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Reports......Aongatete
Lodge, Kaimais
Date: 29-31 May, 1 June
Leader: Carol Morey
Saturday 30th May
The morning saw the rain come in and the decision was made to change
the tramps around. It was decided that we would go on the two small
tramps, one to the biggest Kauri tree in the Bay of Plenty and to
the Kauri groove.
We headed off through the bush towards the Kauri grove and had a
stream to cross. Some of us escaped getting wet feet while others
embraced the cold stream water. We continued to walk and found the
Kauri groove. We then went in search of some views but none were to
be had. It was then decided to go to find the big tree! Once again
the stream had to be crossed.
The second track saw us on a wide path which led to the big tree,
standing tall and 1.5m diameter. It was impressive. After taking the
regulation photographs we decided it was hot pools time!
We then stopped at Sapphire pools and found we were the only people
enjoying the warm water. It is fair to say they were not the hottest
pools in the world. But they were in nice surroundings. Some then
went shopping, others to the winery and others back to base camp.
Sunday 31st May (Heading for the Ananui waterfall – The Squelch
squelch squelch trip!)
Sunday was a beautiful day. Clear blue skies and a crispness in the
air. 18 people ready for the day. Some of us starting with wet feet
and boots. I have to admit putting my feet into cold wet boots is
not something I would recommend! The party decided to split into two
groups and the faster ones headed off. We made our way through the
native bush and it is fair to say that most of us only expected to
cross 2 rivers / water bodies. But depending on how you counted them
we crossed at least 24 by the end of the day (though one count was
26!) And only a few of us had dry feet by the end of the day!
The groups made their way to where the old hut used to be and as we
approached we could hear voices. To our surprise we meet a party of
50 scouts and their leaders. They had tramped up with their gear and
were camping out in the forest. The children were busy collecting
fire wood and had caught, killed and skinned two possums, which were
going to be tea that night (not sure what it tastes like but was
told it’s nicer in a pie or stew!).
After using the facilities! We then headed off to the Ananui
waterfall! The sign said the view point was 20 minutes away and so
we headed for that – as the water fall was 1.15 hrs away. We were
conscious of time; decided the view point would be fine! So off we
went. We climbed the hill and eventually found a good spot to sit
and eat lunch and enjoy the view. We could see the faster group
playing on the waterfall rock. We waved but they could not see us.
We didn’t realise that we were only 5 minutes from the actual
waterfall! The faster group came around, found us and told us. Some
of us then went over to see the waterfall. We then headed back to
the cars. We just about made it before it started to rain!
The accommodation was great and Carol had well organised the trips
and the pot luck meals. Many thanks to Carol for organising the
trip.
Angela Hart
Medium Trip – destination Te Rere a tukahia Hut 6-7 hours return
(Saturday)
Having heard the weather forecast the night before seven of us were
pretty keen to get an early morning start, thus the wake up call was
carried out by Richard & Mary-Rose at 7am, “are you awake, we want
to leave early”, so poor Tony H & I were up from our respective
bunks , packs at the ready off to the kitchen for a hearty breakfast
, I was so glad I had the insight to get my lunch ready the night
before.
We set off at 7:40am in two cars to Hot Springs Road approximately
3.5ks south of Katikati.
The Tuahu Track was wide, metalled a good part of the way. Richard
set a good pace as he was determined we were to arrive at the hut
for lunch. We walked through lovely bush, lots of ferns and a lovely
stand of sizeable Kauris. One of our party has certainly got a good
sense of smell, as the call was out ‘isn’t that smoke I can smell’ –
no was the general shout as the hut had no fireplace. On and on we
walked until we came to a boardwalk which lead us right to the Hut,
and also to the source of the smoke, Mary-Rose was right. Two men
had made the hut their home, the makeshift clothesline was up with
towels and wet socks hanging above the open fire. One of the men was
off travelling around NZ (he is a Kiwi) he told us he was taking his
time staying wherever he felt like it, keen to see some good huts.
