Taranaki Trip
Week Trip
Monday 9 November 2009 to Sunday 15 November 2009 (7 days)
Exploits in the Taranaki Region
Monday
The November trip left on a drizzly Auckland morning promptly at 9.00am from the club garage. After picking up the rest of the party at Greenlane we were on our way to New Plymouth for another grand week. Arriving at the Top Ten Motor Camp we were met by those members who had driven by car or motor-home. All 31 of us were allocated places and settled in or went for a walk.
TuesdayWe awoke to a fine morning and drove to the North Egmont Visitor Centre. From here, four started their trip around the mountain and others of us walked up Holly Hut Track to Tahurangi Lodge where we enjoyed lunch in spite of the cold mist and lack of views.
We returned down the first part of the steep, concrete Puffer Track and then decided to take Maketawa Track through the bush back to the Visitor Centre.
[Easy option]: Eight slowies set off with the main group in lovely weather up the Holly Hut Track. Step, step, after never-ending step - no one was counting. We continued past the lookout, to the start of the Razorback before turning round, back to the Veronica Loop junction. Then it was down all the way, through beautiful varied bush to the Visitor Centre and lunch. Most of us then did the half-hour Connett Loop Walk, finishing with a treat at the café to end a great day.
Chris Ashton and John Norris cross snow on way to Tahurangi Lodge
Black clouds threatened over the Pouakai Range where we had intended to go, so plans were changed and instead we had a day of sight-seeing and interesting short walks.
Our first destination was Tupare Walkway, a beautifully landscaped garden nestled on a hillside overlooking the Waiwhakaiho River on the outskirts of New Plymouth. The property, formerly the home of Sir Russell and Lady Matthews, features a Chapman Taylor homestead and a gardener’s cottage, now administered by the Taranaki Regional Council. We followed the perimeter of the property through huge redwood trees on to a river flat and along a bush walk, and we admired the well-tended gardens. Information boards mentioned that Sir Russell Matthews introduced bitumen roads to Taranaki.
Next stop was the Meeting of the Waters, where the Mangorei Stream meets the Waiwhakaiho River. A leisurely stroll took us over a wooden bridge where the tail-waters of the Mangorei Hydro Station rush underneath, then through lush podocarp forest featuring tall, straight-trunked totara trees.
Back onto the bus, some skilful navigating (in spite of a lack of signage) delivered the group to the Ratapihipihi Reserve in time for lunch. A gentle track led through rainforest featuring kohekohe, tawa, pukatea and nikau - also a colourful parade of umbrellas (?standard tramping gear).
Our final stopping place was Paritutu Rock. No climbing today but a short coastal walk, looking out to Sugar Loaf Islands and noting the large colonies of nesting gulls.
A wonderful day, enjoyed by all and for many, places not seen before.
[The blokes’ cabin was meant to supply this report but it must have been too much for them. So, briefly, we had a perfect, clear day for climbing up the many steps and board-walks to Pouakai Hut. A few stayed here for lunch and a trip along to the nearby tarns, while most went on up to the trig. On returning, they described the 360º views from the top with rapturous superlatives, but it seems they were so overcome that words have failed them when it comes to writing something down. Ed]
FridayThis morning we drove south to Dawson Falls with the primary purpose of meeting the group of four who had been tramping round the mountain. They were expected out late morning, giving us time to do one or two short walks in the area.
First we chose the Kapuni Loop Track down to the Falls where the spray mixed with the gentle, misty rain kept us slightly damp and cool. The walk took us less than an hour and was followed by a trip around Wilkies Pools Loop Track. This included clambering up large rocks and boulders above the pools, initially missing the track into the bush to get back to the loop, but, after some backtracking, finding it without (whew!) having to return to the bottom of our steep climb over the largest boulders.
Returning to the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre we met up with the overnighters who decided to join us for lunch and for our afternoon’s activity, rather than continuing on their way back to North Egmont.
After lunch we all drove to the York Road Reserve to complete the Loop Track which follows the old railway line constructed to take metal for roads and rocks for Port Taranaki. The quarry operated until the late 1920s and various interesting sites were clearly marked for those who like looking at old bits of iron and machinery.
Final activity for the day was the usual collective evening meal out, this time held at the New Plymouth Club where the solid fare was served with impressive speed and eaten with enjoyment by most. Large screens showing rugby, golf, racing and other manly pursuits were positioned nearby for the diversion of anyone who wanted something to assist their digestive processes.
