Tramps, Treks & Day Hikes

Walking, or trekking is known as "tramping" in New Zealand. 
It is part of our culture and a way we New Zealanders connect
with both our Mâori and European history and with our landscape.

New Zealand's spectacularly beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests.

The Maori were New Zealand's first settlers. They made an epic journey from the legendary Hawaiki, probably in Polynesia to the north of New Zealand, about 1000 years ago. The great explorer Kupe, who legend says first discovered New Zealand, named the new land Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud.

The first documented European to discover New Zealand was Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who came here in 1642 in search of the fabled great southern continent. Over 125 years later, Captain James Cook claimed it for Britain in 1769.

Tramping in New Zealand will take you into the wilderness these great advenurers explored and which now forms our National Parks and Reserves set aside for all travellers to enjoy. You can get as close as possible to nature, including birds and other wildlife. Around 30 percent of New Zealand's land area is officially protected with public access, so there is no shortage of opportunities!

SHORT TRAMPS
We can arrange a number of interesting, short tramps (easy to moderate difficulty) for you during your stay:

· Bell Rock Loop at Boundary Stream · Shine Falls Track at Boundary Stream · Mohi Bush Scenic Reserve · Lake Tutira Loop  · White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve · Te Mata Peak Track  · Otatara Pa Historic Reserve  · Ahuriri Estuary  · Cape Kidnappers Gannet Tramp

3 hrs   1½ hrs  1 hr  4 hrs  1 hr  2 hrs  1½ hrs   1 hr   6 hrs

8.3 km 2.0 km 4.0 km 8.5 km 3.0 km 4.4  km 3.0 km 4.0 km 16 km

DAY TRAMPS
And, for those wanting a fuller experience, we offer an experienced personal guide for custom-designed tramps developed for the type of challenge you seek and based on  your degree of difficulty. 

These day-treks include pristine native bush, pure trout streams, open top, river and lowland trails and hot thermal springs. Several rare, threatened species have been recorded in these areas, including the North Island brown kiwi, New Zealand falcon (Karearea), kaka birds, and blue ducks. Other natives include bellbirds, tui, tomtits, kotare, fantails and long-tailed cuckoos.  A total of ten native freshwater fish inhabit the Mohaka river.

We offer a choice of three fabulous one-day tramps into the Kaweka & Ruahine Forests. These treks are into rarely visited areas.

Trek I:
Kaweka Mountain Range & Forest – Balls Clearing & Mangatutu Hot Springs
^{Suitable for people with good fitness.
Tracks are easy to moderate in difficulty and well defined.}

An early start takes you up through the pastoral farming districts of Rissington and Patoka.  Beautiful views of the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges dominate the trip. The first stop is at Balls Clearing.  The dense stand of native trees is one of the finest in Hawke’s Bay and is dominated by rimu, matai, miro, and kahikatea complimented by an understorey of kohuhu, putaputaweta, broadleaf, mature fuchsia, five finger and a variety of ground ferns.  Native birds are numerous.

After the bushwalk coffee and muffins provide fortification for the trip to the Mangatutu Hot Springs.  The hot springs are located on the banks of the Mohaka River where Mâori settlements of the Ngati Mahu and Ngati Hinepare were established to take advantage of the river for food and transport, and the hot springs for its therapeutic value.  The track follows the river and is wide and well defined.  There are fantastic panoramic views from bluffs above the river and many opportunities for swimming & fishing in gin-clear waters.  There will be a lunch stop overlooking the river and on our return, roughly two hours later, the sulphur springs are a therapeutic end to the day's walking. 

En route back to Napier there will be a visit to the Lemon Museum at Puketitiri.  The memorabilia here, and the collection of rare vehicles, is quite outstanding.  Visitors are always amazed and surprised at the standard and rarity of one man's unique collection in the heart of rural New Zealand.

