Tramp Reflections 823 - Hapuakohe Walkway

2 August 2009

People pointing at their watches when we arrived at the Pak'nSave car park told me that we were running a little late!

The Hapuakohe Range lies approximately 50km north-east of Hamilton. The entire walkway is split into a northern and southern part, that takes 8 and 6 hours (respectively) to walk. We arrived at 9am at the Mangapiko Valley road end, the most southern point of the walkway. Val drove the van around to the point where the northern and southern parts meet, the Ohinewai-Kaihere Rd and started from there with Breanne, her granddaughter.

Anna and I, Janey and Malcolm, Kathy, Adrienne and Sharon started the walk over farmland following the Mangapiko stream. Soon we entered the pretty Mangapiko Valley Scenic Reserve and climbed steadily up to the ridge. We took our time discussing the different trees. The bush has predominately tawa, kohekohe, pigeon wood and pukatea. However, the only trees some of us recognised were the puriri with its distinctive big, round and bright green leaves and the young rimu: how can it be that the males are prickly and females are not? We also came across a flattened frog, Kathy accusing me of having stepped on it.

The track emerged at a fence-line alongside farmland which we followed for a while. We had our morning snacks at a sunny spot before re-entering the bush. It was a steep climb to reach the first trig point at Pukeitionga Station (488m) where we had beautiful views. Following the fence and ridge line we zigzagged our way through the bush edge where we came across a little windfall, vehicle parts and rubbish which were overgrown with vegetation and pig rootings.

Coming out of the bush we stepped over a stile and came across a group of small wind swept trees. Another steep climb and we reached Maungakawa trig (535m) where we met Val and Breanne and a farmer who was tracking his dog out in the bush that we just had crossed.

We had lunch out of the wind which had grown strong and cold by now. It was only then that I remembered that I had asked Val to bring the club's first-aid kit, but had forgotten to take it from her in the morning, so she had carried it all the way up! I partly made up for it by taking it down again.... Sorry Val!

On our way down we enjoyed some more views before re-entering the bush and at times, dropping steeply: well done Breanne! It was mostly re-generating bush of akeake, rewarewa, heketara, rimu, totara and manuka. Val pointed out the tanekaha tree (celery pine) to us and explained that you usually find kauri nearby: 'around the corner' we found a kauri.

At around 3pm we walked out onto the gravel road, changed our clothes and drove back towards Ohinewai. It was a good tramp, rarely done, not too easy, not too difficult, nice views and with enough ups and downs for a decent bit of exercise. I particularly found the Mangapiko Scenic Reserve the nicest part.

Written by Michiel van Dijk.

Photographs by Michiel van Dijk (Casio EX-V7).