[John Saunders]

I’m planning a Kaitoke-Mangahao tramp this summer, but I’m unfamiliar with the sector East Peak-Hines-Massey Knob-Ngapuketura-Puketuroa Track. Merv Rodgers doesn’t cover it, and my 1995 Topomap suggests leatherwood could be a problem. Any suggestions? Would dropping into the Mangahao River via Girdlestone Saddle be the better option? Any advice appreciated.

[Richard Davies]

Hi John,

Anecdotally its really grovelly and slow through there. Slow being the main problem.

Having looked at it a few times I think it could be fun but not at the end of a trip – do it as a (massochistic) weekend trip.

If you are a confident navigator there is a route off West Peak into the Mangahao, stay out of those streams though, they’re poor travel.

There is also a good route down Triangle Spur (off Dundas Pk) down to the old Avalanche Flats Hut site.

Girdlestone Saddle is good too.

Plenty of scope, sounds like a fun trip!!

Good luck.

[Harry]

I went from the Mangahao dam up to the top of the Puketurua Track last month and that was a little bit overgrown in places but basically fine (although if you’re coming down, the last hundred vertical metres or so down into the stream could possibly be a bit confusing). From the top of the Puketurua Track there was a wide cut track heading south through the leatherwood towards the top of Ngapuketurua. I followed it for a couple of hundred metres and it seemed OK. I don’t know how far it goes but presumably it’s all the way to Ngapuketurua and beyond to Hines and Ruapae.

Of course, the other option is to just buy a copy of the 2001 edition of the map. All the leatherwood scrub in the northern Tararuas has magically vanished, and there’s even a vehicle track over Mt Crawford and Nichols to help you on your way…….

[Author]

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