I had meant this weekend trip to be a newbie-friendly Bushcraft Wellington Meetup overnighter but cancelled due to insufficient interest, backed up by a terrible forecast. But Saturday day was OK, so Dave and I headed out to visit this isolated spot in the northern Rimutakas.
Getting there is pretty straight-forward. DOC signs are well-located off Western Lake Road and up the driveway, farmland access generously provided. They allow campervans to camp there and there’s a DOC toilet at the trailhead.
You’re in the river straight away, and it is a river. I’d be very wary about being up here before rain, coming out would be a mare.
You follow the riverbed for a k or so, then it gets more bush – a variety of manuka forest, beech, and nikau depending on the location. A nice bit of rarely visited bush!
Patches are absolutely wrecked by pigs, so we were happy to see two pig hunters with dogs heading out after ‘getting two little ones’ – then taking off past us the other way after number 3.
Eventually we get to the hut, and someone’s home reading a book while their partner unsuccessfully hunts deer. I didn’t intrude and read the hut book or write an entry, whoops!
Dave and I find a nearby spot and play about with hammock, tarp and a little fire having a nice lunch, then we head off back out again.
Great little spot!
Thats a really great photo of the hut, well done.