Stanfield Hut, Ruahine FP, Saturday 26 August 2023
Banner Photo: The Tamaki River bed, transformed
This tramp started off different. First, we had to meet at the Girl Guide rooms in Tamatea because of road closures. Second, we were all there early, so left ten minutes before normal time. Third, one tramper desperately needed the loo so after going to three different locked public toilets, she ended up visiting Macdonalds. What a relief!
It was a long drive to Dannevirke but there was plenty of chatter and laughter to drown out the dreadful All Black live broadcast score, which got worse the further we drove. Once we were off the main road and heading towards the ranges, we noticed hundreds of spring lambs and calves in the paddocks and plenty of snow along the tops of the Ruahines.
Marie, Bruce, and Hilary decided to walk to Stanfield Hut via the Holmes Ridge Track.
Sue Martin reports: The rest of us climbed the steep track of 600m to Travers (A-Frame) Hut. The track was far less muddy, and we experienced better weather than a year ago.
Travers Hut, aka A-Frame Hut
By the time we arrived at the hut for morning tea, the first speedy group were patiently sitting in the sun. Everyone made the hut in good times, all under two hours.
Then we had a walk along the 4wd track which has more bumps along it than I can remember. This took us an hour.
The 4wd track along the ridgeline has some deep water
At the end of the road, we mastered a very overgrown, sodden track. It took some concentration because of the long flax leaves that wrapped around our feet to trip us up and the dense leatherwood that poked our bodies. Frequently, all we could see in front were others’ heads bobbing around. We regrouped often, had plenty to drink and admired the views, with Dannevirke town shining in the distance.
The next stage was a steep descent, muddy, slippery, rooty and full of unexpected holes. This section was also overgrown. We all had a slip or two but I had the best one, which ended in a tumble. I escaped with a few scratches to my face, but it could have been far more damaging.
Starting the descent down to Stanfield Hut from the 4wd track
We arrived at Stanfield Hut in the sunshine in just under five hours. This eight-bunk hut was built in 1965 and has recently been renovated by volunteers organised by the Backcountry Trust. The other group had just left. A memorial plaque to George Stanfield, a local farmer, volunteer and hunter, is pinned to the wall. A mum, her two children and the dog headed off before us; it is always great to see families out in the bush. A well-deserved lunch break was had by all.
All the hard work had been done, no more flax or leatherwood, so we knew the last stage would be a little easier. We walked down to the Tamaki West branch to find the marker that leads up to the Holmes Ridge. The ridge follows the river most of the way along another 4wd track through regenerating native forest.
There was a steep descent at the end which the knees didn’t really appreciate; we spotted the van and made our way to meet the other party.
Overall, an excellent day out, good company and a first to Stanfield Hut for Mary.
Bruce reports on the alternative route:
Bruce and Hilary took the Holmes Ridge track
Three of us chose to walk to Stanfield Hut via Holmes Ridge Track. This was a very leisurely day for us. No time pressure to reach the destination, just a lovely amble up to the ridge on the true left of the west branch of the Tamaki River, along the wide and open ridge before dropping to the river.
The recent storms have transformed the riverbed. All the debris and buddleia infestation we remember has been flushed away. The valley is clean, open, evenly graded shingle with the stream meandering through.
At Stanfield Hut, we were joined by a solo tramper; he had walked the river from the car park, avoiding the climb-and-descent route we had taken. We spent an hour and a half chatting in the sun on the hut veranda and were joined by a young mum and her children who had followed us in.
We gave up waiting for the rest of the party coming from A-frame and headed back. We took the river all the way to the car park. This 5km walk, once challenging, is now so easy. Just one fallen tree to climb under for the whole way. We arrived back at the van about 45 minutes ahead of the main group.
Trampers: Campbell Living, Di Reid, Mary Campbell, Shona Tupe, Hilary Heath-Caldwell, Julian Phillips, Rosemary Jeffery, Marie Deroles and reporters Sue Martin and Bruce Hodgson
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