A walk to a local landmark proves popular

Te Waka Range from Potters Rd, Wednesday 6 November 2019

The tramp along Te Waka Range is always a popular trip and today there were 18 trampers out.

Lynette was the organiser and she and Robyn had been out Monday to meet Andrew Carswell for a guided tour of the proposed route over his property. Unfortunately, the last section to the cell tower at the northern end of the range is on another property and access was denied to us, which was disappointing.

The day was cooler than the previous last couple of days which had been very hot, a northerly breeze keeping the temperature down. We started up a farm track, over paddocks, through gates, over a stream then picked up another farm track taking us up onto the tops.

We passed amazing rock formations typical of the area, sheltering behind them for morning tea. The views were opening up and landmarks were pointed out to our new trampers. The Kaweka Range was clear of its latest snowfall, and to the north, row after row of ranges, and along the Maungaharuru Range to Taraponui. We walked the undulating grassy terrain through patches of bush and around tarns, finally arriving at the fenceline which borders the property. We spent a leisurely lunch in a sheltered spot, looking at the cell tower over on the next ridge!

The return route was along the western edge of the range, stopping to peek over at “The Devil’s Punch Bowl” a sheer drop down the cliff face to the valley below. The party split at one point, two taking the direct route down through bush while the rest sidled back to the original farm track and down to meet them at the little stream we had crossed earlier.

We stopped to chat to Andrew at the sheds by the cars, thanking him for allowing us onto his property, and thanks to Lynette for organising a great day out.

Trampers: Lynette, Dorothy, Sue T, John S, Max, Sue G, Ted, Tony, Phil, John Bennett, Colin, Simon, Geoff, Sue M, Sally, Caralyn, Doug, and reporter Alison Greer.