Central Whirinaki Hut, Saturday 21 June 2025 Banner Photo: The six of us at Central Whirinaki Hut Six trampers headed to Central Whirinaki Hut, one of the longest day trips for the club, on the shortest day of the year. Other members had originally planned to accompany us in to spend the night as the… [Read More]
Another beautiful break in the Whirinaki
Whirinaki FP, Saturday and Sunday 28-29 September 2024 Banner Photo: Whio seen in the Whirinaki stream Three cars left Park Island at 7am for the Plateau Road car park in the Whirinaki Forest Park. Once we were off the Napier-Taupo road, we found the road along the Waipunga River and through the forestry a challenge… [Read More]
Land of the giants, and baby moss forests
Upper Te Hoe Hut, Whirinaki FP. Map BG38: Sat/Sun 25/26 May 2024 Banner Photo: Upper Te Hoe Hut, and our hardy tent trampers After a long dry spell, Hawke’s Bay had good wet days leading up to our tramp, and then a frost. Fortunately for us, the skies cleared, there was no frost, and a… [Read More]
A brilliant day in the Whirinaki Forest Park
Whirinaki FP, Saturday 25 May 2024 Banner Photo: The freshly cut track made it a joy Only four of us opted for the day walk on this beautifully clear Saturday. Eight others chose to do an overnighter to Upper Te Hoe Hut. In convoy, we drove to where our roads parted. Di’s little 2WD diesel… [Read More]
Whirinaki Forest Park at its best
Whirinaki Forest Park, Wednesday 22 November 2023 Banner Photo: Whio in the Whirinaki River (Julian’s photo) A team of 14 in four 4WDs set out at 7am in drizzly conditions, with high hopes of better weather for the always popular ‘Whirinaki Thru Tramp’. This is the Plateau Road start through to the River Road end,… [Read More]
We observe a mock turtle and the rodent of Upper Te Hoe
Upper Te Hoe Hut, Whirinaki Forest Park. Sat/Sun 21/22 May, 2022. Map: BG38 Banner Photo: Getting ready to leave on Sunday morning Eight of us met just after 7am at Eskdale Church. I was heading off on my first overnight tramp with the club. Near the new wind power site, we caught a glimpse of… [Read More]
Whirinaki wonderland
Whirinaki FP, Wednesday 10 November 2021 After about a week of poor weather, finally it was a nice-looking day for the large group of 17 trampers keen to get into the Whirinaki area once again. It was also the first chance we have had to enter the Whirinaki Forest for a year or two as… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 13: A hug for a forest giant and another that made Santa go pop!
Solstice 1995, Central Whirinaki Hut, Whirinaki FP, 1995 and 2006. Leaving the airport layby about 7.10am, a group of 19 set off up the Napier Taupo Road for the Whirinaki Forest. On arriving at the car park, we found the day trippers preparing to leave on their excursion. Our packs were loaded with Christmas goodies… [Read More]
Whirinaki five-dayer: The long and the shorts of it
Whirinaki FP Circuit. 17-21 February 2020. Banner Pix: The five of us at Upper Te Hoe Trampers: Bruce Hodgson (Tramp Organiser), Robyn Smith, Lynette Morgan and Phil Enticott did this five-day tramp and Colin Jones tramped in from the finish end to meet us on the penultimate day. Each has written a story about a… [Read More]
It’s a fern fest in the Whirinaki Forest Park
Upper Te Hoe Hut, Whirinaki FP, Sat/Sun 24/25 August 2019. Map BG38 Banner Pix: Sidling through the bush We watched the temperature gauge plummet as we left the Napier/Taupo road and headed along the potholes to our first stop, Plateau car park, from where Julia was to start her six- or seven-hour tramp via the… [Read More]
‘Lost and found’ on the trek to Mangamate Hut
Mangamate Hut, Whirinaki FP, Sat/Sun 23/24 March 2019 Banner Pix: The weekenders before leaving Mangamate Hut Nine trampers in two vehicles left SH5 for an hour’s drive to the Plateau car park over a very bumpy, pot-holed shingle road – not designed for cars. At 9.30, we headed off along the uphill track leading to… [Read More]
