Tarawera

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TARAWERA At 6.40 p.m. on Friday the 3rd of tourists get aboard their launch and go June, twenty-four Tongue and Meats left across the lake to Tarawera. But for us Wellington Railway Station by truck, the route was not so easy. With Mount bound for Mount Tarawera. As far as Tarawera watching us from the head of the club was concerned the trip was a the lake we began to work our way, to- "First" and none of us were too sure wards it around the water's edge. what to expect. Although there is a track here it is in Loud snores from some, accompanied strict contrast to the one we had just by equally loud groans from less for- left and because Rotomahana is rising tunate members punctuated the monoton- each year it is under water in a lot of ous rattling of the truck as we rushed places. The party split into various through the night towards Waimangu groups, each maintaining that their route Valley, the starting point of our journey was easier than everyone elses. Once we over the rift. left the lake's edge the track was more defined and it crossed above the bay Some time during the night the truck where the pink and white terraces had stopped for the last time but it was not once been and above the steaming cliffs until daylight that anyone showed much visable to us only by the wifts of steam interest in our surroundings. Most of us rising above the bush. Again we dewere expecting something rather excit- cended, this time into a wash that or ing dramatic but all we could see lead us down to the lake's dry edge. It was through the rain were fences and grass here that we realised just how much and it was not until our hard-worked game there was in the area. The skeletrip leader stirred himself that we found tons of deer seemed behind almost out we had another 10 minutes or so to tree and tracks crossed the volcanic every ash go. in every direction. In those few minutes the scenery changed dramatically and we jumped out The lake edge provided an ideal place of the truck outside neat white buildings for lunch and we soon had a fire going surrounded by bush. This was the begin- in spite of showers of rain. From here ning of both the tourists', and our trip. the view was dominated by Mount Tara- Below stretching into the distance was wera but its head was in the clouds so the Waimangu Valley and all its we could only get a rough idea of our wonders. But for us breakfast was more route for the next day. important, so with the owners' permis- After lunch we again - climbed above sion we moved on to their veranda and the lake and dropped down into another in a few minutes it looked like a Moun- dry valley that this time ran into Lake tain House working party with gear and Tarawera. We knew the Rotorua Trampbodies everywhere. During breakfast our ing Club had a hut in the area but we trip leader, Allen Higgins, gave us the had no real idea where and because we plan of attack. He and two other mem- had plenty of tents were not were bers going to stay behind for a few worried if we found it or particularly not. After hours to try and arrange for a launch to some discussion as to where to camp we pick us from our camp on Monday decided on an area about 100 yards from morning. UThiro rest of us were to go on the tourist track joining the two lakes. ahead to where Lake Rotomahana is As we approached, the thing that struck joined to Lake Tarawera by a tourist us was the amount of vandalism on the track and establish camp somewhere in trees; many were hacked about and that area. completely ringed. After finding a some spot With the rain gone we moved into among the less mutilated trees, we the valley and along a wide track past pitched our camp and some of us went bubbling pools and picturesque terraces. for a swim. The water was warm for the The feature of the valley is the Wai- time of the year although no one stayed mangu Cauldron which covers ten acres in too long. and is believed to be the largest area of While we were in the water we were boiling water in the world. As we neared surprised to see a large of the end of the valley we found ourselves come around a distant point convoy and into canoes the following a stream that ran into Lake bay. We later found out that they were Rotomahana and on it were hundreds of members of the Hamilton Canoe ducks and swans obviously hiding from aud the around the corner Club the shooters. Where the stream enters twenty members of the Auckland were about the lake there is a jetty from which Club. Later some of us walked around Canoe the lake to the latter's camp and found the top but in actual fact it was nowhere the place swarming with people and near it and we came vack over the rift dogs. They were camped by a warm to wait for the others. In all, the rift pool in pleasant surroundings though can only be crossed in three places. The not sheltered by any trees; as they were mist was swirling around as they arrived in the middle of cooking tea they were and we only had time for a hurried not overjoyed to see us, sO we got direc- snack and a chance to get into our storm tions to the hut which was just behind gear before we set off along the rift tothem in the bush and let them be. But wards Mount Ruawahia where we were the hut was also overflowing with canoe- to drop down to Lake Tarawera's only ists though we saw enough of it to outlet. realise that under less congested circum- Standing on the edge of this mighty stances it would be very pleasant. chasm we found ourselves looking over We arrived back at camp to find Alan, 200 feet of red shingle slides to the bot- Neil and Nick had arrived with the news tom where in places grass was attemptthat providing the wind was not a sou' ing to grow. Here the venturous memwester of more than 10 knots the launch bers of the party were sent out on to would pick us up at eight o'clock on precarious ledges to appear in photos. Monday morning. Looking across the rift we could see The weather held fine just long enough very clearly where the red volcanic ash for us to finish a well-cooked tea around had fallen on to the old mountain; in a glowing fire before the rain came some places the deposits were up to 150 down, sending everyone scurrying into feet