Having done this we headed off to drop the out party and the medium party for their day’s tramp, at their starting point. We, the long party for the day, stayed in the bus to go to the beginning of Link Track. The medium party were to collect the bus and drive around to the Pureora Field Base to pick us up.
While walking up the track to the top of Mt Pureora, 1165m, we went through various stages of flora including some reminiscent of Te Ureweras. The trees got more and more stunted as we climbed higher and became moss/lichen covered. Nearing the top we paused to look at some hoar frost in the slight ditch in shadow beside the track. Some beautiful, crystal like growth.
Although the breeze was quite cooling it didn’t detract from the amazing view from the top. Subalpine slopes, Lake Taupo and the three central North Island volcanoes were predominant. The snow on top of the mountains was dazzling to see even at this distance. A well worth while walk which didn’t take long; track sign 1.5 hours but we were a bit quicker. The track had many sets of steps but was a relatively easy climb. We descended along Toi Toi Track. A little mud but no problem. The track was still easy but less well formed than Link Track. At the bottom of this track we came to the Timber Trail, a relatively newly constructed track for bikes. We decided it was a good lunch spot and very social spot to choose
We became a bit worried that the medium party had continued along this track instead of turning left to go up to the top. We hadn’t seen them and we should have. At this junction the sign was missing so it was tricky to identify which way to go. There were quite a few cyclists heading up this track, past us. We asked several to tell the medium party, if they saw them, to turn back. Apparently this didn’t happen even though the cyclists had gone past our trampers! We found the signage. It had been thrown well into some trees along the continuation of the Toi Toi Track.
We continued our very pleasant walk down this track along which were information posts. Very interesting. We turned off this track, walking through some native bush as well as large areas where logging had occurred. This lane was decimated with the occasional kaikatea, some rimu and matai. Some of the trees in the logged area as well as in the bush left standing were large; 60m tall.
We finally emerged from the bush at the Pureora Field Base to find the bus was indeed waiting for us. A great days tramp in perfect weather.
We crossed the bike trail again during this and continued through bush and logged areas. We did wonder if the medium party would be waiting for us. They were.