Marahau to Canaan Downs group
The Ocean to Mountains team enjoyed scones and coffee at Mrs Smiths cafe in Riwaka with the Mountains to Oceans team. Here we also swapped gear amongst the cars for the crossover trip. We then drove to Marahau in very overcast conditions to start tramping at about 9:45. Axel had the lightest pack at about 9kg (empty pack 800g, tent about the same). We were nicely warmed up by Tinline Bay before the climb to Holyoake Clearing.
We stopped at several lookout points along the way to Holyoake but had limited views. Lunch in Holyoake Biv provided protection from the breeze and the start of the drizzle/rain. The track from here is very “rooty” and a little overgrown. I started counting the rounds of thunder but we saw no lightening. After round 12 the hail started and the temperature dropped. We were in the bush so there was no wind chill but the ground soon turned to a shade of white. About an hour before the hut conditions improved and when we arrived at Castle Rock hut we were met by the Mountains to Ocean party in brilliant sunshine (total time 6.5 hours).
Some of our gear was nearly dry by sunset. Janey, Linda and Jannes tented with the rest of us in the hut along with a French woman with limited English. With a warm fire in the evening clothes were much more comfortable to wear the next morning. We must have all been tired as there was no card playing or people staying up late. Once the Mountains to Ocean team left in the morning our team paid a visit to Castle Rock lookout which allowed views down the Marahau valley extending to Ngaio Island in the south. The inland track continued its “rooty” theme with significant puddles. While some chose to avoid the wettest spots, Richard ploughed on through sounding like a large hooved animal.
Lunch at Moa Park shelter was civilised with tea and coffee. We made good time and arrived at Caanan Downs car park in beautiful sunshine after fours walking for the day.
Thank you to Michele for organising (crossover trips are complicated).
Participants: Michele, Janey, Peter (scribe), Richard and Axel.
Canaan Downs to Marahau group
After the coffee rendezvous at Riwaka, it was on to Canaan Downs for the 5 who had the slightly easier walk because it was generally descending. We set out from the car park at 10.15 in slightly overcast conditions along the track to Wainui Saddle where we had a quick snack. It was very wet underfoot from the rain earlier in the morning, the track doubling as a stream. We reached Moa Hut at about 12 and enjoyed our lunch in the hut.
The Inland track continues mostly along a broad ridge to about 1000m then starts descending. At this stage the day became gloomier and the thunder that we had heard got closer, and it eventually started to rain and then hail. It was cold but we were delighted in the hailstones which were quite large. After an hour the rain and sky cleared and we were half dry again when we arrived at Castle Rock hut at about 3.15.
Our group left the hut at 8.30 the next morning, the track not as wet as the previous day, and we made good progress though the track is rough and we were making only about 2.5km/hr. We had a few rest stops, and at Holyoake Clearing we decided to walk further on to a lookout for our lunch there. We did not find the lookout, instead opting for a sunny patch on the track for our lunch stop. The track was steep at times and we had one more rest at a lookout before reaching the Coastal Track. We were back at the cars at 4pm. Highlights of the trip - the hail storm, the beautiful and quite plentiful bouquets of Clematis flowers and of course, the good company and the laughter.
Participants: Jo (leader), Linda, Kath (scribe), and visitors - Sharon and Jannes.
