Three groups set out, ours, the longer of the three, went via the large tunnel to the Windows track, now quite a tourist attraction it seems judging by the Kiwi Experience people groping around in the darker bits of the track. DoC has done an excellent job of opening up this track and providing superb signage. One can imagine the miners walking along this track with the windows looking out onto the Karangahake river.
After this we left the crowds and headed along the river towards Dickeys Flat and up Dubbo track to the summit of Karangahake – where we spent a while looking down onto the township- and of course our big yellow bus.
There was time for refreshments at the Karangahake café before picking up the other parties. One party had done the same route as us minus the mountain track, and the other had done the Windows then walked along the Karangahake Gorge Historic walkway to the Waikino station café.
Thanks very much, Jane for organising a stellar day out – and to Campbell for being our driver. Everyone had a great time and the half a dozen people who came out with us for the first day obviously enjoyed it too as they all picked up membership forms from the bus.
Thanks too to Patrick for sending in the photos which are: setting off from Big Yellow, the bridge before the ascent, the exce