This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
24 - 28 APRIL 1996 Wednesday 24 April After a bit of last minute experimenting to see how many packs you can squeeze behind the back seat of a mini-van, seventeen eager trampers set off to Lake Waikaremoana. We picked up another two in Paraparaumu, then stopped in Levin to make the most of our last chance to eat junk food for the next four days. It was nearly 3am when we finally got to Rosie Bay - we had just spent half an hour -driving around the lake trying-to-work-out where we were and where we should be going. Getting there had taken over seven hours, and those who had been lucky enough to get some sleep in the vans were in the same stressed, semi-conscious state as those who had remained awake. Flys were put up by torch light using the vans as guy rope attachments. It was soon Pages’
quiet as we all got some much needed sleep.
Thursday 25 April
We drove past the hydro dam to Onopoto after breakfast and began our steady uphill climb to Panekiri Hut. The track followed the edge of the Panekiri Bluffs and offered magnificent views of the lake and forest canopy, which were over 500m below us by the time we reached the hut. In spite of the cloud, it was possible to see I the Ureweras stretching far off to the north, ~ ~~~ and at night some people even spotted the lights of Napier to the south. DOC had been busy and there were new-looking wooden walkways around some very sheer rock faces.
Maybe DOC had overspent its budget on the walkways as the gas stove in Panekiri Hut has to be the most pathetic heating device ever invented, and had more decorative than practical value. What had been a cool day soon turned into a very chilly night. We all looked forward to chicken curry for dinner and put our portions on the bench ready for cooking. This caused the look on our trip leader’s face to turn from amazement to disbelief at the very generous “portions” that some members had brought.
Friday 26 April
The weather was perfect on Friday morn-. ing and remained that way for the rest of the trip. It was easy to see how the lake got the name of ‘Sea of Shining Water’ as the ripples sparkled in the sunlight. The morning was spent descending from the Bluffs to lake level. There had obviously been a lot of rain lately and we were forced to find our way across some large slips. The rain had in fact been so heavy that the lake had risen 5 feet above its normal level, and one of the lakeside campsites had flooded. .
Some trampers decided to go up to the Korokoro Falls, a 30 minute detour from the main track. Those that did were rewarded with a view of a waterfall 22 metres high and perhaps 7 metres wide, deep in the bush.
Three old timers based at a cottage on one of the private blocks of land beside the lake delighted in telling us that it was still 1 1/ 2 hours to go as we walked past them in the twilight. Although actually only half an hour to the Maranui Campsite, it was still dark when some of us arrived. While it looked only a short distance to the camp-__ site from the cottage it was, like a lot of the track, deceiving. Usually the track, which followed the lake, was not straight and distances were much greater than they appeared.
We downed another curry for dinner, this time without the chicken, and had a very restless sleep as the cold mist rolled in and local (allegedly dog-size) possums fought noisily nearby. Page
Saturday 27 April
Some braved the early morning frost to get mist-shrouded photographs of the lake, while the sensible ones tried to get a few more minutes in their sleeping bags. . The first part of the track passed through beech forest. We had seen a lot of variation in the forest so far, with thick undergrowth, moss, spiphytes and ferns growing in the wetter parts, and a leaf-covered floor in the beech forest. There were also lots of native birds (tuis, pigeons and robins).
Five female party members decided that carrying packs was not for them. Somehow - they wouldn’t reveal exact details some fishermen were persuaded to drop their packs off close to the next hut.
It was quite a short day and that afternoon some of the more courageous (or perhaps smellier) amongst us swam in the tranquil inlet in front of Whanganui Hut.
_ Due to the potbelly stove in the hut, we had our first warm evening on the trip. Dinner was good but could not compare to the trout that we had falsely believed Nola would bring us after her afternoon fishing by the lake. An instant pudding/marshmallow mixture was some compensation and we had an enjoyable night talking, listening to Sue’s final instalment of Winnie the Pooh stories, and being treated to Julian’s possum-hunting demonstration.
Sunday 28 April It took a lot less than an hour to walk away from our isolation. We were soon sitting near the Hopuruahine Landing waiting for the water taxi to return and pick up those of us who were taking the boat out. Some decided they needed more walking and headed out along the metalled road.
We eventually got picked up and started the long drive back to Wellington with food stops in Wairoa and Levin, and a short visit to the Urewera Visitors Centre.
The trip was a big success. The weather was perfect, the scenery was beautiful and untouched, and the notorious sandflies were thankfully absent. Big thanks to Dave and those who helped him organise the whole thing. Thanks also to Dave, Rod, Peter and Eddie who clocked up the big kilometres and found out how much noise a gearbox can make when one speed short.
The nineteen people on the trip were: Belinda H, Chris H, Christine, Daniel M, David M, Eddie M, Greg Crow, Hazel Rob-' erts, Helen McDermott, Jeanne L, Joanna .D, Julian D, Lynda F, Nola Urquhart, Peter M, Ray Walker, Rod B, Ruth P, Sue Walsh.
doesn’t rain?
Chile?
guidebook?
_ cereal? I Allan Mac