AUGUST:
Mangakuri Beach: 13 August
Eleven of us drove south to arrive at Mangakuri Beach in pouring rain. With raincoats on we walked northwards toward Kairakau. After about 30 minutes of walking along a sandy beach the sand ended, the rain stopped and the rocks started. It was rock hopping from then on. We had intended to get to the Mangakuri River mouth, which is at Kairakau, but we came across a mother seal and her pup on a narrow section. As we didn’t want to disturb them we decided this was the turn around point. On the trip back we stopped at the Elsthorpe Scenic reserve and walked the short loop there.
Party: Glenda H, Peter B, Susan L, Donna W, Selina C, Peter Mc, Steve B, Christine L, Anne D, Robyn W, Karene F
Central Hawke’s Bay Reserves 27 August
At the end of the month we walked through three of the CHB reserves. First up was the Tukituki Scenic Reserve (Lindsay Bush) where we found some new tracks nearer the river to walk before returning back through the centre of the bush. We then walked along the limestone pathway to the LIndsay tunnel, which some walked (crawled) through , and then on a bit before returning to the van and driving to Adeanes Bush. Again things had changed since we were last at Adeanes Bush with a lot more planting and a few extra short tracks. We did the loop track past the big totara as well as the new walks. From there we drove to the Moncktons Scenic Reserve which DOC has closed due to a collapsed bridge and a slip part way along the track. Given that the stream was ankle deep, the lack of a a bridge was not an issue and we were able to do a short walk through to where the slip was.
Party: Glenda H, Peter B, Peter Mc, Christine L, Robyn W, Keryn D, Steve B, Anne D, Donna W
SEPTEMBER:
Korimako Bush 10 Sept:
Korimako Bush is situated at the end of Ohurakura Road near Te Pohue. It is a 40 HA privately owned block of native bush with a QE2 Trust on it and is co-owned by family of a founding member of our Club. After descending a rutted forestry track at the end of the road we parked up and made the short walk to the hut. From there we descended down to the south branch of the Esk River which passes through the property. When I was last there, 30 years ago, there was a bridge over the river but now there is only remnants of the bridge so we waded the river. There are many impressive trees on the northern side of the property; big cabbage trees, a big rimu and a stand of very large totara trees. We admired them all before descending down to the river 500 m downstream of the broken bridge and having lunch. After lunch we retraced our steps back to the river crossing point and made our way back to the van.Party: Glenda H, Peter B, Donna W, Selina C, Peter Mc, Steve B, Christine L, Anne D, Anne C, Gabrielle S, Janice L
Otatara/Puketapu Trail Wednesday 24 September, 2025
The original plan had been to go to Trelinnoe gardens but with numerous showers forecast for Te Pōhue it was decided to stay closer to home. The pathway from Otatara Pa to Puketapu was chosen; so at 9.30 Selina, Donna, Christine, Steve and Anne met at the Springfield Road car park and we were soon on our way.
We were at Puketapu at around 11.00 and with the need for a toilet stop it was decided to visit the Puketapu Pub. Not only did we use the facilities, we had hot drinks and food. It was a leisurely stop.
From the Puketapu Pub we continued over the new two lane Moteo-Puketapu Bridge, spanning the Tutaekuri River. We admired the native plantings and decorations on the sides of the bridge. Once on the Moteo side, we decided to view the underside of the bridge. It was here where the rain showers started. We were content to let Christine put up her umbrella which quickly ensured that the rain stopped.
As the pathway is closed at Lennox Road, where it is necessary to go on to the road back to Waiohiki, we returned the way we had come. There was however a deviation up to the St Michael and All Angels Church graveyard.
Although walking on lime sand pathways is hard on the feet it was an enjoyable day, in good company. Party: Steve B, Christine L, Donna W, Selina C, Anne D.
Pourerere Beach October 8 2025
With a low tide around 12.30 PM and a good weather forecast for Central HB coast, Pourerere Beach was our choice for this Wednesday. There were 9 of us and we parked by the mouth of Pourerere Stream (at the northern end of the beach) in the newly tar-sealed carpark We took the track down to the beach, crossed the stream and headed north for a couple of kilometres, to where the rock hopping starts. Here there were many big rounded boulders, the same as you see on the way to Red Island. As some did not wish to rock hop we sat down here and had an early lunch. We then returned back along the beach passing a seal on the way.
Back at the van we drove to the southern end of Pourerere Road, left Peter at the van for a sleep, and headed south. There were a lot of people out on the rock platform, presumably looking for shell fish and we passed 4 or so vehicles along the way.
Around half way Glenda turned back to get Peter to drive around to Aramoana Beach while the others made their way there along the beach. It was perfect timing as the van arrived at the Aramoana carpark about the same time as the walkers did. Party: Glenda H, Steve B, Selina C, Christine L, Susan L, Peter Mc, Donna W, Karene F, Peter B
Makahu Saddle Wednesday 22 October, 2025
Makahu Saddle and its various tramping options was the destination of choice for this ad hoc tramp. Three options were decided on. The Kaweka bivvy track through to Makahu Stream (known to some as Boulder Stream) was first. Storms have ravaged the stream bed but it had little water in it. The track is in good condition with some undercutting which will cause problems in the future.
We had lunch at Makahu Base, enjoying the sunshine, then we started the Ngahere Loop track at the car park. This led us through the bush and looped around to the road back to the car park. There was about a 1.5km walk along the road; it was here that we were treated to the amazing sight of 7 or 8 kaka flying high above us which absolutely delighted Peter.
Our final destination was into the Don River (but not across it) along the Dons Spur track. Clay along the track was rather a trap for some. However the walk to a waterfall cascading down the stream was a picturesque bonus. This gentle walk was a pleasant way to end the day.
Party: Glenda H, Peter B, Janice L, Donna W, Selina C, Peter Mc, Anne D, Christine L, Keryn D
Awatere Hut 5 November 11, 2025
Another fine day for all of Hawke’s Bay and we decided to drive to Moorcock Saddle and walk through to Awatere Hut. We left town at 8 and had started walking up the 100 metre climb to the top of the ridge a bit after 9.30 and it was already hot. We had morning tea at the hut around 11 and then, leaving Peter to have a snooze, the rest of us went downstream to view Black Stag hut.
It was a shorter distance to Black Stag hut than we had remembered, just the one river crossing, so we recrossed the Makaretu Stream and continued on downstream along the true right of the river until we would have had to cross it. This was about 1 km below Awatere Hut. We returned back to Awatere Hut and had our leisurely lunch outside the hut in the shade.
The return back to the van along the track would have meant a 300 metre climb in the hot sun so the plan was to go off-track and return up the creek that flows to the south from Moorcock Saddle (the one you cross just before the Makaretu Stream). Anne and Glenda had followed Peter up this creek before and it had ended up a ferocious bush bash at the end, however, Peter assured us he had been there since and had found a much easier exit.
It was definitely much cooler in the creek valley and very pretty. The journey to the saddle took 2.5 hours. Two hours of this involved many crossings of the creek to walk along the flattish terraces above the creek. This was followed by 30 minutes pushing up through scrubby vegetation, along a track of sorts, to finally arrive at the Longview track some 30 metres from the carpark.
Party: Anne D, Christine L, Selina C, Donna W, Steve B, Peter Mc, Susan L, Peter B, Glenda H
