The Hogget, Wednesday 6 December, 2023
Banner Photo: Above the bushline, the foggy views on our way
This was my first time to the Hogget. We left Park Island just after 7.30am and arrived at Timahanga Station around 9am. Ten minutes later, we were on our way. It was foggy, but not raining. Because of the fog, and because several of us had not done this tramp before, we decided to stay together.
The bush is lush
The first kilometre of the route to the Hogget is over a farm track, so that was easy walking. The stream crossing that followed was easy too, no wet feet here. Then comes a good track through really nice bush. The first part is relatively mature, but later the bush is clearly at an early stage of regeneration. Looking at the vegetation, we worked out that there must have been a broader track here in the past, but these days half of the track is covered in low kanuka and horopito, leaving only a narrow walking track. It’s very clear and easy to follow. In places where there may be some doubt, a kind person has hung ribbons in the trees to lead people in the right direction.
After close to 4 km (1h 15 mins), we stopped for morning tea. We had just left the bush and were entering shrubland. Here the track has become slightly overgrown in places but a bit of searching around always took us back to the right route.
Once we arrived on the open tops, still in the fog, we suddenly found multiple tracks and chose the wrong one, which was going down rather than up. Only Geoff had gone in the right direction. We retraced our steps and found the track again at the turn-off to the hut, which is only 150 m or so from the main track. Everyone except Geoff wanted to see the hut, so we went to have a look. It is in a very nice spot; a pity that it is private.
‘The Yards’ spells out the history
After finding Geoff again, we continued on the very clear track to the Hogget, which is at 1287m. During the final climb, the fog cleared and we were treated to some very nice views, including an idea of where we were going. Unfortunately Ruapehu was not visible today, but still we could see the No-Mans ridge and the surrounding farmland.
The grassland plateau and Kaweka Ranges to the north-east
Once on the top, the sun was out and we had lunch while enjoying the warmth. The top is a large flat area which in the old days was used as a sheep yard. It always amazes me how farmers managed to transport sheep to remote and exposed places like these.
We returned the same way we had come. Because the route is not very steep, it was easy walking and we made it back in 2 hours and 15 minutes, half an hour faster than the uphill. The total distance was 16 km with 720 metres of climbing.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to the Roberts family for allowing us to access Timahanga Station.
Trampers: Colin Jones, Alison Greer, Geoff Donkin, Andrea Hannah, Christine Briasco, Keith Gore, Doug Matheson, Juliet Gillick and reporter Elly Govers
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