Summary:
- We had planned a 25km anti-clockwise circuit in Egmont National Park – from North Egmont Road to Holly Hut (via the Pouakai tarns and Pouakai Hut), then out to North Egmont Road. However, all good plans need to be flexible when the weather doesn’t play the game!
- Instead, when the bad weather, originally forecast for earlier in the week, moved into Saturday, we did a roughly 26.4 km ‘out and back’ trip from Mangorei Road End to Bells Falls, via Pouakai and Holly Huts (albeit some of it with day packs and light loads).
- According to the group, the trip wasn’t the one that we had planned on. It was even better!
Friday 12 April:
- On a rainy wet Friday, we all meet at Wellington Train Station. Sara was getting nervous, as no-one had arrived by 5pm. She thought she might be tramping alone! Instead, everyone was sheltering from the rain, waiting diligently under the platform 9 sign, and hadn’t seen the van arrive!
- It was Aidan, Andrew, Ben, Chelsea’s & Sarah’s first trip with the tramping club. Sara and Adam welcomed us with open arms into the club. We hit the road with lots of enthusiasm and excitement for the trip. We stopped for dinner in Bulls – having some delicious Kebabs and Iskenders.
- We arrived, minus the wind & rain, in Taranaki, where we spent the night at the Camphouse. After a bit of fun on a key hunt and opening the lock (thanks to Sara for hopping into the rain to do this). Before hitting the hay, we prayed to the weather gods for a nice weekend.
Saturday 13 April:
- We woke up nice and early Saturday morning. Sadly, our prayers hadn’t been heard & it was pouring down with rain and there were 90 km/ph winds. Off we headed to the trusty DOC office, so our trip leader could obtain some local knowledge and talk through the potential back-up options. It was decided that we’d give Pouakai Hut a go (when initially planning the trip, we had been advised the Hut was closed for renovations, but luckily the DOC gods were on our side and the dates had changed).
- It was a wet, cold and windy trek up to Pouakai Hut. A few of us have now realised we need some new waterproof gear (not the nicest way to find out). The hut welcomed us with open arms. We shared it with two Scottish people, who started trying to light the fire, and a large ‘party’ group that didn’t have the best hut etiquette and that left an empty bottle of spirits behind! (the joys of staying in a Hut that is so accessible ☹). Thanks to Adam who went & collected additional wood. Everyone warmed up with dry clothes and warm drinks. We spent the afternoon playing cards, reading & having naps.
- Dinner rolled around and we sampled two recipes from the club’s trusty recipe book; basic risotto (with mushroom) and apple pudding with whipped cream instead of yoghurt (delicious – the team highly recommend both!!). The evening ended with a new card game Aidan taught us called ‘Dutch’.
- Walking Times:
- Nth Egmont road to Mangorei Road end 8.50 am – 9.30 am (driving)
- Mangorei Road End to Pouakai Hut 9.45 am – 12 pm (5.5km, mainly uphill)
- Total Distance 5.5km, moving time 1 hr 45minsElevation gain 779m
Sunday 14 April:
- Sunday morning, we woke up to a little bit of rain and cloud. Off we went to Holly Hut (our original destination for Day 1), via the impressive and beautiful Ahukawakawa Swamp. We looked high and low for Giant Land Snails for Aidan, with no luck. Ben shared his knowledge about plants.
- Some of the group did a side trip to Bells Falls, a spectacular 30+ metre waterfall. It was thundering down after all the rain the previous day. Chelsea, who has whakapapa to this area, took the opportunity to wash her taonga pounamu in the water under the Falls. The track was a bit rougher and muddier than the boardwalks on the way up to the Pouakai tarns frequented by the jeans and sneaker brigade. We saw a steady trail of them heading up there on Sunday, which provided some light relief. On our way back down, we made another side trip to the tarns, but alas, no reflection of Mt Taranaki in sight (it was hiding behind the cloud). Back down the track we went.
- Some of the newer trampers in the group said they have never been so happy to see a vehicle! (Although they also mentioned at the same time that they much preferred the trip to sitting on a couch for the weekend 😊). We piled back into the van for our drive home. The trip wouldn’t be complete without a cheeky trip to McDonalds on the way home.
- Walking Times:
- Pouakai Hut to Holly Hut 8.25 am – 9.45 am (4.5km, mainly downhill)
- Bells Falls side trip 10 am – 11.15 am (15 mins at waterfall, approx. 3 km return)
- Holly Hut to Pouakai tarns 11.30 am – 12.45 pm (4.5km, mainly uphill)
- Pouakai tarns trip 12.45 pm – 1.20 pm (approx 2 km return)
- Pouakai Hut to road end 1.50 pm – 3.20 pm (5.5km)
- Total distance 20.9 km, moving time 4 hr 59 minElevation gain 710m, descent 1422m