Tramp Reflections 717 - Bottom to Top of Wairoa Falls

16 February 2006

Kevin C, Kevin B, Janey, Malcolm, Doug, David, Gail and John S, gathered together early at 06:00 to leave for a tramp up Linderman Rd, Katikati. We had our boots on and were under way by 08:15. It was a nice easy track (probably an old pack track) to warm up on.

After 2 hours of track walking, we went bush down towards the falls. We managed to via down hill off the ridge twice. It always amazes me as to uphill, downhill contrast when trying to keep to a line of travel. The falls were sighted on the way down, so we were directed to the bottom. The newer members Doug and Gail, were ok with the off-track experience.

The Wairoa Stream boulders were rather large, but with the help of climbing tape, everyone managed a safe passage up to the bottom of the falls and back. Then it was off to uncharted bush, to climb around falls bluffs, trying to gauge the correct height to drop onto the top of the falls. Gail found a Bush Lawyer which wanted to play with her legs and has the scars to prove it!

We walked passed an interesting root system of a dead Kauri tree, which looked about a third of the original tree. Finally, we abseiled down a 3 metre rock face onto the top of the falls. Not all were keen to look over the edge. After a few minutes chatting and chewing, we moved on up the creek. Kevin B and Malcolm managed to keep their feet dry, which is not a good look on one of my tramps!

On reaching the last waterfall, Kevin B and I decided to work out the stream layout. The way it was drawn on the map was very confusing. We climbed up and around to the top where the going turned very dirty with thick supplejack. Everyone was pleased when the main track turned up 20 minutes later (Twanny would have been pleased that I finally worked out a problem area) The pace picked up for the 1 ½ hr walk back down to the van.

Thanks girls and guys for your support on an enjoyable day. Also thanks to Malcolm for driving and to Janey for doing the organizing.

Kevin C