Eight of us enjoyed a walk up Mt Takorika, behind Havelock. We had three club members (Jo, Ray and Richard) and five visitors (Alison, P, Wendy, Fabian and Kath).

NTC Trampers above Havelock on Mt Takorika track

Mt Takorika is 721m, with transmitter masts on the top. Tracks have been put in by the community, giving great access.  We went up the Waterfall track, which has several lovely waterfalls on it.  The track itself is fairly steep and clambery up a gully beside the stream.  It had rained heavily day before so there was lots of water in the falls. After all the rain the track was a bit slippery and we had a few stream crossings, which would normally be an easy trickle to cross.

Towards the top of the ridge, we joined the Goat Track, which then meets the Escarpment Track.  Lovely views from this track over Havelock and along Pelorus Sound, and further round the corner over to Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku in the inland Kaikoura range.

Trampers above Havelock on Mt Takorika track

After a short lunch break we carried on up to the masts and trig point on the top of the hill.  Another steepish track comes off the road just under the masts and meets the junction of Escarpment, Goat and Lookout tracks. We branched off onto the Lookout Track which offers lovely view across forest-clad hills in the Marlborough Sounds from schist outcrops.  We then carried on down ‘Main Track’ which is a nicely graded zig-zag track down the mountain to the start point on Lawrence Street.

Lunch on the Escarpment Track, with Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku behind

All up we took about 4 ½ hours at an easy pace with lots of stops.  I would allow 4-5 hours for this trip as it is quite a steep climb.  The Waterfall track is a great way up but would not be nice coming down.  An extra short walk at the end of the day would be the estuary boardwalk at Havelock, but I only remembered this on the way home!

Mt Takorika tracks

Participants: Jo (leader & scribe), Ray, Richard and visitors Alison, P, Wendy, Fabian and Kath.