Arete Hut

This Paul and Ian walk was originally all about getting to Dracophyllum hut but with the weather being the way it was we ended up getting going to Arete Biv.

Friday 18/12/2009
Paul and I left Wellington and drove to Poads Road for a night walk to South Ohau.

Saturday 19/12/2009
Had a late start from South Ohau hut and headed off up Yeates track to Te Matawai. Stopped there for a rest and then headed to Arete Hut for the night.

Arete Hut

Sunday 20/12/2009
Out to Poads Road via Waiopehu hut.

Paul heading up

In the open on top

More in open along top

Map

View Larger Topographic Map

Waitewaewae

Stuart and I did a late night spin into the Tararua'a hoping to get to to Anderson Memorial for Saturday night. Then out on the Sunday. Weather was not suitable. This was the "creepy doll trip" as this wee doll was tied to a pole up on Shoulder Knob.

Friday 27/11/2009
We headed off real late and where passing the old boiler at 0030, so it was Saturday already. Saw quite a few eels in the Otaki river when we took the sort cut across to the hut.  Got to the hut pretty late and made a bit of noise waking the few occupants.

Saturday 28/11/2009
Woke to thunderous rain and a swollen river. I did go for a walk to the swing bridge and acheived a significant amount of wetness.

Back to the hut to relax and drink tea with Stuart and hope for a better next day.

Sunday 29/11/2009
The weather had become fine and sunny such a diff to the Saturday, so we had to go for a blast up Shoulder Knob for some views.

On the way out took more snaps of the old steel.

The siddle to get above the slip grows longer each year.

We got back to the car at Otaki Forks just after seven.

Lake Sylvestor Kahurangi

A Kahurangi National Park tramp with Tariga.

Sunday 08/11/09
Left Nelson at about ten and drove over the Takaka hill and then up the Cobb Dam road to the top of the hill.

We stopped for a bit as the windy road was not to good for Tariga. After recovery time we drove on down and crossed the lake at the penstocks.

Drove just a few hundred meters on to the start of the walk to Sylvestor lake. We left the car park after one and did meet a few people walking out.

This little bird was hard to get a photo of as it kept moving.

The forest trees, kept me thinking of The Cure and the song A Forest.

And the out of the bush trees with the mushroom shape calling for the upright people.

No one else at the hut so had a bit of a snack and then walked to the Lake.

Was cold enough to light the fire.

Monday 09/11/09
Had a couple of weka's wandering around the hut.

We geared up and went for a walk up Iron Hill after lunch.

Back at the hut by five, and had food and packed up and left for the car at six.

Trip Times

Sunday 8/11/09
1000 Left Nelson.
1300 Left car park.
1500 At hut food etc.
Monday 9/11/09
1200 Off to Iron Hill.
1430 Top.
1700 Hut.
1800 Left hut.
1900 Car
2100 Home

Tararua Stuff

Photos from various Tararua trips over the past year or two.

Jumbo Hut

Some guy and I went to do a Jumbo Holdsworth circuit but due to the snow didn't get from Jumbo to Holdsworth. Lots of fun had.

Friday 09/10/2009
An uneventful walk in the dark and got to Atiwhakatu just after 2300 hours.

Saturday 10/10/2009
Walked up to Jumbo hut and as we got higher snow was settling on the trees as well as the ground.

Out in the open sky has the dead grey look.

Sunday 11/10/2009
Went for a walk up to Jumbo and it was either blue sky or clag, quite cold under foot for us as we where not wearing boots.

Modified foot ware system to combat the cold? Or are they socks?

And a picture of trees doing there hill pattern on the way out.

Brook Street to Mt Fell in Mount Richmond Forest Park

Just me on my own aimed to access Mt Fell via chains from Brook Street Nelson. Was very ambitious and had other stated aims of:
    •    Mt Richmond
    •    Mt Johnston
    •    Plane Wreck

I easily allowed the rain to become an excuse for not going furthur than Middy hut.

Sunday 27/09/2009
After lunch Duang drove me up to the end of Brook Street and I climbed the fence outside the camp ground and headed off up the hill to intersect with the old Dun railway.

Stopped at Rocks hut for a snack and filled out the book. One person here and we talked a bit. Bullet holes in the roof, very questionable.

Brook Street to Middy Hut was four hours and fifty 50 minutes including stops. Unpacked and then took a beer down to the river followed by my evening meal and then bed as wanting an early start tomorrow. By half past eight there was very heavy rain.

Monday 28/09/2009
Woken at 0301 in the morning because the rain was so heavy, what a deafening din. Well it didnt stop raining so I slept in and got out of bed before midday.

Cleared early afternoon so I headed off to Rocks hut.

At Rocks hut having green tea and honey with crackers and as I eat the rain comes down heavy. One bible here so took with me to send back to Seek Freedom. Left Rocks hut just on five in heavy rain.

Just after eight thirty I was over the fence and on Brook Street, rang Duang for a ride home.

Trip Times

Sunday 27/09/2009
1300 Started from end of Brook Street
1343 On old Dun railway.
1433 Third House shelter.
1531 Wood Turnoff. Windy point
1604 Dun Saddle.
1636 Rocks hut
1650 On again.
1736 Sign 30 min to Middy hut
1750 At Middy hut.
Monday 28/09/2009
1352 Left Middy hut
1420 Sign for Roebuck hut.
1443 At rocky open top
1603 At Rocks hut
1653 Leaving Rocks hut
1748 Copper mine saddle.
2038 Over the fence and on Brook Street.