Middle Hill and Whetū, Kaweka FP, Saturday 2 August 2025
Banner Photo: North Whetū as seen from the bushline on Camp Spur
Eleven trampers met at Park Island on a chilly winter’s morning, but the forecast was good so we were looking forward to the sun on our backs and frost beneath our feet. Campbell drove the van, which was steamed up most of the way. Was that because we were keen, or just the weather?
Taking a break at Middle Hill Hut
It was gloriously sunny when we arrived at Middle Hill car park, where Marc was waiting to join us. Welcome back Marc, good to have you join us again. We kept the layers on (the temperature might have been positive degrees, but only just) and set off across crisp, icy grass and frozen puddles. As we started up the hill, layers of clothing began to come off.
I was checking traps and re-setting them along the way, but not many rats had been caught.
Approaching the hut, we heard two gunshots, thankfully a distance away, and we later met the hunters. We had morning tea at Middle Hill Hut, admiring the renovation completed earlier this year. The new wood burner is much appreciated by those staying for a night or two. There was evidence that two hunters had been there overnight.
Campbell, just leaving the bushline
Then we split into two groups: those who wanted to get to the bushline up Camp Spur, and those who were not going up but did some more walking, taking photos and enjoying the bush.
Campbell, Shona, Colin, Julian and I set off for the hike up the hill. About halfway up, the frost turned to snow and ice and the wind rose. It was very cold and layers went back on even though we were walking up steep terrain. This path is always a bit further than you think! It took us about 90 minutes (and thankyou Campbell for encouraging me to do the last bit). Very cold but absolutely beautiful. A brisk wind at the top but quite sheltered close to the bush, big icicles on the grasses and clouds billowing past across the tops.
I was keen to see if the other group was OK and still at the hut so took off down the hill at 12.30pm. Only an hour going back (so much easier since the track has been cleared of old windfall recently by the Back Country Trust ) but they had already left. I got there at 1.30pm and later found out that they had left at 1pm.
Ace photographer Marc captured this amazing shot of a river monster during the tramp…
It’s a lovely, sunny lunch spot and the two young hunters returned, having shot two deer. They said they had seen eight that morning, so there are a few up there. Neat guys, and it turned out Campbell knew one of them. I saw tomtits, one with a big worm which I tried to photograph (and failed – too far away), not many other birds but a huge hare which I initially thought was a small sheep because it had such a thick coat.
I reached the van at about 3.40pm. The others were all huddled warmly inside, having arrived at about 3pm. Those who had been to the top returned soon after. I drove the van and collected bait from the DoC station at Puketitiri, ready for a return on Monday to do a trapline. We arrived back at Park Island at 5.40pm, happy, tired and looking forward to relaxing at home.
Trampers: Campbell Living, Shona Tupe, Donna Weston, Mary Campbell, Phil Shakespeare, Julian Phillips, Jenny Burns, Colin Jones, Alison Greer, Michelle Finlayson, Marc Marchal, and reporter Di Reid
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