Pouakai Circuit

Its a trip a Department of Conservation brochure does the full on DOC marketing speak and starts with "Egmont National Park's premier 2~3 day tramp offers...". Paul and I teamed up for a Friday blast to North Egmont and a wander into Pouakai Hut for the night.

Friday 31/10/2014
Drove and drove from Wellington to a wee bit lost on the way, checked out by the police in some naki hick town as we passed thru. Got to North Egmont and parked up. Headed off down the road to Pouakai track and a few hours later we got to the shelter with out getting our feet wet. There is now a bridge just before the shelter. Used to be a hut, wonder if it can be again.

Kaiauai Shelter

Well it was a great fun night till we got to the Henry steps and I left Paul behind. No problems in the murk at the drop down to Pouakai hut, however no Paul. So I went back and looked for him, not there, so probably hes bivvied out in the scrub tuckered out. Or maybe he fell off one of the ladders and he's dead. Most probably he missed the hut and went to Holly hut.

Saturday 01/11/2014
After a bit of a hazy early morning thinking about Paul and where he is, I gave in and slept. So good that he turned up at ten am just as I was just thinking of ringing the police to advise of a potential lost person. He missed the turn off and spent the night at Holly hut. Fooded up and then we wandered off to Holly Hut.

Chopper pad at Pouakai Hut

Pouakai Hut

Mt Egmont from above Pouakai Hut

Hump

Flat spot above Pouakai Hut

And from here its off down and across the Ahukawakawa Track to Holly Hut.

Holly Hut

Sunday 02/11/2014
Before breakfast I walked outside and saw the Egmont cap so took a few photos.

Mt Egmont

We left and headed up the high track as the day became unsettled.

View North from Holly Hut track

View North from Holly Hut track

View North from Holly Hut track

Trip Times
31/10/2014
2049 Left the North Egmont car park heading down the road
2109 Start of Pouakai track
2119 Junction
2225 Kaiauai swing bridge
2230 Kaiauai shelter
2355 Henry Peak
0044 Junction to Holly and Pouakai huts
0051 Pouakai hut
01/11/2014
1123 Left Pouakai hut At Holly Hut
02/11/2014
0803 Left Holly Hut
0807 Holly Hut Junction
1030 Holly Hut and Kokowai Track Junction
1051 Veronica Track Junction
1109 North Egmont visitor center

Map

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