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The Auckland Baptist Tramping Club had a successful expedition to Urutawa Conservation Area (21,750ha)
in the eastern Bay of Plenty. This area had not been visited by the Club before, and opened up to us
as we ignored DoC’s “dire warnings” and received more optimistic information from the local tramping
club. Phillip was in charge, assisted by Peter, Val and Bev.
The tramp followed the old Pakihi
Stock Route through the forest from Whitikau on the Motu Road to the end of Pakihi Road, a total distance
of 19 km. It was created to get cattle from the Motu district to Opotiki. We then walked up a parallel
valley to the Te Waiti Hut.
Friday
We travelled via Matamata and Tauranga (collecting
Phillip and Katrina en route) to Torere, 22 km east of Opotiki, arriving just after 10 p.m. Here we were
warmly welcomed by the owners of the Torere Pig Dog Training School (Joshua and Sarah Kauta), and spent
the night in their comfortable lodge, complete with log fire.
Saturday
We were met at
the corner of Motu Road by Stuart and Margaret Slade of the Nga Tapuwae o Taneatua Tramping Club. Stuart
accompanied us up the winding road to the track start at Whitikau, before driving our van back to his
house in the Cheddar Valley (between Ohope and Kutarere). He acquainted us with some of the local history
and furnished us with some very useful sketches of the areas surrounding Pakihi Hut, Stag Flat, and Te
Waiti Hut.
Our tramp from Motu Road to Pakihi Hut (9 km) took 3-4 hrs along a benched track with
occasional windfalls. The track was very convoluted as it wound its way around the head of many creek
valleys which feed into the Pakihi River. The track following a gentle gradient downhill most of the
way. The forest was lush, generally consisting of rimu, tawa, and beech.
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Pakihi Hut (6 bunks) is situated on a terrace above the river. It proved to be clean and comfortable,
and all nine of us managed to sleep inside – fortunate because it rained overnight. Jeff lit the woodfire,
which worked well. We appreciated getting water from the tank just outside the door. Peter and Phillip
went to check out the start of the track over to Stag Flat, a few hundred metres up river from the hut
on the true left. This track is marked by orange triangles, and is steeper on the Pakihi side.
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Sunday
Unfortunately, Bev had torn the surface of her eye in an unfortunate encounter with
supplejack, and this injury became increasingly sore as the night wore on. The need to get her to medical
help necessitated a change of plans on Sunday. Instead of doing the link track over to Stag Flat and
down to Te Waiti Hut (5-6 hrs), we headed down the Pakihi Valley to the roadend (10 km, 3 hours). This
lower part of the Stock Route has been neglected by DoC, but maintained by Nga Tapuwae o Taneatua T.C.,
whose efforts impressed us. The track started on the true right bank before the one and only river crossing
(about 15 minutes below the hut) took us to the true left., The track then followed a gentle gradient
never more than 50m or so above the river. Occasionally a gravel slip needed extra care.
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Once at the Pakihi road end we walked up the road seeking a house with a telephone. A passing local
offered to take Bev and Rima to the Opotiki Health Clinic on the back of his ute. Eventually we ended
up at a home on Pakihi Rd. We rang Stuart Slade, who undertook to bring our vehicle, drive us to the
Te Waiti Valley roadend, and accommodate Bev and Rima overnight at his house. While we waited for him
to arrive, Margaret talked non-stop as she baked a delicious batch of scones for our benefit. Her home-grown
advice was quaint to say the least! Barry Crump was once their next-door neighbour.
Once
Stuart had dropped us off at the end of Te Waiti Valley Road (location of the Boulders camping area and
Bushaven Lodge), the remaining seven of us strode out for Te Waiti Hut, some 2 hours away, passing the
side-route to Hastings Hut on the way. The track followed the true left bank for most of the way. It
was very well benched and virtually level throughout. The forest here was exceptional. Phillip counted
over 40 species from the track, including a large grove of nikau. The understorey and banks were verdant.
There were frequent views of the Te Waiti river, which was crossed only once (to the true right) about
10 minutes before the hut. The hut sits in a grassy clearing and comprises 2 x 4-bunk sheds joined in
the middle by a small communal room. It has a large covered verandah and water tank, but lacks a table
and adequate seating. It was quite grubby. There was no heating, and the temperatures outside were very
cold. In the morning there was snow on the surrounding tops.
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Monday
Being Queen’s Birthday we sang God Save The Queen, standing up of course,
before returning from Te Waiti Hut to the roadend (2 hours), where Stuart was waiting for us. Before
long we were reunited with Bev and Rima at the Cheddar Valley Pottery, operated by Stuart and his wife,
for a late morning tea, including freshly-made pikelets. It was interesting to visit their pottery premises
in the old dairy factory, and several of us bought items. They produce beautiful work. By 12.30 p.m.
we were on the road back to Auckland, arriving around 5.30 p.m.
It was good to be able to complete
the whole length of the Pakihi Stock Route, and the link track between Pakihi and Te Waiti Huts will
wait for another occasion. We also forged an excellent relationship with the local tramping club.
COST: $97.50 (van hire: $42, food: $20, diesel: $15 (from Auckland), $6(from
Tauranga), ABTC Levy:
$5, accommodation Friday night: $8, driver donation: $2.50, hut cost (where applicable): $5
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