We walked this track with our grandchildren 9,7,and 5 to introduce them to an overnight tramp and sleeping in a back country hut. They enjoyed the river and toasting marshmallows on the hut fire.
DOC hut passes are required for adults sleeping the night, It is about 9 km each way and can easily be covered in a day.
Mountain biking 2+hrs return. Interesting semi-technical ride through varied terrain. Grade Intermediate Some steps, ruts and roots. Bike and Foot No bikes permitted beyond Waihaha hut
Description
Leave your car at the car park at Waihaha river along SH 32
Track covers a variety of terrain. Starts from bridge over Pikopiko stream and follows it for a bit before going over a swing-bridge then climbing some steps (steps are are more rideable on the return) into rock, sand and tussock. The last stretch passes through beach forest.
On leaving the Waihaha Scenic Reserve car park turn right,
northwards, on SH32 over the Waihaha River bridge then immediately turn left
on to the track. The track goes NW for about 10 minutes then there is a
bend which follows the course of the river and you head WSW and start ascending.
You are now in an attractive V-shaped valley, then there are some steps down and a track on the left leads to a good trout fishing
spot. After 25–35 minutes cross a swing bridge over the Mangatu Stream then ascend some zig- zags. The track is less good and it is a longish ascent which reaches a “look-out” rock ( on the right hand side with views of Ruapehu.
The track then improves as it continues up along a ridge still in the forest basically heading in a westerly direction
Pass a small branch path on the left, this soon rejoins and gives access to other views, then an
undulating descent starts and what used to be open, grassy are is reached . This “clearing” is now populated by 2m high scrubby bush. A short, out-and-back diversion from here is worth doing as it leads to a spot where good drinking water can be obtained. A small track, indistinct in places, goes off right (NNW) leading through the wide grassy meadow area, passes through a well-used camp site, goes downhill then
swings round to the right into forest and uphill.
A small cliff with a water dripping off the mosses into a small pool is the target Back on the main track a slightly muddy section is encountered about 20 minutes beyond where there are views of the river, some rapids and a “ponded” river section just before another open grassy area, which suggests itself as a campsite but be aware
that high river flow / floods can sweep through here.
In another 5 minutes the route ascends out of bush into beech then mature broadleaf forest. In a total time of 1:35 to 1:45 minutes there is an open area with an indistinct junction with the left branch leading to a view point above the river gorge and where the river virtually goes under- steeply downhill, southwards and most give some view of the river gorge and circular pools scoured in limestone.
Continuing on the main path in a north westerly direction an “enchanted”, mossy forest with Rimu and other forest giants is reached in just over 2 hours then the path heads south west and the Waihaha Hut is reached in plus or minus 2:30minutes.
The cache which is a small 250 ml container with log sheet and small loot. Please bring a pencil. It is found going slightly up the path towards the next hut.