We were back before 8.30pm and ready for a well-earned sleep.
Our final day, mostly fine but very windy, was spent on the Whitecliffs Walkway. Of the 22 people remaining in the camp, 15 completed the walk from north to south, while seven drove in the bus back round to the end and walked in to meet us. 
Stretccchhhhingggg...
No, they are not trying to push the fence over, it's Graham McGowan's exercise lesson on the northern end of Whitecliffs Walkway
This was a great walk, first through farmland and then along the beach at low tide, beside the magnificent, towering cliffs. With mostly firm sand to walk on, the head-wind was not so bad and the amazing colours and patterns in the cliffs provided a high note for the end of our Taranaki week.
Lunch stop on Whitecliff Walkway
The return bus journey to Auckland was fast and uneventful, with enough rain to wash any little bit of dust off the bus. No cars blocked our access to the garage, no major cleaning was needed and we all got away homewards in record time.
It just remains to say thank you to Anne Sanders for organising the accommodation, negotiating the best possible prices and dealing with any little problems, to John Norris for arranging all the tramps and walks, with options to suit everyone, and to John, Dougal and Doug for driving the bus.
(Above Photos courtesy of Ray Vickers)
We were: Chris & Noel Ashton, Ruth & Doug Astley, Bruce Calvert, Dougal Campbell, Barbara Clist, Cherie Cook, June Cripps, Susan Grimsdell, Jeanette Howie, Howard Johnston, Brian Lynch, Graeme McGowan, John Minson, John Norris, Grahame Parr, Alex Sancho, Anne Sanders, Trevor Sharp, Ann & John Simpson, Anne Stone, Barbara Tokley, Jeanine van der Toorn, Lindsey & Ray Vickers, Sarah Wayman, Ruth & Keith Williamson, Jenefer Wright. [Report written by various members.]
Round-the-mountain trampers, led by Graeme
From left: Bruce, Jeanine, Alex, Graeme
After being dropped off by the main group at North Egmont, four of us set off to make the round-the-mountain trip (Alex Sancho, Jeanine van der Toorn, Bruce Calvert with leader Graeme McGowan). The mountain was shrouded with cloud, but otherwise it was fine and a pleasant trip taking 4 hrs to Holly Hut. By 4.30 in the afternoon a front arrived and the hut was in the clouds. A roaring fire kept the cold at bay.
WednesdayWe woke to a cold, drizzly morning and before 8.00am we were down the Stony River Track heading for Waiaua Gorge Hut via Kahui Hut. The Stony River Track crosses some impressive gorges and in particular the Pyramid Stream which, following major washouts eight years ago, forced the closure of the high track (Pyramid) from Holly Hut to Kahui Hut. We paused to consider whether to take the Puniho Track to Kahui Hut or the more direct low route via Kapoaiaia Track. DOC recommended Puniho Track as a very pleasant tramp so we took this and despite the mist and no views it was very enjoyable. We had lunch in Kahui Hut. The swing bridge to Waiaua Gorge Hut from Ihaia Track has washed out and the loop upstream and across the gorge took longer than expected. In parts the track was too well marked and in other parts markers were lacking. A heavy shower slowed progress during the last 40 minutes to the hut - an 8-hr day. Once again a roaring fire soon had us dried out and warm.
ThursdayA magnificent day. Not a cloud in the sky for our trip up Brames Falls Track, under the bluffs below Bobs Knob (800m climb) and down to Lake Dive Hut. 
The Peak
A magnificent tramp through the bush, under the bluffs, and onto the tussock with the snow-covered ridges and Egmont peak above, and clear views out to the coast. Bruce felt unwell after lunch and we took some extended breaks on the tussock slopes before the descent to Lake Dive Hut. An 8-hr day. Bruce decided he should leave the tramp at Dawson Falls so after a Mountain Radio sched the main group very kindly altered their plans and arranged to pick us up from Dawson Falls midday the next day.
Another front arrived overnight bringing high winds and light rain. However, with the wind at our backs and in the bush the 3-hr trip to Dawson Falls was enjoyable despite the weather. We arrived midday and decided to abort the last leg to North Egmont, and join the main group for lunch and an afternoon hike. Unfinished business, but a very good excuse to go back to a wonderful tramping area.
Above the bushline
(Around-the-mountain photos courtesy of Alex Sancho)
