Hauhungaroas

Sun 13th Feb 6.25 hrs 14 kms

Followed the Waihaha Stream a short way, disturbing a couple of pigs nearby in the forest in the process - neither of us really keen to meet each other. Then a good climb up onto the Hauhungaroa Range , reaching the Hauhungaroa Hut earlier than expected after 3 hrs. The hut booked notes 7 TA people this year plus a resident mouse. Stopped at the old Motere trig for lunch, then a slow descent (rough and muddy track) down into the Mangakahu Valley. Explored for a campsite - success, with ripe blackberries for good measure

Bog Inn Hut southwards

Saturday 12th Feb 8.5 hrs 21.1 kms

Started off with some brilliant GPS and compass navigation around The Bog where the map said the track was. Then found the real track and deliberately followed it back to the hut. Just a reminder how maps and reality can differ.
Then set off again on the real track for the Weraroa high point, then on southwards to Waihaha Hut (7.25 hrs) Still mid afternoon, so continued on upstream to super camping spot near the junction with the Te Awaiti Stream. Hunters went by carrying a pig they had shot

Mt Pureora to Bog Inn Hut

Friday 11th Feb 4.5 hrs 13km

From the Barryville / Link Rd corner headed up Link Rd, initially too far to Quarry Rd. Backtracked and then climbed up along Toitoi track to the summit, now in light drizzle with no view - keep that for another day. The descent was initially steep and recently washed out, but soon reverted to a comfortable undulating forest path. Arrived at the little hut just as it started to rain. This year 6 other Te Araroa walkers have been in the hut already.

Plans for 2011

I am planning on resuming my Te Araroa travels on Friday February 11th, starting from the north end of the Pureora Forest where I left off last April. That day then was a clear sunny day with Mt Pureora just looking so enticing. Some serious walking ahead, but I am keen to get going.

I will be updating my blog, but because a number of sections involve several days away from computer / internet, this will be less frequent than in the past. The first update will not happen before about Monday, or possibly even Wednesday.

Mangaokewa to Pureora Forest Park

29 km - 6 hours

We managed to locate yesterday's pick up point along the Mangaokewa Rd, so it was on from there, reaching the end of the Mangaokewa Stream, then over the saddle into the (upper) Waipa Valley - following the river via roads for a while (pic of falls), through a farm, then the theory was via some short stretches of forestry roads.

Milled within the last year or two, the forest road finished in the usual mess of an old skid site, with the continuation for a while having been destroyed completely by the logging. Not what I had expected, so the brambles that I had to work my way through at times had a good go at my unprotected legs. Tried boulder hopping along the Waipa River (river small, boulders large) as an alternative. Eventually met up with the much roughened forest road after one very slow rough km, and then made my way, including a ford of the Waipa River down to the main road. And then from there to the corner of Link Rd and Barryville Rd in the Pureora Forest Park.

From there a drive through the forest for around 10 km to the geographic centre of the North Island - so a fair way from Cape Reinga. I am having a break now while I prepare for the next sections of Te Araroa.

Mangaokewa River Track and onwards

25.6 km - 7.2 hours

A chilly autumn start in the steep sided Mangaokewa Valley that soon warmed up with the sunny day. This track leaves from a camp site and heads upstream for 16 km - bush reserves, farm land, various forest types, all the while following a super stream. (pic) Given its cachment area though, it must have some wild times after a lot of rain.

The track follows the stream closely most of the way, although climbing over bluffs now and then, finding a few swampy patches, and not completely free of brambles and gorse - but generally that is under control. At one point a couple of goats sprang up and ran away very close to me. And then some huge red mushrooms in the last patch of forest before hitting the final farm paddocks.

From the road end I continued up to the corner with Mangaokewa Rd, and then kept on there for another 6 km steadily climbing up the hill still following the stream that is getting smaller, but still rushes along. More goats running away from the road.

Te Kuiti Walk

Saturday April 10th - 6 km - 1.2 hours

This walk was done in two sections in between being in Te Kuiti on the day of the annual Great Muster - when a mob of somewhere between 1000 and 4000 sheep is run down the main street of the town (pic). This is the fun side of the national sheep shearing championships which have been happening here for the last few days.

Anyway, a very pleasant stream walk around the back streets of Te Kuiti - we normally just drive through the town with only a short stop. Some road walking for a short distance,
then back onto walking alongside the Mangaokewa stream which provided a taste of what I will be doing for tomorrow's walk. Brambles about, but avoided them for now. End of the Te Araroa
walk for today.

Then a quick road walk under the Waiteti railway viaduct and back to Te Kuiti just in time for the Great Muster.