Iron Whare, Kaweka FP, Wednesday 3 September 2025
Banner Photo: Heading down Count Spur
We left Park Island earlier than usual, at 7am, picking up Julia en route to Whittle Road, Kaweka Road and a new experience of walking a trapline. This was a through tramp down Count Spur (named after a kiwi that was in the area), crossing the Makahu Stream, up the ridge to Iron Whare, lunch at Kaweka Flats bivvy and out to Makahu Saddle car park.
The waterfall, as seen from the bottom of the ridge through the bush
Leaving Ted, Tony and Mark to move the van to the car park, nine set off into the bush. A flat beginning became a steep descent with beautiful beech forest, narrow ledges and a magical waterfall as we approached the bottom.
This is one of the traplines that ECOED, a local conservation community group, has created in the Kaweka Forest Park. The lines are part of the Save Our Kaweka Kiwi trapping project. At each trap stop, Julia shared knowledge of the different types of traps, how they work, baits and the pests targeted. A wonderful insight into the ‘behind-the-scenery’ work done by people who donate their time to help with pest control in our forest parks.
Heading towards Iron Whare, the main range in full view
A rest stop in the sun at Makahu Stream included the discovery of two seats of pants torn and destined for the rag bag.
We removed a layer and started the steep climb up the ridge and along to Iron Whare. Built by the Halletts of Puketitiri as a musterer’s hut in the 1870s, it is the oldest hut in the Kaweka Forest Park.
Lunch at Kaweka Flats bivvy
We moved on to Kaweka Flats bivvy for lunch in the sun and amazing views of the Kaweka Range. Two very small orange dots could be seen and identified as Dominie Hut and its toilet.
In the last hour and a half, we navigated creek crossings, a riverbed scramble and more stunning beech forest. When Makahu Saddle Hut appeared, we knew we had reached the end. Ted, Tony and Mark were waiting. Mark had walked in to Kaweka Flats bivvy and back.
In total it was just over six hours for the day and we were on our way back to Napier. Many thanks to Julia for sharing what she does and to John for driving.
Trampers: Ted Angove, Mark Jenkins, John Dobbs, Mary Campbell, Juliet Gillick, Julia Mackie, Paul Hendy, Tony Pluymers, Selina Chilton, Pam Millard, Colin Jones and reporter Donna Weston. Photos: Paul Hendy, Donna Weston and Julia Mackie
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