer to Lawrence Road; it was dismantled and moved to its present site in 1993 to provide shelter for people visiting the higher reaches. We were so privileged to have Ted share his knowledge and memories of the area.

Kaweka Lookout, although gusty, gave a clear view across forestry to the Kaweka Range. Troglodyte Track is perfectly named with its large rock formations, most covered in moss and some with trees sitting astride them with large, leg-like roots reaching down around the rocks and into the ground.

Two cave wētā were discovered by torchlight on the back wall of a cave and were photographed by Juliet and Selina. Cave wētā are also known as jumping wētā or spider crickets. They are nocturnal and found in cool, dark environments such as caves, leaf litter and hollow trees.

This reserve, maintained by Forest and Bird, is a magical place to experience and we’d encourage others to discover it.

We were back at the car by 11.45am, too early for lunch; so we drove to the Lakes car park and walked the track we usually pass by, to the Twin Lakes. The track begins directly behind the information board, and runs through tall forest; then it undulates through more open bush. A couple of fallen smaller dead trees needed skirting around.

At the track sign, we descended to the lake. Ted stayed above to clear storm damage.  The lakeside offered a serene space to enjoy lunch and chat; then Rob, Selina and Donna started the short climb back to the top track. Juliet had a quick scout around the lake’s edge to the walk through to the second and larger lake, which will be an adventure for another day.

In what seemed a very short time, we were back at the car park. For some, Blowhard Bush and the Lakes walk had been on the to-do list for some years, ticked off at last. We were back at Park Island by 2.30pm. Many thanks to Juliet for transport.

Trampers: Juliet Gillick, Ted Angove, Selina Chilton, Rob Vork and reporter Donna Weston