T837 Waitawheta Hut Loop along the tramline

Tramp Reflections 837 - Waitawheta Hut Loop

6 - 7 February 2010

Present were Val, John, Kathy, Michiel, Alexy, Danny, Kate, Adrienne, Anna.

We met early Saturday afternoon at Val and John's place, loaded up the van and left for Karangahake Gorge (minus Val and John's sausages). John carefully parked the van at the end of Franklin Rd and we set off at approx 3pm.

The track to Waitawheta Hut was quite a flat walk i.e. no hills! It was a lovely blue sky, sunny day and we stopped for a quick dip in the river to cool off.

T837 Waitawheta Hut Loop- we spent the night on the deck under the stars on the commandeered mattress

Along the Tramline, there were laminated boards which had brief stories and illustrations of the history of the area. Alexy had actually interviewed Ruth, a lady who had grown up in the hey-days of the Waitawheta Tramline, and whose picture and story featured on some of the boards.

We had to wade over the Waitawheta River 4-5 times and we had a few bridges to cross as well. It would take 3 - 3 1/2 hours to get to the Hut... ah, my thoughts wondered to the tranquil setting that would greet me and I drifted to my 'happy place". But as we trundled over the last bridge we heard the distant murmur of voices... as we walked toward the hut and around the bend, we saw people sitting on a picnic table outside the hut, kids running and playing, people in the hut, people everywhere!

T837 Waitawheta Hut Loop - what are you doing Val

Luckily Anna and Michiel, Val and John had come prepared (although minus sausages) and pitched tents for the night. That left Adrienne, Alexy and Danny, Kate and me to find mattresses. A scuffle nearly broke out as Adrienne commandeered us the last remaining mattresses. We decided to spend a night on the deck under the stars with the odd possum, spider and weta for company, and also to avoid any scuffles over the mattresses.

One must mention the Waitawheta Hut toilets; the Waitawheta Hut toilets are fab, eco friendly long drops. No lingering odours; just grab a hand of grass and toss in after every toilet! A tip from me - remember to pull the handle firmly down otherwise you may think you have locked yourself into the toilet, and stay their for approx 5 minutes, calling out with no-one being able to hear your voice, and becoming quite anxious...

Sunday - another lovely day, we spent a little time checking out the historical mill site just down from the Hut. Over the bridge we branched to the right heading towards our lunch stop, the Ananui Falls. We would loop back around to end up near the start of the tramline.

T837 Waitawheta Hut Loop Michiel looks over the Aranui Falls

This was a lovely walk, ups and downs and arounds. We met a jogger along the way, as one does on tramps. We finally ascended to our lunch spot, and had lovely views looking out over the waterfall and the surrounding valley; Val and John had been to this same spot years earlier and reminisced. Onwards after lunch the track scenery changed somewhat, we came across more and more supple jacks and at one point had to tackle our way through overgrown vines that had tangled a web amongst a fallen tree. We had to kneel on the ground and crawl through the vines carefully with a patient and supportive audience waiting.

Written by Kathy Old and typed up by Sheila

Photographs by Adrienne van Hellemond (Canon PowerShot SX100 IS).