Thread: Solo trip - Tararuas

Hi Guys

Just some of what I recall from the trip..


Basically my first trip in that area so was more like exploring the options..
Plans got bit changed as of friday evening as some visitors poped in from Auckland.. Visitors on friday means they will be in for Kava.. (Fijian traditional drink) so I called 2 of my regulars to join in for the kava session.. this went on till quite late so oviuosly i was not going to make it to site at first light.. i also seemed to be developing sinus and was feeling bit sick..

Woke up around 10am on Saturday and had breakfast. All my stuff was packed up and all I had to do was get my rifle out of the safe and get all the gears in the car.

Left home around 11am and reached carpark around 12pm. This was my first time in their so I basically didnt know which track to take.. there was 2 - 3 tracks that were going in from where I had parked. I knew this would be the case that is why my initial plan to come in early was to check the tracks and then come back for the camping stuff in the car later.. Now since I was already late I had to take my stuff as there would be no time coming back for it.

I chose one of the tracks that looked to be going in the direction of the river as my plans was to walk up the river and check out the re generating bushes.. I walked up about 2km up the river and found a good camping spot.. decision to make camp there was taken.. also i didnt want to carry all the camping gear up to deep as it would be a trouble getting all back if i managed to score a animal.

Camp setup, had a bit of rest than went out to check a near by area.. it was a pine forest patch that I thought would be worth checking before I moved further up the river. there was some good clearings around the pine boundaries but no animal signs. I thought may be it was too close as I was just about 2 - 3 km from the entrance.

Came back to camp, grabed a quick snack and had a smoko break.. than I started walking up the river to check out.. really got pissed after working a little up from the campsite.. came to swim hole that did not have any way to pass it from either side. the only way up was to swim across it. I didnt much like the idea of doing that specially for the next morning b4 light..

This was the turning point of the trip.. kind of f**kd up.. I couldnt go further up and looking in the clearings I already checked out in the pine would be fruitless as I had not seen even the slightest of the signs.. to further this it was quite in late in the afternoon and packing up and moving back to the carpark to check another track was not sounding very good option. So i just made my mind to the fact that I can just explore and have a good time while am there..

Next morning woke up at first light and went back to the pine patch to have a look.. was hoping to atleast see a bunny or rabbit to burst but no luck again.. the place was dead as..

so after a hour o 2 walk around came back to camp, had breakfast and packed up.. reached carpark around 10am. loaded everything in the car and just with a small backpack with ammo and knife I walked up another track with the rifle.. the track had a steady climb for about an hr before decending to the river further up till where I had managed to reach the previous day.. I knew I had taken the wrong track yesterday when I came in.. Had I taken this track earlier it would have been a totally different story..

I reached the river bed after about 1 and half hours walk.. this is where I should have camped the night before and sure enough I would have spooked on a deer at first light, but anyways it was kind of late to ponder on that now.. I walked up further up the river and now I could visibly see signs of animal around.. since it was about mid day I knew I wasnt going to see any deer.. it was already getting late and I needed to head back as it would be a long work back to the car park..

Finally reached the car park in the mid afternoon and recalling all drove back towards home.. All in all out it was a great walk, a good adventure and a new learning experience.. Left a note for the deers in there to watch out for their ass when I walk back in there again fairly soon... lol