A solo fitness test to stay with family at Papatahi hut on a wet weekend has me looping the Whakanui tracks on this beautiful route, one of the best in the Remutaka Forest Park.
Tramp: Papatahi Hut loop via Whakanui tracks (no retracing steps!)
Tramping: Papatahi Hut
Late one night many months ago as I scrolled about the topomap in search of tramps I spotted the Papatahi Crossing, the Orongorongo valley's longest DOC trail. It's a long tramp and needs a break in the middle. I investigate the sole-occupancy Papatahi Hut and find it free on a Saturday many months in the future... Continue Reading →
Tramping: Paua Hut, Tapokopoko in the Orongorongos
Date: 20/05/2018 – 21/05/2018 Party: Colin, Dan, Raj, Catherine, Jo, Theresa, Carolyn, Larry Night location/s: Paua Hut 'Anyone keen to lead a trip to Paua Hut? It's booked but noone's going'. Knocking off another Orongorongo hut seduces me more than my intended weekend activity - working - so I say 'sure'. As the meetup time creeps closer, storms lash the region. The... Continue Reading →
Tramping: Boar Inn, Orongorongo River
Date: 08/04/2018 – 09/04/2018 Party: Larry & Dave Night location/s: Boar Inn (DOC sole occupancy) A little brotherly outing on a Sunday night, Dave and I set off from the Catchpool carpark at 3:30pm. We climb the Butcher Track, a consistent 300m climb over 1km, entering the Beech forest characteristic of this side of the ridge, with plenty of fantails for... Continue Reading →
Tramping: East Whakanui Track to Haurangi Hut
Date: 24/03/2018 – 25/03/2018 Party: Larry & 7 respectfully anonymous folks (3 with the initial 'M'!) Night location/s: Haurangi Hut We depart Sunny Grove at 9:30am, shrouded in perpetual shade. We are a party of eight, connected through the Wellington Tramping Group on Meetup. Our destination is Haurangi Hut, a 10 bunk DOC hut available by booking only. M booked... Continue Reading →
OTNZ Advanced Bushcraft course
"You be careful" folks say of my wandering. "Don't you go doing anything stupid". It's a bit late for that, but the concern for my safety is heartwarming, well-founded and heeded. I booked on OTNZ's Advanced Bushcraft course some time back. This entry covers my experience this weekend. I write this in the hopes it will encourage you to book... Continue Reading →
Tramping: Whakanui track to Matthews Stream overnight
Date: 03/02/2018 – 04/02/2018 Party: Larry, Dave and Martin Night location/s: Matthews Stream (tenting) We climb the Whakanui Track at the south end of ironically named Sunny Grove Wainui at 11am. The party is bro Dave, his mate (and now mine) Martin and myself. It is a relatively steep climb from 140m to 540m, where we meet the... Continue Reading →