deep and the whole thing was rather their tents where most of us had a brew awe-inspiring. before trying to catch up on some sleep. When we reached the trig we found Sunday morning dawned fine and it covered in hundreds of names, which warm and it was a real pleasure just was rather surprising because we didn't to be able to look across the glassy lake think that the name-carving type would towards the bush-clad hills that sur- have bothered to climb that far; but round it, a few hardy types had another we soon found out the reason for it. swim but it took most of us all our time Just over the summit was a helicopter to be ready to leave at ten o'clock, two landing strip to which Rotorua tourists hours later than was planned. were brought at £5 a head. As we moved along the wide track By this time the sun was shining again joining the lakes we came across some so the storm gear came off in varying of the canoeists making a portage with degrees. The slope down which we were their craft between the two waters. to descend was studded with small pine Some of the smaller members were trees before it vanished into dense native staggering under the load so we gave bush. We raced down this, trying to get them a hand until we turned off about a slide out of the shingle but it was not halfway along. Our new track followed quite steep enough. When we reached a vague route and we were never quite the bush we found a track that followed sure whether or not we were on it. Once down a ridge to the flat terrace above out of the bush that covers Mount Tara- the outlet. Once on the terrace the track wera's foothills we waited for some of ran out and our most distinguished memthe late starters to catch up and to ad- ber immediately panicked while the rest mire the view. Looking back we could of us coolly pushed our way through the see the two lakes and our route of the bush with him bringing up the rear. previous day as far as the steaming After following a rather zigzag course cliffs. Ahead we could see the gaping through the bush, we came to the edge hole of the rift, blown out of the moun- of the lake which we followed around tain's side and our route which lay to to the outlet. the north of it. When we had all gather- The water was crystal clear and a ed again we set off over hard volcanic boats were fishing right in the few rock which gradually turned to shingle The launch was going to pick mouth. as our way got steeper. Here we seemed from the other side, so decided us up to slide back a step for every two we make the effort and cross we it to climbed and once again we became bright lad dived in now. and One spread out. The view was marvellous all mediately went over grandly his head and imthe way up, when one had time to look 20 yards downstream the floated at it, with farm lands to the south and men before making the among other side. fisher- After bush-covered hills to the north. this brilliant piece of river Once above the rift some of us made all went across the actual lake crossing we a dash for a trig that we thought marked ahove the outlet and' oply g8t itself, the bot- just toms of our pants wet. Our camp. site previous two days quite clearly, although had been used before and was an ideal Mount Tarawera had again shrouded spot, situated about 15 ft. above the lake herself in clouds. We were taken across and surrounded by bush. From here we the lake to the road and had just spread only had a few minutes' walk to the our gear out to dry when the truck came landing stage. trundling down the hills. It was not long before we had the As it was only nine o'clock we decided tents pitched, a fire going, and tea in to pay a visit to the nearby "Buried Vilthe making. We had just enough time to lage". Here we had a Devonshire tea get this reasonably in order before dark- which, for most of us, represented breakness fell and with it the rain. We had fast and then a look over the village. another fine spell just long enough for The only thing that distinguished this us to have tea and crawl into soggy from a junk yard was the historical value tents. given to everything. A talk on Maori About two o'clock in the morning warfare from an old Maori there was the whole camp was awakened by Ron the highlight of the excursion. discovering his pit was wet and com- Once again on the truck we progressed ments were exchanged between tents until as far as Rotorua, where we had a swim he had sorted out his problem. Since we in the Ward Baths, our most strenuous were all awake it was suggested that a activity of the day. After downing a brew wouldn't go astray, but by the time glass of "mineral water", lemonade in it was ready only about six people re- disguise, we felt capable of reaching mained awake. Taupo, which we did in time for a late The first thing everyone did on Mon- lunch. day morning, once their heads were out- When we arrived back at the truck at side the tents, was to look at the wind. the pre-arranged time, after rushing our It was the fatal sou'wester all right, but meal, we found our President and driver there was some discussion as to whether missing. We weren't over worried about it was more or less than ten knots. the former but the latter was very im- We decided to get ready anyway, because portant. Numerous searches of likely if the launch didn't come we had a long places such as the nearby tavern failed trip ahead of us, back the way we had to locate them and in some cases come. searches were organised to find the Things moved rather slowly with tents searchers. They were finally run down coming down and a few people cooking in a restaurant hiding behind large plates breakfast, until the launch was sighted of food. After they had been enticed dead on the pre-arranged time of eight away and safely deposited in the truck, o'clock. Then all thoughts of breakfast we started the last stage of our journey were forgotten as gear was thrown in home. packs, boots pulled on, and a hasty exit Although we were the first to do the made towards the launch. trip and therefore had an added interest, The trip across the lake was calm and any future club trip into the area would the weather was fine. At various stages be well worth patronising. of the trip we could see our route of the -N. Thomas.