Kaitoke Omega Loop

Paul and I doing a loop walk as a day trip, not such great weather with constant drizzle, not cold.

Saturday 08/02/2014
Left Wellington about eight thirty and drove North out of Upper Hutt on state highway 2. Approx 400 meters past the Kaitoke Waterworks turn off we turned left left into Marchant Road and drove to the safe parking place at Kiwi Ranch.

Headed up Dobson loop track and continued onto the Marchant Ridge track and at Omega we took the track down to the Tauherenikau river.

Misty tops

Somewhere?

Crossed the river and it was a short walk to Tutuwai hut. What sort of trampers bring their food in cans and then leave all the empty cans in the hut? There are some real lazy shits who go tramping.

Tutuwai Hut

Stayed here for lunch and a few hot drinks. Then headed off down the Tauherenikau Track which is one easy to walk track, passed by the smelly Smiths Creek shelter up to Puffer saddle and down to the Kiwi Ranch and car; in the rain. Waited for Paul who had slowed down and then a drive back to Wellington.

Smiths Creek Shelter

Was a good walk always wet, never cold. Views would have been good, as my last tramp was Quoin Ridge and I'd had views of Marchant that weekend.

Trip Times

0928 Left Kiwi Ranch car park
1002 Dobson loop junction, taking high road to Marchant Ridge
1256 Block XVI turnoff
1346 Omega turnoff, heading down to Tauherenikau River
1451 At Tauherenikau River
1501 At Tutuwai hut
1609 Left Tutuwai hut
1729 At swing bridge
1747 At Smith Creek shelter
1903 Dobson loop junction
1925 Returned Kiwi Ranch car park

Car to Tutuwai: 5h33m
Tutuwai to Car: 3h16m
Total walk time: 8h49m

Map of Trip

View Topographic Map of area

Elevation Profile


Density Report
Tutuwai was density free.