Urewera Christmas Trip (1964-65)

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

* UREWERA CHRISTMAS TRIP (1964-65) A T. & M. on a Hutt Valley Trip Our next venture was the launch Christmas Day, 1964, saw five doubt- crossing of the lake. And this is where ful trampers departing on the 2.5 p.m. everything went wrong. According to our railcar, for a "tour" of the little-known map, we should start at Mareuiti Inlet, country of the Ureweras. Our first night cross over the ridge, drop down into the was spent somewhere on the riverbank Manganuiohau and thence onward. We in Wairoa, and early next morning we did this, or at least tried to. Result: departed, via a rather dilapidated old Later that afternon all six of us miserbus, for Lake House, Lake Waikare- ably concluded that we were, as is not moana. unusual with Hutt Valleys', misplaced At this stage, a word about the coun- and temporarily embarrassed. The next try. It is said to be the last stronghold day, one of the few fine ones, found of virgin bush in this country, and over us back at the lake and making a fresh half of the area of the Urewera National start. This was hampered by a broken Park is still Maori land. The country is pack frame (all that "old" gear!), so as rough, rugged, steep, and at times, a result, we had lost two days, and now peculiarly dry. The map of this area had to make vast "improvements" in the (Lands and Survey, 1958) proved to be plan. We decided, having found the inaccurate in many places during the original (unmarked in the track course of this trip. Some of the Maori map) land has been farmed, but on the whole, going in from Marenui Inlet, to make the majority of it is dense bush. straight for Ruatahuna. The track led straight up the side of a ridge, sidled and climbing, all over again. So wonderand then was meant to drop down on to fully exciting and unusual. No, we the Waikaremoana-Ruatahuna highway. hadn't done this before! The first real day's tramping was an ex- The country around the river had perience for all of us, for it was now changed from that surrounding the lake. that we struck the "dry" country. We We were now in steep valleys, densely filled our canteens (like an army on the covered in beautiful native bush. But march) and spent the whole day climb- here, there was sign of Maori life. ing an unexciting ridge-up, up, up, up Deserted pas (in which we spent one -and still no water. That night, fine and very comfortable night), fruit trees growclear, we spent somewhere on the ridge. ing where one least expects a pear, or I don't think any of us could place it on plum tree, or whatnot. Plentiful evidence the map. The next day, wet, misty and of once cultivated land in the form of miserable, we plodded on. We were now numerous grass flats. Indeed, quite a following blazes that must have been at beautiful valley. least ten years old, and at times ex- Our trip down the Whakatane river tremely hard to find. Oh well, makes for was uneventful, with only one "wash" an interesting trip! Fortunately, that day, and endless dehyd. stews, which, night we had the shelter of an old, when one throws in plenty of curry, dilapidated deerstalkers' hut, occupied by taste less like cardboard and more like three men and deer skins. Not really something vaguely palatable. comfortable, but to us a Hotel St. Now the country had broadened out George, or like. From now on, the trip into great wide U-shaped valleys, with was meant to, and very nearly did, as- the devastation wrought by the floods of sume the mantle of an "easy, salube previous years visible everywhere. I'm trip". But not quite. We left the mighty sure if it hadn't been for the portly metropolis of Ruatahuna (one store, Maori farmer who gave us a lift out post office, no pub and population of to Ruatoki, we should still be walking approximately two hundred) and headed those endless miles up the valley. In gloriously and gleefully into the Whaka- fact, one mad member (no guesses!) did tane River. This, we felt, wasn't going walk three miles or so before she (ha, to be anywhere near as arduous and tir- ha) realised that the others were all ing as the first week. This was going to aboard this tractor. be a real salube trip, nice and easy, Now the trip was nearly over. After lazy and plenty of swimming. Ha, ha! all this, getting lost, and all, we some- From the first two days, spent heading how managed to have one day in hand. in the vague direction of the river and This we spent touring the city of Whakanot quite reaching it, we marched and tane, trampers (or should I say, Hutt marched, and climbed and sidled, and Valley) style. climbed and dropped into valleys, only The weather hadn't treated us so badly to climb and sidle again. Boring isn't it? after all. About 50-50, rain and sun. I'll say, deadly dull. We longed for some The country had been worth "exploring" excitement, like a fall or a trip in the and I feel a few more trips into this area river, or something! Then, we found the would not go amiss. river, or rather it found us. At long last, Those involved in the Hutt Valley after a week of rain and mist and cloud, scheme: Mike Tegg (trip leader), Anne we could go for a swim! Well, guess Blayney, John Cruttenden, Bernie what? We spent the next two days Tubert, Rex Mossman. sidling and climbing, dropping, sidling -Frances Kyte. *