Te Puia, Kaweka FP, Wednesday 10 June 2026
Banner Photo: Two parts of the Te Puia track, the bluff and the staircase
At 07.25, four keen trampers departed a cool 9°C Park Island, arriving to a very cool 0°C at The Gums car park at 08.55. Our journey via Puketitiri onto Makahu Road was uneventful, with very little traffic or roadworks on a beautiful, clear morning.
The first part of the track was through scrub and open grass areas, white and glistening with frost. We then entered areas of tall kanuka and beech through to Te Puia Lodge. We met Elly, Gerard and two friends returning from an overnighter at the lodge and heading to the Puketapu pub for lunch.
Te Puia Lodge, as seen from the Mohaka River bank
At one of the small stream crossings, one of our group was up-ended after stepping on an unstable log and had a close encounter with a small bush of onga onga. No harm was done!
We arrived at the lodge at 11.25 and met two wardens from Taupo who’d spent the previous four days doing the odd jobs that wardens do. They did their best to encourage us to volunteer as wardens. Seems that they’re hard to come by.
The weather was now overcast and cool so we were discouraged from lingering over lunch and hit the return track to keep warm. The cloud did break for some of the return trip. We were back at the car park by 14.00 – only a two-hour walk.
Keith has his dip and enjoys a coffee at Mangatutu hot springs
In spite of the tramp organiser (me) recommending we bring our togs, I was the only one to take a dip in the Mangatutu hot springs. However, the two lovely ladies on the trip made me coffee to enjoy whilst luxuriating in the warm water.
A pleasant journey home had us back at Park Island by 16.05 after a most enjoyable day.
Notes from a first-time tramp organiser (we did not have any issues, but could have on this cold morning)
When using your own vehicle, check the following before heading out:
1 – I charged the portable jump starter and carried a legible copy of the instructions.
2 – I checked my spare tyre; it was dead flat. I hope everyone transporting does the same.
Trampers: Michelle Finlayson, Ian Pirie, Pam Millard and reporter Keith Gore
Leave a Reply