'On Top Of The Bay' (1724m) (Hawkes Bay) Traditional Cache
greensprouts: See comments of april and may
'On Top Of The Bay' (1724m) (Hawkes Bay)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A cache for the more adventurerous!
This small cache is located on the highest point in Hawkes Bay, known as Kaweka J, which is the highest point in the Kaweka Ranges. It was placed in conjunction with the Heretaunga Tramping Clubs annual memorial cairn pilgrimage by Kripper and his younger 6 yr old sister.
Weather was very overcast and GPS waypoints were taken at 18 m accuracy. Good luck and enjoy this wonderful country.
From Napier, follow Puketitiri Road 60km all the way to Puketitiri. Branch left into Whittle Road, and then turn right on to Kaweka Rd. Take Kaweka Rd all the way to the end, where there is the Makahu Saddle carpark, toilets, and information. From Whittle Road, road is unsealed and very steep and narrow in places, 2 WD is ok unless low snowfall.
The walk up to Kaweka J follows a well travelled and well marked route up Trials and Makahu Spurs to the summit ridge. Although a popular walk, heavy snowfalls occur in winter, and as with many of New Zealand's peaks, the weather can turn nasty at any time. This track is very open and exposed, please be well equiped with warm clothing and food, sturdy footwear/boots advised.
From the Makahu Saddle carpark, signposts will guide you a short distance to Makahu Saddle Hut, and then up the switchbacks of the ominiously named Trials Spur, after which you will reach Dominie Biv, which has a water tank if you need a refill.
From just below the biv, poles mark the track up, and then eventually intercepts with another poled route that runs along the summit ridge. The Kaweka J summit trig, and a memorial cairn lie a short distance to the south east of the Makahu Spur track intersection.
On the return journey, instead of going back down Trials Spur, you can continue on to your right and stay on the Makahu Spur Track all the way back to the carpark
(Trials spur is the easiest options both ways)
Depending on level of fitness, return trip from carpark to cache and back is approx 3 - 4 hours. (It took Kripper and sister 2.5 hours up incl lots of snack stops) Doc signs indicate 2 hours from Makahu Hut to summit. Of course the coming down is a lot quicker.
Due to extreme weather conditions on the summit please ensure cache is very secure on your departure.
Cache may be difficult to access in winter!!
There are several other caches in vacinity which could be included in a great day in the ranges - Makahu saddle, Littles Clearing, Balls Clearing and Rub a dub dub.
Cache is clear sistema container with a small FTF!! Logbook pencil and small other trades in cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pnpur vf ng Gevt fvgr, whfg cnfg gur zrzbevny pnvea. Ybbx haqre 2 ebpxf ntnvafg n ghffhpx ohfu ng onfr bs ovttrfg napuberq cvyyne bs byq gevt.
Treasures
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