17 May 2026
Fourteen of us arrived at the end of Wakarara Road, 5 planned to go to Ellis Hut and 9 to Poutaki Hut. Poutaki Hut: Leaving the other 5 to do their thing 9 of us headed off to Poutaki Hut. After about an hour walking on a forestry roads (Wakarara and Leatherwood) we finally started up the Poutaki Track. Up being the operative word!! (We passed a trig/weather station just before descending to the hut at 1020m).
Damp weather made for a slippery track in places so there were a number of falls but thankfully no injuries. There seemed to be a lot of trees with markers that had inconveniently fallen or markers just lying on the ground. Adding to our confusion we realized the track shown on Topo 50 was no longer in use so at one point we were unsure where the track was. A good bit of teamwork got it sorted and we got to Poutaki Hut in time to enjoy a warm cosy lunch.
A much speedier trip back with no wrong turns we were back at the van by 4pm.
Yeomans Track: According to DoC, Yeoman’s Track is closed due to storm damage. Most of this damage was to bridges so being trampers we, Peter, Glenda, Christine and Anne, decided to venture forth. Fortunately, the bridges crossing the bigger streams in the first half of the track were still in place. Others were a matter of a bit of navigation but our feet did not get wet.
Our journey to Ellis hut was cut short by a massive chasm and a missing bridge. The track came to an abrupt halt by a deep ravine with a small stream flowing at its base. Yellow danger tape marked the edges on both sides of the divide. There was evidence of trap line markers down to the stream and up the other side. Peter ventured down and up this way and soon appeared across the gap.
We were about 1 km from Yeomans Road with a further km to Ellis Hut so it was decided to return to the van.
Party: Lou C, Connie F, Judith M, Nic W, Peter Mc, Selina C, Jude H, Anton D, Murry A, Christine L, Glenda H, Peter B, Anne D