27 – 28 July

A group of 11 of us set off, excited as it was also a momentous birthday occasion for Glenda. With a slight frost and fog noticeable on Mount Tauhara we stopped at Opepe Bush and headed out on the 1 ¹/₂ hour Historic Walk Track. We sighted the pit saw, totara water trough site, historic fencing, cemetery and the armed constabulary redoubt well. Impressed with this side of the highway we then ventured over to the other side to the Opepe Bush Historic Reserve. Many, well grown trees, plants with placards were sighted on this side.

At Tauhara Maunga base we ate our lunch before beginning our 2.5 km ascent to the 1088m summit. A narrow, single track for most of the way in bush. In parts much of it had been gouged out due to rainfall, however the caretakers had ensured we had a flat base where possible to walk on. In one part, an angelic photo of Peter was taken showing the conditions. At the summit, we were fortunate to gain 360 degree clear views which impressed Minh, our newest, keen first time  tramper.

Not done yet, we headed across to Taupō’s Waipahihi Botanical Gardens. A stunning, tidy array of plants. Here, was a great photo opportunity of us pointing out the Botanical Gardens and Tauhara Maunga in the distance.  With a 20 km culminated distance undertaken today we headed to AC Baths. Warm, lovely and refreshing for all. We then hit Taupō and together, joined Glenda in celebrating her special birthday at Cobb and Co.

The night was spent in clean, comfortable cabin accommodation at the Camellia Court Family Motel. With breakfast eaten, we ventured down Desert Road where we caught great sights of the snowy mountains. The temperature reading in the van said it was 2 °C at our parking area which was beside State HW 1 just north of the Tukino turnoff.  

 Leaving the van we tramped  through tussock land, firstly along a 4WD track very close to the boundary with the army.  We initially missed the turn-off from the 4WD track onto a walking track but John soon got us right.   At the first high point we split into two group with 7 keen to get to Castle Rock and 4 happy to wander along and enjoy the views.   

The group of 4 stopped at the top of a ridge that descended into beech forest and looked over a magical valley to have their lunch.  In the distance they could see what they thought must have been The Rock but apparently, according to Simon, this was not The Rock but one slightly nearer  than the actual one.  After lunch this group returned to the van, the wind had got up and the wind chill required us to put on extra layers.  They arrived back at the van about 1:45 PM.

Meanwhile, the group of 7 had carried on down the ridge, through tussock then beech forest then up the other side through the beech and more tussock and along to Castle Rock, arriving there about 12:30PM.  After lunch they returned to the van in the cold wind, arriving there about 3.30PM.  Heading home towards Taihape, we even saw camouflaged army tanks out on manoeuvres .

The whole weekend had been a great contrast and great achievement in tramping experiences  and lots of firsts:  No one had previously walked the southern loop at Opepe or had been on the track to Castle Rock,  at least 3 had never been to the AC baths, and most had never been to Mount Tauhara or the Waipahihi Botanical Reserve or even the northern loop at Opepe.   It was Minh’s first tramp with the HTC and Judith’s first weekend tramp with us – I hope you both enjoyed it.

Note that Castle Rock is not named on the topomap.co.nz  but it is the unmarked  high point (of around 1450 m) 5 km due east of the intersection of SH1 and the Tukino access road and between high points 1313 and 1396.

Party: Glenda H, Peter B, Stephen B, Simon W, Paula K, Minh N, Susan L, Anne D, Jude H, Judith M & John M