2025-11-26 < Weekly activities > 2025-12-10
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 December 03 to Tuesday 2025 December 09
Pareraho Forest/Takapu Rd to Petone Railway Station/Ōwhiro Bay - Sinclair Head - Red Rocks Loop/Wainuiomata to Eastbourne via ‘Kiwi Corridor trapline/MOW Hut to Kahurangi Lighthouse/ Killdevil Track to Soper Shelter, Kahurangi
Wednesday
Lunch ‘Chouchou Restaurant’ organised by Alan Wright, Wed 03/12 10M
Ten hardy souls braved the elements to meet at Chouchou, Circa, for the final lunch for 2025 on Wednesday 3 December. We discussed Christmas plans, grandchildren, shopping and the state of the world! Present: Peter Nixon; Denise Udy and daughter Charlotte; Carole Haigh; Margaret Foden; David McCrone; Chris Lock; Chris Horne; Barbara Ogilvie; Alan Wright – scribe.
E Trip ‘Pareraho Forest’ to have been led by Alison Stephenson, Wed 03/12
Cancelled due to weather and the stream crossings involved.
EM Trip ‘Takapu Rd to Petone Railway Station’ to have been led by Alistair Beckett, Wed 03/12
Cancelled due to weather conditions.
M Trip ‘Ōwhiro Bay - Sinclair Head - Red Rocks Loop’ to have been led by Mary Kane, Wed 03/12
Cancelled due to weather conditions.
MF Trip ‘Wainuiomata to Eastbourne via ‘Kiwi Corridor’ trapline’ to have been led by Mike Voets, Wed 03/12 ?M
Cancelled due to weather conditions.
Weekend:
Multi-Day:
MF Trip ‘Ministry of Works Hut to Kahurangi Lighthouse’ led by Chris Munn, 26/11 – 3/12 4M
A year of careful planning preceded this trip. You can’t plan for good weather though, thus 4 members set off of this rarely traversed route with a heavy rain warning ringing in their ears.
A very wet forced march to the Gouland Downs Hut, skipping a planned overnight stop at Perry Saddle Hut, saw us well positioned to leave the well-formed Great Walk surface at Blue Shirt Creek to head off to the rarely visited MoW hut located at the top of the Saxon Ridge.
After a slightly anxious sleep, interrupted by the local kiwi, the 4:30 alarm the next morning saw us heading off at first light for a 14.5 hour slog towards the Kahurangi Lighthouse.
A nominal 8 or 9 km as the Powelliphanta creeps… at 8 pm we gave up, cut and bruised, well short of our destination, where we enjoyed a waterless camp, wrapped around strategically placed trees, but serenaded by the local kiwi and ruru population.
The next morning, after a skimpy breakfast, we set off for the lighthouse, where we arrived after 5.5 hours in forecast persistent rain. 20 hours for 8 nominal kms.
The next day we were met by Cathy’s group who came down the coast to visit the keeper’s hut and join us for the night.
The next morning we set off as soon as tides permitted for an enjoyable trip up the beach to the van.
A trip never to be repeated.
M Trip ‘Killdevil Track to Soper Shelter, Kahurangi’ led by Cathy Wylie, 27/11 – 2/12 5M
Five members enjoyed two trips in Kahurangi from 27 November to 2 December.
First, a four day trip along the Killdevil Pack Track, staying in historic huts. We got wet on the 67 switchbacks climbing up to the ridge that took us via welcome lunchtime shelter in Tin Hut, then up to Riordan's hut. The next day we started in sun, with great views along the complex hills rising from the Waingaro River far below. A good track took us steadily down through beech forest to the river, and Waingaro Forks Hut. Our excursion the next day was to the northern end of Lake Stanley; and the final day back to the road end, grateful again to take shelter in Tin Hut before we hastened down the switchbacks in rain to the road end - not without appreciating the very lovely manuka flowering alongside the track.
Next day, back in the van to park by the Anatori River and our first river crossing on the way to meet the Mowers at Kahurangi Keepers' house. After 7 kilometres road walk through farmland with good views of Kahurangi bush to the east, we crossed another river came through high dunes onto the pristine beach. A wonderful wild landscape. It was great to catch up with the Mowers, and walk back with them along the beach the whole way to the van on the final day.
Both routes are highly recommended!
Total 19 members and Nil non members