2745 Kaimanawa Forest Park, Jan 2018

An excellent trip report from various scribes from the different parties each with their own 'take' on the trip to make great reading.

Day 1: We walked up to Urchin, then travelled downhill to Waipakahi River, had a swim and lunch before heading uphill which went on for a rather long time.  The stream was nice and cold and refreshing.  Then through forest.  It was very humid before heading to open hills up Thunderbolt and past Motutere to our first camping spot in tussock next to a stream that ran at the base of the hill.  On the mountain tops there was thunder and thunder cloud but no rain thankfully. Once we camped we separated into site Remuera and the Tauranga retirement village (this was the early to bed people.).  Also this site has a curse upon trowels, this is the second time I have camped there and the second time a trowel has been broken due to the shingle ground.  This time Paul was the culprit but we think maybe John Grace caused the initial damage and stuck the parts back together again.

Day 2: This day was mainly walking over mountains, highest point 1650m, round cliff edges and through tussock type shrub.  Heading south west around to Karikaringa (1694m), and Patutu.  We had to take extra water due to the lack of ready access to water and being hot on the mountain tops.  At the end we came to a stream and had a swim, the water was so clear and beautiful.  Then we asked where was our camp spot. John Davies pointed up there.  We had to walk uphill to a place that was next to a stream but on a cliff edge.  Groan.  Again we had to walk through tussock type shrub.  It was a beautiful evening.

Day 3: We started bright and early beginning with a foggy day, turning into a bright sunny one.  Less climbing today up the Needles where we bathed in the sunshine.  It was Maggie’s birthday today, she was endowed with presents which she threw away (they were rocks!).  We proceeded to the bush line, to spend the rest of the time bush bashing our way home down to the river and then climbing and bush bashing to the road.  Only managed to lose the way a couple of times so all was good.  John D (Leader), John G, Paul Q, Jo W, Dave and Debbie W, Maggie P, Mike P and Judith B (scribe).

“The Kaimanawa’s”

A word of warning here I tell, to those who like to tramp

To check your gear most carefully, before you leave your camp.

I quickly learned a lesson, of why its’ called a pack

You need to have a full set of straps, to keep it on your back.

We climbed atop of Urchin, then clambered down agin

To cross the Waipakihi River, and sneak in for a swim.

Then heading for old Thunderbolt, two hunters and their dog

Crossed our paths many times, in an amusing game of leapfrog.

First camp was just past Motutere, John D said water could be found

You just had to pause and listen, and hear it running underground.

Flat ground for tents a premium, the camp was spit in half

It was “Papakura or the Retirement Village”, you really had to laugh.

Day two was on “The Tops”, nothing grew a foot above the earth

We lost count the number of peaks we crossed, our legs pumping for all they were worth.

One spot when resting and lunching, tents spread about to dry

A swirling gust of wind grabbed one, and up it shot in to the sky.

Our camp that night was snug, Paul pitched above the creek

The sound of running water would have made my bladder leak.

But soundly did we sleep, and gladly may I say

We woke to wish our Maggie, a very happy birthday.

Day three we headed for home, with names of nom de plume

For heading over private land, false names we did assume.

We battled through the beech, bush lawyer not our friend

With many trees down on the track, was almost too much to contend.

But with only one more stream to cross, we stopped for one last swim

And John G showed his many talents, by boulder surfing with a grin.

We scrambled up the bank, in search of Waipakihi Road

Then sprawled ourselves upon the ground, to shed our heavy load.

Aahhhhhh! Dave W

The other Kaimanawas trip...

Part 1

Arriving Friday at London Street there had been some confusion and rather than 1 big bus there were 2 smaller buses, but a solution was agreed; Fit Fellas in one bus and Moderate Nature Admirers in the second.  We were fortunate in that the deluge didn't catch us, the storm water streaming down the road at Tokoroa had to be seen to be believed.

Arriving late at our campsite we made the wise decision to keep looking, deciding not to camp on a roadside or up against a substation.  We pitched camp in pitch black and yet slept soundly through to breakfast.

The buses were parked at the foot of the Urchin Track and the Fit Fellas bounded up the steps before I had my backpack settled on my shoulders.

The climb was pretty constant and very beautiful in peaceful, cool beech forest.  Eventually bursting out onto the tops was like walking under a hair dryer.  Hats and sunblock applied we walked up and over, stopping for lunch where we could see over the range and the river below.  The track down was quite rocky and would be easier coming up! Knee-jarring would be a good term.

Reunited with Alan and Lesley at the riverside (should they have been in the FF group?) we spent 30 minutes looking for a campsite to accommodate us all.  Jacqui and I found a splendid River Heights section only to have a wave of disappointment from John and Jean convince us to move into the adjoining section with a shared access.  Under a small group of celery pine we were good for the weekend and slept so well.  Jacqui did the negotiating, she's good at that, although I haven't received my bottle of wine yet?!  The rest of the group moved in to a River Flats Subdivision, the real estate was not as classy but the agent's details were convincing.  We all washed, some swam, some attired, some not. It was very cold and wonderfully clear.

Sunday morning we woke refreshed and set about our second breakfast, savoury for us as we had cooked so much the night before.  Crossing the river (no wet boots for this Frenchie) we tackled the track up toward Thunderbolt.  Again beech forest, soft on the knees and cool under cover.  Birdsong and a rifleman... (scribe: Amanda C)

Part 2

After having lunch with breathtaking views out over the Kaimanawas and Kawekas, we headed back the way we had come to our camp site.  On the way we were treated to a spectacular storm in the distance with thunder and lightning.  Luckily it didn't come our way as we were out on the tops at the time, discussing what we would do, particularly as we were all carrying metal walking poles which would make great conductors!

Most of us enjoyed a swim in the river before dinner which was very refreshing (aka freezing!).   Then we cooked our dinners, compared dinners, and all had an early night.  I haven't been to bed that early for ages! It was nice going to sleep to the sound of the river.  The next morning dawned perfect - cloudless and still.  Amanda (a new member from France) almost required trauma counselling when she realised the toilet facilities were ‘dig your own’!

We packed up and headed off down the Waipakahi River for half an hour, then up the steep climb to Urchin through beech forest.  Here we were rewarded with stunning views across to Ruapehu, Ngaruahoe and Tongariro.  I walked at the back as I felt the need to take a multitude of photos as it was so beautiful (and it also gave me an excuse to catch my breath as I wasn't as fit as I could have been and it was very hot!).

The alpine flowers were out which were lovely to see.  Descending through beech forest provided a real contrast to walking out on the tops and gave the trip good variety.  I couldn't get over how vivid the greens were of the different varieties of moss in the bush. It was my first trip trying out a walking pole (which was a very special one being Paul McLennan’s pole).  We reminisced about trips we had been on with him and agreed that one of his favourite words was ‘awesome’, which summed up the weekend.

Thanks to John Wilson for leading such a great trip.  It was my first time to the Kaimanawas and is a spectacular part of New Zealand.  I felt very privileged to have had the opportunity to be there.

Trip participants: John and Jean W, Alan W, Lesley K, Dawn A, Selwyn J, Fiona G, Amanda C, Jacqui D (scribe), and Paul’s Pole.