5 minute read
New Zealand Walks: Five exhilarating walks in the
By Lyn Hooton
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Eleven 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 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.
retraced our steps back to the new Waihohonu Hut then the 5.6 kms back to the van very pleased with our day.
Another highlight was on Thursday when we went to Tree Trunk Gorge initially. We stopped on the bridge to admire the spectacle of the Tongariro River squashing through the narrow chasm. We lingered here for ages absorbing the beauty.
Our walk along Tree Trunk Gorge Track to Urchin Campground followed an old Tongariro Power Scheme road through mainly red beech trees. A wall of sheer blue rock was captivating and only one stream had water in it.
Above A delightfull walk to Waihohonu Hut. Below left: A fascinating tree on the Kaimanawa Walk.
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From Urchin Campground we walked the Kaimanawa Road Forest walk with it’s variety of fascinating tree formations. The track was only one km long but extremely rewarding.
After lunch we walked through mainly kamahi, totara and red beech trees to the swing bridge where we were supposed to view the “Pillars of Hercules”. We found the swing bridge but not the pillars.
We drove along Kaimanawa Road to again admire the Tongariro River as it surged spectacularly through yet another gorge and down the Waikato Falls to the Poutu Dam. We were all enthralled by the beauty of the area and spied another whio duck.
Extra entertainment was provided by pupils from Avondale College jumping down a cliff face to be retrieved into a rubber ducky. What a fantastic day.
Friday was our home day but first we walked around the beautiful Lake Rotopounamu.
This is a loop track through lovely forest over the Ponanga Saddle off SH 47.
We all thoroughly enjoyed yet another get-away in our amazing country side. Above left: The new Waihohonu Hut. Above right: A blue duck whio in the Tongariro River chasm. Middle left: Mt Tauhara - our destination. Below left: Intrigued by the chasm below.
