After coffee in Thames we set off up the Karaka track at the back of the township. It was an old pack track with some nice views over the area and some not so nice muddy bits where vehicles had been.
We reached the hut in drizzle – a great pity as it has some amazing views from its eyrie on top of a ridge. Ian sent a photo taken on his recent visit and this reinforced what we had in fact missed. Helen declared on seeing the photo that she is going back! “I want to sit on that lovely deck at the end of the day, sipping a vermouth!” As one would, Helen- we will bring the Vermouth!. We did get a few breaks in the cloud and fleeting glimpses down to Whitianga, just enough to make us realise what we could have seen on a clear day.
The hut was fully booked – which means ten people had paid their $15 to DoC on line- and a few others had booked camping spots. Ian had told us it was a “like it or hate it hut” Helen and some others loved it and it certainly had views- however I am at a loss to understand why DoC commissioned an architect instead of using its own purpose made designs. This resulted in one or two odd things – like one central ladder only going up to the five top bunks ……..However it was different and certainly on a good spot.
After a convivial evening – we rose early and went back down the lovely Wainora track which has some lovely trees, especially the large kauri – and, most especially the Cookson kauri which Helen said was like a cathedral in the bush – the best she had seen. It was a beauty. The views on the descent of Table Mountain and Kaitarakihi were superb.
Then it was a drive from the Kaueranga valley to Thames for coffee and the drive home. Thanks, Ian for organising this little gem of a trip.