This trip is a continuation of the hut bagging buzz, need to bag Joes Hut (Wharepapa Hut on the map) and the best way to do this is Papatahi Crossing. Didn't even know that this existed until a few weeks back when I was looking for huts in the region that I haven't visited.
Camped at the Catchpool camping ground Friday night, to ensure an early start.
Saturday 27/02/2016
Out of bed at 0600 hours and packed up my tent and stuff, repacked my pack, ate porridge and drank coffee and then off to Papatahi.
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| Arched Bridge |
The arched bridge on Turere Stream is dedicated to those who have died in the Orongorongas, built in 1990.
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| Looking upriver |
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| Looking downriver |
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| Orongoronga River |
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| Orongoronga River |
Took me two hours from the car park to the North Boulder creek, using the Big Bend track, not out in the river. The Boulder creek area is that, a place with some boulders and a nice area for bathing.
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| Looking up North Boulder Creek |
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| Looking down North Boulder Creek |
Its a sudden change from the flat of the river heading up here, and then its a steep climb out of the creek, and mostly its all uphill to the top of Papatahi. Saw a few goats on the way.
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| View into North Boulder Creek head waters |
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| View South West into Orongoronga |
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| Upper forest as it flattens out (a bit) |
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| Papatahi |
Stopped for a snack and drink of water but it was very windy here on Saturday. Then on again with views into the Wairarapa as I dropped down the other side.
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| View out to Ocean Beach |
The track down is for the first 30 minutes nice and easy, then it hits a steeper down hill section thru ongaonga where care is required, lots of goats; and trashed undergrowth. The track ends a bit and then you wander out of the bush into the stream. Not far away is the entrance to Joe's hut.
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| Marker to Joes Hut |
And there it is, looks a bit rough, however it is comfy. Apart from the rat that spent hours of the night chewing away inside the wall. Went for a wander up the hill out towards farm land, then back to the hut and wandered down the river for a couple of kilometers.
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| Joes Hut |
The rat seemed to be above the fireplace in the wall so I decided that while having a dram a toasty fire may be of discomfort to the rat.
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| Warm feet |
Sunday 28/02/2016
A slow lazy morning as it was so hot early. Did the hut tidy and got some dry wood from the river. Then it was a slow grind up the hill in the heat. Many more goats seen today.
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| Views of trees |
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| Views thru the gaps |
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| Views thru the gaps |
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| Open forest approaching the top |
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| Patterned hillsides |
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| Erosion and dead trees |
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| Boulder Creek |
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| The pools where Boulder creek joins |
It is a track well worth doing, an excellent chunk of up and down.
Trip Times
Saturday 27/02/2016
0738 Left the car park
0826 Onto the Big Bend track
0934 Up the North Boulder Creek
1107 On top of Papatahi
1232 Joes Hut
Sunday 28/02/2016
0936 Left Joes Hut
1230 Top of Papatahi
1314 Boulder Creek
1325 Stopped at river junction
1359 On again
1445 Onto the track
1612 At the car park
Map Stuff
NZTopo50-BQ32 Lower Hutt
View Larger Topographic Map
And hey! there where no bibles in Joes Hut, clean.
