abtchoromanga

HOROMANGA HEIST

Ureweras 30 Jan - 1 Feb

Friday

We left the Bracken soon after 6:15pm and drove in two cars to Rotorua. We
overnighted at the Western Heights Bible Church, a place often used by Club groups for
trips to the Rotorua area.

Saturday

The sun and President Nelson both rose at the same time, and everyone else rose with
tea-filled tummies not too long after. We drove to the start of the access road of
Horomanga, on the western edge of the Ureweras near Galatea.

Due to the condition of the access road, it had to the walked, thus the tramp began at
SH38 and not Okui Hut as planned. This also meant that we were climbing the 300m
steep ascent at the hottest time of the day. The track was dry and easy except for the ups
and downs on the last part of the ridge. This section, from Okui to Mangapouri proved
very hard for one of our new members, taking about eight hours to complete and arriving
just before dark at Mangapouri Hut. The track near the hut was badly overgrown with
thick stinging nettle and cutty grass right across in many places. We had the hut to
ourselves.

Sunday

Some of the teabags in the President’s Pack were put to use before all but one of us were
out of bed.

Ongaonga (stinging nettle) was literally a real pain to all of us in the section from
Mangapouri to Midway Hut. Almost the whole of the second day was dampened by light
rain. We reached Midway Hut about 2pm. Five deerstalkers were staying there which
left only three bunks. As there was time to do the remaining four hours we continued to
complete eight hours tramping that day and exit the Horomanga River Valley on the
Galatea Plains. We constantly crossed the river as we descended the gorge. The flow was
swift but up to our thighs only, so progress was not difficult. The bottom of the valley
was dry, showing that the rain had only been in the hills.

Sunday night we drove to Rotorua and were thankful at being able to stay at Jill's fathers
house on the side of the lake.

Monday

The day began with the Presidential Cups of Tea in Bed Service, a tradition on club trips
whenever a certain member is present.

Monday morning was sunny and we enjoyed a walk to Hamurana Springs and another
walk around the Blue Lake. Picnic lunch at the house and return to The Bracken by 5pm.