Tongariro National Park Hut Bagging

Headed away on Saturday afternoon for some hut bagging, was not in any sort of rush. Had a drive to do and then an easy walk into a hut for the night and an expectation of a few more huts on Sunday before the drive home.

Saturday 12/11/2016
Drove North on Highway 1 all the way to Waiouru then headed East on Highway 49 to Ohakune. Entered Tongariro National Park just on 6:00 pm. Drove up to the Waitonga Falls car park intending to head into Mangaehuehu Hut for the night with a quick detour on the way to visit Lupton and Blyth,  first I wanted to find Mangaiti Hut. Thought I would find a track entrance, however I went up and down the road and failed. Decided I would find it on Sunday time to head off and had a view of the mountain in the open before dropping down to the falls.

Mountain view

Down to the falls and then a wade thru a small river then up a ridge and out in the open just before Lupton Hut with a family staying there for the night.

Lupton Hut

From here it was less than ten minutes to Blyth Hut, with good cell coverage, so bagged the two huts so far.

Blyth Hut

Stopping for a drink and a snack turned out to be a good thing as it began to rain heavily, settled in for the night and got the fire going. Had two drams for the evening, a Springbank 15yo and a Glendronach 21yo, both in 50ml bottles.

Springbank 15yo and Glendronach 21yo miniatures

Sunday 13/11/2016
Once out of bed and fed, did some hut tidy (no hearth broom), and prepped some fire wood, then headed off into mild rain stopping at Lupton for a brief look at the hut.

Clean and tidy hut

Down to the junction and off to Mangaehuehu Hut for lunch, meeting a French man doing the Round the Mountain Track on the way. When I left it was raining and there was no visability, a nice fast walking day.

Down valley from Lupton Hut - no vis

Over a distance of a few kilometers I counted over one hundred 1080 pellets on the ground and did not see a single dead bird, dog, deer, or any pseudo scientist. Go the science! There is some good reading to be found at these following links:

Reports, reviews and regulation of 1080
1080:THE FACTS

If you want some entertainment have a read of these web sites:


1080 Frequently Asked Questions
1080Science

Had lunch at Mangaehuehu Hut, cleaned the hut for Seek Freedom, weather had started to clear and could see blue sky.

View towards Girdlestone Peak

Packed up and wandered outside hoping for it to fully clear, not so. Wandered off back the same way I'd come to go find the Mangaiti Hut, drying out as I went.

Mangaehuehu Hut

Not a long or strenuous walk to bag four huts, could be done easily as a day walk. Some nice forest and scenery here.

In the dark these snag you with tree dreams.

Back at the car and time to find Mangaiti Hut, and I did this by walking straight into the bush and headed West expecting to find a trail to it or the hut itself. Not bad bush to wander through and found the track after crossing a small stream. More nice fresh 1080.

Fresh 1080  drop

The hut is rather interesting, private hut locked so did not get to see inside it.

Mangaiti Hut

There is a small amount of information on an engraved plaque on the hut, good to see it survive.

Used the track to return from Mangaiti and recorded it, as below.

That was hut four and then it was time to return to Wellington.

Map of the Trip

Waitonga Falls Area with four close huts

Trip Times
Saturday 12/11/2016
1837 Left Waitonga car park
1851 Old Blyth track junction
1903 Waitonga Falls
1912 Blyth Hut track junction
1928 Lupton Hut
1936 Arrived Blyth Hut
Sunday 13/11/2016
1005 Left Blyth Hut
1010 Lupton hut
1023 Blyth Hut track junction
1122 Mangaehuehu Hut
1224 Left Mangaehuehu Hut 
1320 Blyth Hut track junction
1346 Waitonga car park

Cleaned up Mangahuehu hut, adding another bible to return to Seek Freedom and co.