The Hut was a great spot for lunch on the veranda away from the
smoke. Not one of us had our coats out today, most wore leggings and
a hat as the air was a little cold, but no sign of the dreaded rain
that had been forecast, wasn’t I glad I chose to do the medium 7hr
tramp today. This hut is pretty old and very basic, sleeps 12. The
vegetation around the hut was scrubby forest and stunted rimu trees,
and a little room for campers. We did note that even though we had
set a good pace we made it to the Hut in the time as displayed on
the signs. After bidding our two hosts goodbye, I guess you could
call them, we set off downhill, the start of this track was a little
boggy. This track this time was more like tramping, over tree
branches we stepped, not so wide a track this time and the odd
obstacle along the way. Downhill can certainly cause havoc with the
knees as a couple of us found out after a couple of hours. We
arrived back at the cars 5 1/2hours later dry as a bone, with only
one or two thoughts on our minds; firstly we felt the others would
have the boiler going to provide us with hot water for that lovely
shower we all look forward to after a great day out tramping, and
then Happy Hour to finish off yet again an very enjoyable day’s
tramping.
Lynette
Sunday Medium Trip Destination Ananui Falls (Grade 4) Time 4 ½ hrs
return
Up early again, but this time we were all treated to a hearty
breakfast. Tony H was up cooking us all Hellers Bacon & Venison
sausages , isn’t it great when we have a new tramper amongst us who
also works for a great Company , and is keen to share his great food
with us all. The order of the day was bring spare socks as you are
bound to have wet feet by the end of the day. – what an
understatement .
The start of today’s tramp took us 4ks north of Kaitikati into
Woodlands Rd and into the Kaimai Forest Park. There was a lovely
Ford where we set off from following the fence line and the
Waitengaue Stream to a very old swing bridge, with a couple of
planks to walk on, only two people at a time allowed, but the sides
were quite high wire type, good for holding onto, as it did have a
swing to it. Once everyone was over the bridge it was here the
groups all divided up, in the end three different lots set off for
the Falls. We came across the first sign which stated ‘3 slips –
extreme care needed’ not sure if everyone read it, but everyone
carried on regardless of the sign, after all we were The Manukau
Tramping Club were we not!
We had crossed two rivers, went through the slips in the first 30
minutes of the walk, the track got pretty rough, and muddy in
places, but again lovely bush. We were following an old tramway,
crossing over the stream many times, we past a group of three guys,
one of which had a nasty cut to his face, they were off to find a
Dr. We did joke Phyllis could have offered to stitch him up. We soon
arrived at the old campsite, the Waitengaue hut having been burnt
down in early 2002, to find a party of 47 Sea Scouts from West
Auckland along with a few parents, a separate group of five ladies
also from West Auckland. We found a nice place to sit in the sun and
listen to the leader of the Sea Scouts giving a lesson in what is
dead wood, and why you do not pull out a punga to use for firewood,
or any other branch which has green growing from it, all very
amusing we thought. Before leaving the site, we had to visit the
loo, it was a strange one, made of tin shaped in an A-Frame, well
constructed. The track we were now following was nothing but mud, if
you can imagine 47 Sea Scouts walking down the same track to the
river to collect water for washing dishes, or peeling the potatoes
for dinner in, all we saw was Mud and lots of it. The sign on the
other side of the stream was very poor; said 1hr 15mins to the
Falls, steep incline. We soon arrived in much less time than stated
on the sign, to get a wonderful view of the Falls, having climbed
‘the steep incline’ without even noticing it - we must be fit! Must
have been the breakfast! There are two ways you can view these
magnificent falls which are 106meters in height, one is by sitting
in the bush looking from one side of the cliffs over the canyon to
the falls, or the other is by laying on your stomach, on a huge rock
which overhangs the falls, camera wrapped securely around the wrist
to take the photo of the falls below you. I did it, out of 8 of us 6
did, I must admit my hands were shaking when I took my photo, but it
was worth it.
Lunch was had at a nice stop near the top of falls, before we
retraced our steps home again. We met along the way, the five ladies
mentioned earlier, a local couple, and the others of our Club.
Everyone was in great spirits , great tramping, no rain yet again,
obviously the sign at the beginning didn’t put any of us off. Wet
socks – yes that was true, in all we had around 20 river crossings
today.
For a weekend that was down to being wet wet wet all I can say is
‘don’t believe them’ just get out there and go tramping, my coat
stayed in my pack all weekend, just the way I like it. Wonderful
place to tramp, many thanks to Carol for organising a brilliant
weekend.
Lynette Snook
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