New Zealand Walks
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Back to the 70-Mile Bush By Daniel Haddock, Glenda Hooper and Peter Berry
18 Walking New Zealand, issue no 286 - 2022
First up: The MakairoTrack Sunday, October 10th, 2021 saw 17 Heretaunga Tramping Club members walking various sections of the Makairo Track east of Dannevirke in the Waewaepa Range. We had walked this track from the western end to the saddle in October 2019 and it was so lovely members told us we should do it more often. The track was once a road joining the Pahiatua and Coonoor areas but it fell into disrepair in the 1970s. It is currently being “upgraded” by the 4W Drive fraternity and is used by mountain bikers as well as trampers and deer hunters. (HTC Pohokura, Bulletin 267, Sept., 2021) The weather was windy and cool but dry as we made our way through the muddy tracks. The High Point Party We split up at the saddle, one group headed across the tops towards high point 789 while three others decided to follow the road back towards the Waewaepa Reserve and the other end of the road agreeing to meet back at the point where we went our separate ways. Peter: The bush was actually really easy going compared to a lot of bush-bashing I’ve done in the past, but it kept pushing us left as this was where the more open goblin forest was in the lee of the more exposed ridge. The top here was really quite flat with no defined ridge and we needed a compass to keep in the general direction that we wanted to go. The trick in this type Above top: Talking to a deer hunter heading towards the Waewepa Reserve. Below left: A giant tree dwarfts the walkers. www.walkingnewzealand.co.nz
