2694 - Aongatete Stream, 26th February 2017

A large group of 14, including 5-6 newbies, set off on a lovely summer’s morning for the trip over to Aongatete Stream on the eastern side of the Kaimai Ranges.

It was a pleasant and easy stroll along the Upland Track and North-South track until we reached the point where we dropped down in to the stream itself.  Initially, it was relatively easy going and we enjoyed the cooling effect of the cold water on our feet as our boots all got wet eventually. However, the going got increasingly more difficult as the rocks became large boulders and the stream bed began to narrow.  We finally got to a waterfall where the only two options were to jump around 10 meters into the pool below or else climb out of the stream bed and along the ridgeline for a couple of hundred meters before dropping back down.  In the interests of safety, it was decided to go with latter option, so we spent a good while bush-bashing our way up and around, getting tangled in supplejack almost all the way!

We stopped for lunch at a lovely spot next to a deep pool in which several of us decided to have a swim: very refreshing!

Time to continue down the stream hoisting our packs over our heads to wade through one section which took the water up and over the belly buttons of those of us more vertically challenged than most!  Next we encountered a second waterfall at which point we began to wonder if we had missed the markers to the track which would lead us out of the stream bed and back onto the main North-South track.

Since it was difficult to estimate how far we had travelled along the stream bed, it was also difficult to work out where we were from the map alone, but it was concluded that if we headed in a certain direction we would eventually meet the main track.  So, we set off once again on an un-marked route which varied from being quite difficult to fairly easy.  After we had travelled quite a while without meeting the track, we stopped once more to consult the map.   At this point we also got out a cell phone to help locate our exact position; something we should probably have done sooner!  Having determined our position more precisely than before, we were fairly confident we knew what direction to continue with, and it was only another 20-30 minutes before we met the track (to loud applause from everyone!).

We got back to the vehicles just before 6pm: a longer day than expected, but one full of challenges, surprises and lots of laughs.    

Participants were: Nette L, Margaret R, Robyn C, Anne Mac (scribe), Siobahn T, Etherny J, Georgia W, Debbie & Dave W, Anne-Lise M, Britta G, Samir H, Allan H, Catherine & Daiki N, Sheryl T, and leader Selwyn J. Thanks to Selwyn for leading such a large group, and to Sheryl for driving the van there and back.

Photo Credit - Robyn Colman