February 12-14 th 2025

We left Taradale @ 7.00am, travelling up SH5 to the old Pohokura Road, crossing the bridge, turning left and traversing through the very bumpy Waipunga Road. As the road straightens, 300 metres further on, we parked the vehicle, out of sight of anyone on the road. Set off at 9.00am, up to the track entrance and for the next four hours followed the orange track markers to the now derelict Halfway Hut. Simon had his saw ready and cleared smaller branches from the track.

We sidled Opureke highpoint, crossing a couple of streams before following red tape down a spur to a tributary of the Matakuhia Stream, a 6-8 foot drop, both of us getting stung by the native bees. We got to the junction of two streams, where we eyeballed a sika stag for a few minutes. Came to an impassable waterfall, so backtracked and sidled above it with no handholds, dropping back into the water. Up and over and around small cascades, log jams and impassable areas where we had to sidle around, looking for a suitable campsite- at 6.00pm we began to set up the tent and Simon’s Tarp, 9 hours total tramping. 

Up at 7.00am, breakfasted and away by 8.00, immediately into the stream. It was a repeat of yesterday, under, over and around log jams, occasionally crawling along fallen trees, walking in the stream, disturbing whio on the way (we saw 5). Out of the stream onto a fairly good track through bush, which led to the 8 bunk Upper Matakuhia Hut, nestled on the edge of a grassy clearing. It had taken us 4-5 hrs and we  spent a leisurely afternoon thistle grubbing (Simon) and reading up about the BC Trust (Susan). It was early to bed, moreporks calling across the valley before I succumbed to sleep. 

Friday morning left,sidling beside the stream, a few tricky places due to the pumice track and came to the boggy section where in 2023 Glenda lost her footwear in the mire!, Soon came to the log bridge which now sits high above the stream- easier to go through the water. It was a gradual climb, weaving through bush to Pine Milling road- a total of 3-3.5 hours. It took us 3.5 hours walking along Pine Milling and Waipunga Roads in the middle of the day- no wind and very hot. Fortunately a ute came along and gave Simon and I a lift back to our vehicle, saving us from walking the final 8kms.

Party: Susan and Simon

FYI – No, we will not be leading a club trip over the Opureke Track.