Map of region showing the loop walk from the Catchpool car park via Butcher and Cattle Ridge tracks, and returning via the Orongorongo Track. Shows the three caches placed along the route at the time of publication of this one
How to get there:
It is recommended that you do this walk in an anticlockwise direction on the map above. Starting at the Department of Conservation carpark at the end of the Catchpool Valley road, it's about 500 metres along the main Orongorongo track to the signposted junction with the Butcher Track which leads uphill in a southerly direction. Proceed up the Butcher Track to the signposted junction with the Cattle Ridge Track - you'll need to divert to the lookout a few minutes further up if you're going to hunt for the Mt Baker cache. When done, return to this point and then proceed along the Cattle Ridge track for about 40 minutes to reach this cache. There are magnificent views over all of Wellington to be had on the first part of the Cattle Ridge track which is reasonably flat and very easy walking. For the great part the tracks you'll be walking on are well formed and maintained to a good standard by DOC. Where the track may be less obvious (mainly towards the northeast end of the Cattle Ridge track on the map above) there are frequent orange triangular plastic markers on trees along the way. If you're reasonably fit, your time from the carpark to this cache should be around 1 hour 20 minutes excluding stops.
View over Wellington Harbour from a short way along Cattle Ridge Track
View along some of the first part of Cattle Ridge Track
View along Cattle Ridge Track near cache site
If you stop and listen at intervals during your walk you're likely to be rewarded with some rather attractive birdsong. I heard both tui and bellbird and saw a number of kereru (wood pigeons).
About the cache:
As of 19th Oct 2018 the cache is a camouflage-painted and labelled steel ammunition container with logbook, writing implement and a few small swappable items. It is a bit above ground level and is approximately 5 metres off the track close to the tree in the following photo.
Caveats:
Note that the gates to the road leading into the Catchpool car park open at 6am, and close at 8pm in summer and 6pm in winter.
As with all tracks in NZ wilderness regions, make sure you're equipped with good tramping boots, warm clothing, wet-weather gear and adequate food and water. A topographic map will be very helpful for navigation purposes. These tracks are all marked on the maps. Note however, that there's a section of Brown's Track that appears on topographic maps that doesn't appear to be maintained any longer and is overgrown. This would provide a significant shortcut and save over a kilometre if it existed. If you're confident enough you can bush-bash it, otherwise follow the recommended route. I took the recommended route and my quoted distance is based on this.