Christmas BBQ at Omatua, 4 December 2016 The weather was organised (so said the President), the food was organised and the members were organised – but alas, the barbecue wasn’t: it lacked a gas bottle. Many thanks to Dave Hills who went home and returned with his own bottle. In the meantime, intrepid chefs John… [Read More]
Going the long way (and perhaps the wrong way)…
Mackintosh Hut, Kaweka FP, Map: BJ37 Wednesday July 20, 2016 The forecast was for “showers clearing in the morning with a S/W change”. The forecast temp for Napier was 14˚. Originally we had 23 on the list, but four pulled out because of winter colds, or visitors who stayed too long,, etc. So in the… [Read More]
Sentry Box Hut an historic gem
Sentry Box to Park Peaks Hut, Wednesday June 8 2016 Banner pix: The views into the Mangleton Valley The day started with frost and a temperature of 1˚, but there was a forecast at Napier of 18˚. Roll on the sunrise and a rise in temperature, we thought. Murray gave us a practical demonstration on… [Read More]
We’re off to the naki, Whirinaki that is
Central Whirinaki Hut – Whirinaki Forest Park, Wednesday November 11 2015 The forecast was for westerly winds and 20˚ with a southerly change and showers late in the day. They got it spot on. The journey there took just over two hours but the drive is always worth it for the native bush, gigantic trees… [Read More]
Te Waka (Te where?)
Te Waka, Wednesday 19 Aug 2015 The forecast was “wind changing to the North-west and rain in the afternoon”. (There was no mention of the showers in the morning and severe gales from mid-morning.) The forecast temperature for Napier was 18˚. Te Waka is a high point (1020 metres) overlooking SH5 at Te Pohue. The… [Read More]
Te Puia Lodge and the hot springs on a cold winter’s day
Makino Hut, Te Puia Lodge and Mangatainoka Hot Springs, Kaweka FP, Wednesday August 5, 2015. Map: BJ37 With 11 on board the van and five in Bruce’s car, we set off from Church Road at 7.30, picking up Kelvin the Scribe at Julia’s on Puketitiri Road. The forecast was for rain from the north-west in… [Read More]
How not to go tramping
The A-Frame (Travers Hut), Ruahine FP, Wednesday June 10 2015 With eight on board the van and four in a car, we set off from Church Road at 7.30, picking up Rosemary and Vic along the way and arriving at the road end at 9.15. The forecast was for gale-force nor’westerlies and rain towards evening…. [Read More]
Brrrrrrrrrrr! Freezing cold in April
Apiti Track, Ruahine FP, April 15 2015 Map: BL36 It was supposed to be the Apiti Track, followed by walking down the Mangatewainui River and a cut across the farmland back to the van. However, weather and time defeated us – but we had a good day just the same. With 11 on board, we… [Read More]
Shine Falls in full flow
Boundary Stream and Shine Falls, Wednesday March 18, 2015 We set off from Church Road Winery with 10 on board. At Bay View, we picked up Wai who had got her times wrong and was nearly left at the starting gate. The weather was cool but fine and the forecast was good. We were still… [Read More]
Like a motorway (they said)
Waikamaka Hut via Waipawa Saddle, Wednesday 21 January 2015 Map: BK36 That’s referring to the track alongside the upper reaches of the Waipawa River. It was cut (or recut) last year and makes such a big difference to the ease and travelling time along those sections of the river. We were probably travelling faster than… [Read More]
And Jimjam came too
Middle Hill Hut and Whetu, Wednesday Nov 19 2014 We set off from Church Road Winery at the earlier start time of 7.00 am to complete the tramp from Pinks car park to Middle Hill Hut in the Kaweka Range and – for the keen ones – a climb up to Whetu. The forecast could… [Read More]
And so the “Great Northern Trek” began
Whirinaki Forest Park, November 5 2014 We set off from Church Road Winery at the earlier start time of 7.00 am to complete the tramp from Plateau Road to Minginui through the fabulous Whirinaki Forest.The forecast was for showers, occasionally heavy. We did better than that, but it was a coats on, coats off kind… [Read More]