Our party consisted of Helen, Paul, Lynda and me. We set off into a stiff breeze up the Te Tuhi track, to the Mangamuka Hut, including a half hour of stream bashing up a very pretty little stream on the way there. The stream was a perfect spot to enjoy lunch. The day’s walk took about 3 hours, leaving plenty of time to settle into the delightful little hut. Yes, only four beds, but perfect for a party of our size. The hut had been done up – a sky light, collapsible table, fireplace – indeed all mod cons, even running water- in the nearby stream. A very peaceful little spot. In the night it hosed down with rain but we were very cosy in our little hut.
Sunday. An early start leaving the hut at 8.30 heading back in the direction we had come the day before to meet the North south track and head down to the Wairere falls, which were at their spectacular best. As Roger commented you usually only see one and a half streams tumbling over the drop – not the three we saw. At the falls we met Eileen and Roger from the other party who had climbed up from the car park to get to the viewing platform. Our day was about a six hour tramp on well marked tracks with impressive stands of Tawa early on and then Rimu giants.
The other group went up Thompsons track to Motutapere hut, of similar size to ours then back on the Motutapere track to the Tuahu track meeting us at the falls.
This was a trip of a number of surprises
1 Getting a leisurely coffee break in Matamata on the way there – very civilised
2 The excellent mature bush
3 The cosy, perfect little huts
4 Well marked tracks including one we hadn’t expected – we found on the way back towards the stream bash of the previous day there was indeed a well marked track avoiding the said stream altogether
5 THE HIDDEN MATTRESSES! We had been surprised that Mangamuka Hut had no mattresses. The other party informed us that mattresses were in a lift up cupboard- which we had slept on – with Thermarests! (I have to say it is one of the most comfortable sleeps I have had in a hut – and that too was a surprise!)
Thanks, Roger for another special tramp and to Helen and Campbell for driving.