Date: 28 Feb – 2 Mar 2025
Trip type: Medium
Location: Tararua Forest Park
Author: Georgia
Trampers: Sara (leader), Georgia, Tawera, Brianna, Chrys, Callum (and Sophie)
Friday – 28 Feb
Five of us and Sara’s lovely dog (Sophie) met at the Wellington Station and drove up to the Wairarapa with the EM group. We met up with Brianna for secret pizzas at the base of the Tararua Ranges. After a yummy dinner we headed to Holdsworth Campground to pitch a tent and then it was straight to bed.
Saturday – 1 Mar
On Saturday morning we made our way up to Powell Hut along the Gentle Annie Track, at a good steady pace, stopping for a snack at Mountain House. From there, the track became steeper with many of those dreaded stairs. The wind started to pick up, making it harder going, despite still being beneath the bush line.
The last 15 minutes up those stairs were tough going on our quads and lungs (for some of us). We dragged ourselves up with the help of the handrails and gratefully settled on the Powell Hut deck for an early lunch.
The wind was getting stronger, but we decided to head towards the Holdsworth Trig anyway and test out the conditions. Soon we were getting buffeted one way and then the other, and nearly lost our footing a few times.
We reached the Trig, but didn’t stay long, pausing for just a quick photo. From here we took the turnoff towards Mid-Waiohine Hut.
We climbed down to the saddle, and then back up to Isabelle (a high point on the Tararua Range), which was surprisingly easy. From Isabelle, we descended down into the bush line, which offered some shelter. Here we stopped for another snack. It was then all downhill on a steepish track through classic Tararua roots, to Mid-Waiohine Hut.
The trail bore the signs of the work the Backcountry Trust had done a few weeks prior to clear it. We saw a goat near the path which bounded away from us.
A wasp nest sits under some of the tree roots on one part of the trail. They did not take kindly to us walking over their nest. Tawera and Calum were stung, and we suspect Sophie was too from the way she pawed at her face. We hurried on.
We arrived at a pleasant empty hut. All up the journey took us 7 hr 30 mins, including breaks.
Callum, Tawera and Sara went to fill heavy containers of water and then we had a hot drink.
While we were sitting around, a group of four trampers arrived, evidently surprised to see the full six bed hut. They had not brought sleeping mats or a fly with them, as their packs were loaded with tubes and wetsuits, ready for a river adventure the following day. Three of us decided to tent for the night – which freed up three beds. The last person from the group that had just arrived slept on Brianna’s mat on the floor.
Sara and Tawera decided to brave the river and go swimming. The rest of us were not so keen, as the day hadn’t turned out as warm as hoped, given the wind. None of us managed to take a photo of the picturesque swimming hole – reported to be one of the best in the Tararua Ranges.
The club’s MF group of four also arrived, making it a very full hut. They had been tubing down the river, and after 6 hours in the water, were in need of hot drinks. They are hardy individuals and were prepared to tent for the night.
We made dinner – Pad Thai – which was alright, but rather lacking in flavour. We ate on a tarp, picnic style, outside, and it was a lovely evening for it. Calum and Tawera put together an apple crumble style dessert of stewed cinnamon apples and crushed ginger biscuits, and a runny ‘toasted’ (slightly burnt) custard, which was very good altogether. Sophie certainly enjoyed finishing off the custard.
We spent some time admiring the stars and then went to bed.
Stats:
Distance – 12.3 km
Elevation gain – 1228 m
Elevation loss – 1093 m
Elapsed Time – 7.5 hours (incl 30 mins for lunch and some decent breaks)
Depart Holdsworth 8.25 am
Rocky lookout 9.15 am
Mountain House 10.05 am
Powell Hut 11.25 am
Depart Powell 11.55 am
Mount Holdsworth 12.55pm
Enter bushline on descent to Mid-Waiohine Hut 1.55pm
Mid-Waiohine Hut 4pm
Sunday
On Sunday morning we headed back up the track, the way we had come. We walked over the wasp nest again, and this time Sara, Tawera, Calum and I were all stung. Some of us were stung multiple times. We hurried on again.
We made decent time and stopped just before the bushline for a snack, before heading up Isabelle, down to the saddle, and back up to Mt Holdsworth. The last bit up to Mt Holdsworth was tough going for some of us, but somehow we made it without a break.
The weather had put on a show after the previous day, and the sun was beating down with clear views across the mountains and the Wairarapa farmland. We could see Mitre Peak briefly poking out of the clouds. We stopped for a quick break and to admire the views at the top, and decided to head down to Powell Hut to have lunch under the shaded deck. The MF group had been tailing us all day and finally overtook us at Powell Hut.
And then we headed down the Gentle Annie Track, at a pace which felt swift, but which still took over two hours, to the carpark.
We met up with the EM group, dipped our feet in the river, and then headed on back to Wellington.
All up we had a great trip, with a great group of people. Sophie was a little trooper. Mid Waiohine Hut was a lovely little hut, in good condition. We didn’t see a drop of rain, and the wind on the tops was a fun experience, balanced out by the beating sun the next day.
Stats:
Distance – 12.3 km
Elevation gain – 1093 m
Elevation loss – 1228 m
Elapsed Time – 7 hrs 5 mins (incl 30 minute lunch break)
Depart Mid-Waiohine 8.15 am
Top of bushline 10.15 am
Mount Holdsworth 11.35 am
Powell 12.30 pm
Depart Powell 1 pm
Mountain House Shelter 1.35 pm
Rocky Lookout 2.30 pm
Holdsworth Road End 3.20pm