Trek II:
Kaweka Mountain Range & Forest -- Makahu Saddle Hut & Kaweka "J"
^{Suitable for people with good fitness. Moderate to high level backcountry skills required. Tracks are unformed with steep and rough sections.}

This tramp is more challenging than the Hot Springs walk involving a hike to the highest point of the Kaweka Ranges, Kaweka J (1,724 metres).  Beautiful views of the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges dominate the trip.

A four wheel drive track after Whittle Road takes us easily up to 1,000m through high country farmland before the bush and scrub takeover as altitude is gained.  At the road end we will have coffee and muffins at Makahu Saddle hut.  This bush-clad haven is a typical New Zealand backcountry hut.

The track up to Kaweka J via Makahu Spur is a steady, moderately challenging climb marked by poles up the eroded ridge.  The damage caused by the extremes of the alpine climate is experienced first hand.  A convenient halfway stop will be taken at Dominie Bivouac located in a lee out of the weather with expansive views of Hawke’s Bay and the South Pacific Ocean. 

A further hour takes us to the alpine tops with breathtaking views of Mt. Ruapehu, Hawke’s Bay, Cape Kidnappers and Mt. Tarawera.  In fine weather side-trips to the Kaweka North or Whetu peaks can be taken.  The route down is usually via Dons Spur back to the car park but more ambitious trampers may prefer the longer route via Whetu and Kaweka Flats.

En route back to Napier there can also be a visit to the Lemon Museum at Puketitiri. 

Trek III:
Ruahine Mountain Range -- Sunrise Track & The Waipawa River 
^{Suitable for people with good fitness.
Tracks are easy to moderate in difficulty and well defined.}

Ruahine Forest Park covers an area of 93,244 hectares. The park begins at the Manawatu Gorge in the south and runs north for about 100 kilometres to the Tararua and Ngaruroro Rivers that form the boundary between the Ruahine and Kaweka Forest Parks.

An early start takes you south first through the vine plantings of Gimblett Gravels and then through the pastoral farming districts of Maraekakaho and Tikokino.

The first stop is at OngaOnga Village with its quaint collection of Edwardian buildings, nineteenth-century cottages and the most beautiful architecturally designed butcher shop in New Zealand.

Heading inland the Ruahine Ranges begin to dominate the landscape. The 4WD track up North Block Road ends with a fabulous view back across Hawke’s Bay and the Wakarara Range.

Initially the tramp takes the track towards Sunrise Hut. The grade is easy to moderate. Upon reaching the saddle half way to Sunrise Hut, we choose whether to take the more challenging track up to Sunrise Hut, or head down through thick bush to the Waipawa River. In fine weather, the upper route to Sunrise Hut on top of the Ruahine Ranges offers unrivalled views of Hawke’s Bay and Cape Kidnappers – a perfect place for lunch!  The trip down to the river is by way of Waipawa Forks Hut, a typical back-country NZ hut complete with pot belly stove and a hut book full of tales of tramps much deeper into the Ruahines – another perfect place for lunch!

Heading downriver, keen fishermen will have opportunities for trout fishing on this part of the tramp. There will also be a number of crossings of the river which will bring us back to the car park.

En route back to the Lodge, a visit to Sileni Estate Winery allows for wine tasting and a visit to their gourmet Epicurean Centre offering the best of New Zealand and imported food products.

YOUR GUIDE

Graham Leech is an extremely experienced outdoorsman who has spent the past 20 years tramping in the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges of Hawke’s Bay as well as throughout Europe, Africa, South-east Asia and Nepal.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) awarded him the only dedicated guiding concession for the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges in August 2007.  He possesses high level backcountry skills and experience, and is qualified in navigation, survival skills and first aid, as well as having mastered the health and safety, environmental impact and commercial viability standards established by DOC.

Details:
You provide:
Stout shoes, hiking boots preferred
Warm clothing, rainwear, swimwear and towel

Your Guide provides:
Day packs for your use
First aid kit & survival gear

The Masters Lodge provides:
Morning and afternoon tea and lunch

Departure Time 7.30am, likely return 6.00pm

NZ$420 per person per day (Minimum 2 people)
Includes all transport, equipment, backcountry meals & DOC fees.

 
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