11 August 2024

The weather was fine and the turnout was such that with the van being full, Colin took his 4WD vehicle along as well. We headed off at 7 am (in retrospect, we would have been better placed to leave an hour earlier). We parked at the Middle Hill carpark as the road was too substandard for the van to travel further. We then used Colin’s 4WD vehicle as it could negotiate the last stretch of road and three trips were made ferrying all the the start of the track. This cost us an hour in the morning and around the same in the afternoon.

We all headed towards Te Puia Lodge for lunch. Glenda and Peter stopped along the track in search of a pumice cave. From Te Puia Lodge, some of the party headed off up to the Makino Track. They went to the junction and then came out onto the road end which meant a short walk on the road until they reached the van.

Another party carried onto the Mangatainoka Springs. Some had a quick dip in the spring while others, a quick glance and returned. Once back at the carpark, again it was Colin’s car to the rescue transporting us back to the van, the last arriving around 6.15 PM as the dark was settling in. The rest of the trip was very enjoyable with good conversations on the drive back to Pukahu arriving at around 8.15 pm.

Party: Gabrielle S, Adrienne H, Maree M, Minh N, Anne C, Murry A, Reiny S, Selina C, Simon W, Nic W Jude H, Colin J, Glenda H, Peter B, Megan M, John M