New Zealand Walks
Five exhilarating walks in the Tongariro/Kaimanawa area
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By Lyn Hooton
leven members from Mangatoi Walking Group had a great week in the Tongariro/Kaimanawa area doing five exhilarating walks recently. On the way down to our base at Turangi we stopped at Taupo and scaled Mount Tauhara. This mountain is 1088 metres high with the track starting at 550 m above sea level, with a pretty steep gradient. The view was rather hazy unfortunately, and some flying insects prevented us from having lunch at the summit as planned. On Tuesday we did the 15km Tongariro River Trail flat walk before going for a soak in the Tokaanu Hot
Pools. Here we did the 20 minute thermal walk which was devoid of thermal activity. Last time I was here the mud was bubbling ferociously. Wednesday was one of our highlights, tramping from the Desert Road up to Waihohonu Hut then onto the Ohinepango Stream. The track was very scenic with Mount Ngaruahoe in all its glory displayed before a delightful clear blue sky. Our track was initially through tussock then bush and native flora, and alongside gushing streams. Our lunch spot at the new Waihohonu Hut was very special. A couple of us had stayed in a previous hut when we had walked right around Mount
6 Walking New Zealand, issue no 284 - 2021
Ruapehu in 2006. The new hut has 40 beds and is very grand. We went on to explore the historic hut where coaches used to stay overnight before the main trunk train line was constructed. This is the oldest hut in New Zealand and was built in 1901. It has been lovingly cared for by various organisations. The second hut was built in 1968 and this new one in 2010. We carried on to the source of the Ohinepango Stream where beautiful clear water erupted from under a crust of lava with great gusto. We also spied a whio duck here. We Above Walking across the bridge over the Ohinepango Stream. www.walkingnewzealand.co.nz
