Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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A memory of Happy Daze…

December 9, 2008 by Julia Mackie 1 Comment

Awatere – Happy Daze, November 19 2008

Trampers: Graham Bell, Gary Bowler, Vic Bullock, Paul Exeter, John Gray, Manfred Hausler, Rosemary Jeffery, John Marshall, Keith Moretta, Kelvin Shaw, Vietta Siagian, Ray Slavin, Peter Slagter, Thelma Tasman-Smith, Barry Motley and Ken Ross (reporter)

Chocolate stop at Awatere HutOur tramp to Awatere Hut then down the North Branch of the Makaretu River to Happy Daze Hut would normally start from Moorcock Saddle at the end of Kashmir Road. Not for us, though. The last steep section of the road had been recently remetalled and was only suitable for 4WDs. So we, the van 12, had the doubtful pleasure of walking to the road end before joining the other four of our group there.

Section one was a brief climb out of the saddle and then south along a ridge with great views east across Hawke’s Bay and west to the main Ruahine Range to Longview Hut and Rocky Knob. Then it was a steep drop down into the Makaretu River and across it to Awatere Hut for a chocolate stop.

Next, it was down-river for a brief visit to Black Stag Hut – a flash name for a not-so-flash shelter. The riverbed was good, easy going except for all those rocks and stones. Scenery was great, with a new vista around every bend. Our lunch stop, Happy Daze Hut, was a climb above the river. We enjoyed a sunny rest before retracing our steps.

The third section back up the river was easier because we didn’t need to try to keep our feet dry. Then it was a climb back up to the saddle. Back up on the ridge, it was windy and cool, so no time to stop, and we set off down to the vehicles to dry socks and a coffee before the drive home.

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Awatere Hut, Black Stag Hut, Happy Daze, Longview Hut, Makaretu River, Moorcock Saddle, Ruahines

About Julia Mackie

Comments

  1. Jan Roeleven says

    December 26, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    Mooie trip . Ik lees alles over jullie,groepjes uit Holland, Ik ben een zwager van Peter slagter.

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We are a group of like-minded people who love the great outdoors. We tramp mostly in the Hawke’s Bay province, in remote areas such as the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges; but we also travel longer distances to new places, for longer walks.

The Napier Tramping Club was established in 1974 and has about 70 members. We belong to the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Inc (FMC) and run Saturday, full-weekend and Wednesday tramps, every fortnight.

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