Thread: Waihohonu, Tongariro NP

Originally Posted by Shearer

You used to be able to drive from the car park right into the bush edge (4x4). Probably a bit safer in there if you can still do it.

I'd be careful with that - the land you are driving on is part of the Rangipo North 7c trust block - the same folks as the land either side of Waipakihi rd. Might be a good time to be a bit cautious.

Originally Posted by Ross Nolan

I'd be careful with that - the land you are driving on is part of the Rangipo North 7c trust block - the same folks as the land either side of Waipakihi rd. Might be a good time to be a bit cautious.

Good point.

Originally Posted by gmm

I would get the vehicle shuttle, I got away with parking there a few times but came out on a very wet night to find my drivers window smashed and had to drive 6 hours with the rain pissing in. While it can be a hassle, takes away the risk.
On that occasion there were 2 other car in the park and they suffered the same fate.
Happy hunting.

@gmm any details on that shuttle?

Cheers

Originally Posted by imaca

@gmm any details on that shuttle?

Cheers

Hi Iain (I've just worked out who you are!), this outfit looked like the best option, as they go from Turangi to the Waihohonu track - many others are based at National Park.
https://alpineshuttles.rezdy.com/catalog/97893/charter

Fark $100 one way!

Originally Posted by superdiver

Fark $100 one way!

Yes, but it looks like it's a flat $100 for up to 9 people.

Make the most of using that track as it may well get closed off as well...

Public land comes down to SH1 nearby on either side of that island and DoC could make a track that bypasses the private, like they have at Te Iringa / Poronui.

we use to drive into the first big patch of beech bush in from the road and camp in there, primo little spot, right next to the creek,
pretty as in winter when it snows like hell and you get up the next day and the desert road is closed and you're the only ones in there.

It looks like that bush (Te Mako) is private land, other than the small bit on the north side of the river.

A wet walk in on Friday afternoon, but kept dry thanks to my wet weather gear and the boots I re-waterproofed last week. The latter part of the track was a flowing stream about ankle deep. Only two other people at he hut when I got there, about 10 of us there overnight, Saturday the hut was overflowing with people.
Spent Saturday morning glassing a valley, tucked off the ridgetop due to the biting southerly wind. Sun finally came out at 11:20. No deer seen, but some fresh tracks just above the bush. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning were short hunts/sightseeing trips, some really fresh tracks seen but no deer. Headed back out at 10am, the trip out took 45 minutes less than the walk in. Saturday was cloudy with a cold wind, Sunday started with a heavy frost then nice and sunny.
I weighed my pack when I got home, and it was 29kg including the rifle. on the walk in it also had 1L of milk and some fresh B&E pie and casserole so would have been over 30 kg - I seriously need to cull some of what I took! I weighed a lot of the individual items this morning, and wrote down what I took and whether I used it or not.
An awesome hut, and some great scenery, even when the weather wasn't the greatest.

30 plus kg and you stayed in a hut!


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Originally Posted by MSL

30 plus kg and you stayed in a hut!


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!!!!

That's a heavy load! I was 17kg for a 4 day stint in Stewart Island and I flew in then walked out! I still thought it was a bit too much as it included smoked salmon and cider etc to eat before the walk!

Yeah, I overpacked just a little bit! Staying in the hut with the fireplace and drying racks I didn't need half the clothes I took.

I did a 7 day/120 km walk on Stewart Island and had way less gear (not hunting though, so that cuts down on gear a lot), but I ended up binning some of my clothes when I got back to Oban!

Originally Posted by MSL

30 plus kg and you stayed in a hut!


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There must be a kitchen sink in there somewhere. I did an 8 dayer from top of Ruahines on the Gentle Annie to Po base with a 30kg pack (some moons ago)