Organiser & host: Brian Renwick

Pupu Valley Walkway

Saturday dawned fine and, after a leisurely start from the too comfortable accommodation, we drove to Pupu Hydroelectric Power Station, at 250kW, not one of NZ’s mightiest, but on a lovely site. A short climb through bush took us to the intake dam and the water race which we followed to the source at Campbell Creek. We could see the potential for an exciting ride the length of the water race for an adventurous child on a boogie board, preferably in summer, and wearing something warm! The loop to the power station was completed along the gravelled track.

Participants were: Michele Cunningham, Peter Phipps & Brian Renwick (scribe).

While we were away, Chris Louth turned up and wasted no time checking out the coastal scenery, beaches and estuaries of Rangihaeata on his mountain bike.

Hadfield Homestead & Awaraoa Inlet

The rest of the team arrived and, after lunch on the deck, we all drove to Awaroa Inlet and followed the track under John’s careful guidance to the old Hadfield Homestead at the head of the inlet, a beautiful setting. The home and outbuildings appear to have been left to decay gracefully. Sifting through the debris, we found various old newspapers and items of yesteryear.

On our return, we socialized in front of a roaring fire, and enjoyed a lovely shared dinner from the various contributions. And that was the end of the golden weather in Golden Bay.

Participants were: John Whibley (guide), Kate Krawczyk, Liz Henderson, Chris Louth, Ian Morris, Pat Holland, Michele, Pete & Brian (scribe)

Aorere Goldfields & Kaituna Track

Sunday dawned wet and windy. Undeterred, Chris set off early with his mountain bike to negotiate the slippery trails of the Aorere Goldfields surrounding Druggan’s Dam. The four wheel drivers had got ahead of him and churned the track into mud.

The rest of us drove out to The Naked Possum cafe which was closed. Kaituna Stream was found to be in high flood. Lucky for us, we slipped into a window of dryer weather for the walk just as far as the Forks, the stream not being safe to ford. We checked out the gold workings and admired  local botany.

Sure enough, we got back to The Naked Possum just as the rain started again, and made good use of their covered outside dining area to eat lunch.

 On return journey, we investigated NgaNga’s artworks, drank coffee, saw the beach at Collingwood, plus the impressive plantings and track system at Milnthorpe.

Kaituna Track Signpost NTC

Wharawharangi Beach via Taupo Point

Ian and Pat stayed at Rangihaeata with Brian on Sunday night, the rest having high-tailed it back to Nelson for work.

Only three of us drove around to the Wainui road-end on Monday morning. The car-park was huge, but we had the only vehicle. So, off we went along the beach-front track and headed for Taupo Point. The weather was fair, mild and calm, with the odd light shower amongst sunny patches. The tide was only just  turning so we did not have to use the high route and just boulder-hopped.

Reaching the famous Maori canoe-landing site, (the sandy strip between boulders), we headed up onto the Point. The old terraces are all thoroughly overgrown with native tress and shrubs. There is a large matai tree which might have been a seedling in Abel Tasman’s time. The only view-point gave splendid vistas to the northwest.

There were heavy, dark clouds over the Western Hills and Farewell Spit. However, we decided to take our chances around the point towards Whariwharangi Beach. Initially, this was easy boulder-hopping. There were many seabirds with large flocks of shags, mainly pied but some spotted. Also some fur seals, mostly young.

However, at one point our progress was blocked by a very large beast; perhaps a sea lion. He was not going to move and seemed rather threatening. So, we had to climb a small bluff to bypass him.

About one hour from Taupo Point, we reached a headland. Here, the only option would have been to swim (or perhaps wade if it had been very low tide). We climbed onto some sketchy goat tracks that led around the point, did a scrabbly traverse on a crumbling cliff, then dropped to the coast. A couple of other more minor bluffs and one short wade were negotiated to reach Whariwharangi Beach, where we took lunch.

We returned to the Wainui carpark via the standard route past the hut and over the saddle beneath Gibbs Hill. The weather held. This is a good little circuit either direction (4–5 hours not counting stops), but advisable to time the low tide  for when you are halfway between Taupo Point and Whariwharangi.

Participants were: Brian Renwick, Ian Morris & Pat Holland (scribe).