Tramp Reflections 818 - Mt Te Aroha via Tui Mine Track

7 June 2009

The Leader was Janey Nolan and the Co Leader,Christine Russell. Trampers: Sheila & Nick Toppin, Don Stover, Clare Summers, Tamsyn Walker, Adele Rossitor, Pareorangi Luther Apirirana, Shiew Ling Ong, Alexy Simmons, Danny Tanaka, Richard & Pauline Leong, Alan Hawes.

With four people in Christine's car, plus eleven people in the van, includng three Girls High students doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award, we set off to climb 952m, Mount Te Aroha, the highest point in the Kaimai-Mamaku range. Both van and car unloaded passengers at the start of the Tui mine track at the end of Tui Road, Te Aroha, for what looked to be a very promising day weather wise.

Alan had kindly agreed to come with us to move the van around to the Domain where we would end our walk. When he told everyone what his plans were for the day: coffee, reading the paper, a short walk, lunch, a dip in the hot pools and a good book, several of the group began to toy with the idea of forgoing the tramp to join Alan instead... so Janey and Christine quickly did the round of introductions and ushered everyone up the road away from temptation!

It was not long before we were at the old Tui mine. This area on the northern slopes of the mountain was mined to provide lead flux for the Waiorongomai smelters. However, the ore contained too much zinc to be of use. In the 1960s the area was extensively mined but the venture failed due to mercury contamination of the ore. The combination of high heavy metal concentration, porous tailings and acidic leachate has created an inhospitable environment where plants are unable to establish. Traces of gold were discovered on Mount Te Aroha in 1880. Prospectors burnt much of the native vegetation looking for a gold bearing reef, which was never found. Their attention turned to Waiorongomai when Buck Reef was discovered.

There were some good views to be had as we climbed the next part of the track so we decided to take a quick break before we entered the bush. It was a steady undulating climb, passing the intersection with the Mangakino Pack Track and the Waiorongomai track. We saw peeks of the transmission tower on the summit through breaks in the bush and then on crossing the road for the final stage to the top, the bush became more open, providing a tantalising taste of the views to come... more track and some steps saw us at the summit. Here we exchanged pleasantries with the Odds and Ends tramping group from South Auckland who had come via the Whakapipi Lookout.

The views were fabulous. We checked out the map engrained on a metal slab next to the trig, we could see Paeroa and Waihi towns, the sea near Waihi Beach, Tauranga, The Mount, Mayor Island, the rest of the Kaimai-Mamaku range and in the distance the snow capped peaks of Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. An unparalleled 360 degree view, it was just wonderful!

Some found the descent down to the Domain after lunch very hard going, especially some of the newer trampers. It was very steep in places, steps made from half round pole sections covered in mesh, rocks and roots to clamber down. Just over half way down, Don and Clare arrived at the Whakapipi lookout first and were greeted by Alan, but he had already started to make his way back down but the time the rest of us arrived. Everyone rested a while; absorbed the sunshine and the views over Te Aroha/Waihou, and the Waikato plains before tramping the last 30-40 minutes of the track to the Domain.

Once at the Domain, some headed for a caffeine fix or other liquid refreshment from the café, others to the Hot Pools, and the Girls High girls into town for a 3 scoop $2.50 ice cream recommended by Alan!

Thanks Alan for your help with the van, you made a good day, a very good day! Thanks Janey and Christine for organising the tramp. It was not the first time Nick and I had climbed to Te Aroha summit, but it was our first time via the Tui mine track.

Written by Sheila Toppin.

Photographs by Danny Tanaka (E990).