Trip Reports

I started at the car park (29/5/10) and locked gate on Moumoukai Hill Road, instead of taking the road option I thought I'd follow Kohukohunui track from the start. That was a waste of time, the track is so over grown and there were so many tree across the track I lost it completely, I had to bush bash across to Plow road and follow that to Mine road then left on to Kohukohunui track again where the track here is in great condition. I thought I'd made it to the summit after turning right off the track after about three hours and finding a hut with a great view. But there was no trig so back on the track for another 2.6kms and finally Trig hut came into view then the trig, no view from the trig but nice views from behind trig hut. After lunch at trig hut and a visit to the Doc trappers hut to use their long drop it was back to the car park in the rain. Six and a half hours all up. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday, sure bets work.

I started at the car park (29/5/10) and locked gate on Moumoukai Hill Road, instead of taking the road option I thought I'd follow Kohukohunui track from the start. That was a waste of time, the track is so over grown and there were so many tree across the track I lost it completely, I had to bush bash across to Plow road and follow that to Mine road then left on to Kohukohunui track again where the track here is in great condition. I thought I'd made it to the summit after turning right off the track after about three hours and finding a hut with a great view. But there was no trig so back on the track for another 2.6kms and finally Trig hut came into view then the trig, no view from the trig but nice views from behind trig hut. After lunch at trig hut and a visit to the Doc trappers hut to use their long drop it was back to the car park in the rain. Six and a half hours all up. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday, sure bets work.

Boy what a day, (11/4/10) it was brilliant. Left the car park at about 7.30 and arrived at the outer rim steam vent about 11.30, followed the outer rim around until it petered out then went up to the inner crater wall.
What a view, the day was clear and sunny; it was breath taking. I wish I'd had a bigger memory card in my camera, I didn't want to come down. I'd put it up there with the Milford track for my all time favourite walks.
Sure the climb up was tough but not to bad, I had a wonderful day, enjoying every minute of it.

Mt Ruapehu
Ya! Bagged it at last. Went up on Good Friday 2nd April 2010 and the weather was completely opposite to the last time. It was clear and fine and not a breath of wind. Six hours all up with lunch and a bit of a wander around. Great day out, most enjoyable.

Ya! Bagged it at last. Went up on Good Friday 2nd April 2010 and the weather was completely opposite to the last time. It was clear and fine and not a breath of wind. Six hours all up with lunch and a bit of a wander around. Great day out, most enjoyable.

I climbed Mt Ruapehu on the 2nd of Jan 2010 with D.O.C's guided tour as part of their summer programme.
They very nearly cancelled it because of gale force winds predicted around 2000m but 31 people had booked and all turned up, so it was decided to go ahead and see what it was like as we got closer to the summit. As we neared the top our guide decided to press on but in stead of climbing along Dome Ridge we went to the left and around behind the ridge to shelter from the 90-100km winds. There's wasn't much shelter there because a few of the lighter and older people were blown over a few times, the snow hit your legs so hard it stung.
We made it to crater lake but the guide wouldn't let anyone go up to Dome summit, we only stayed long enough to take some snaps and we headed back. All the same, I had a great time and I'm glad it wasn't cancelled. It's just a shame I can't clam Mt Ruapehu as being Bagged. Never mind, I'm defiantly going to do it again. I'll see if I can post some pic's.  

Did a one day trip up to the Pinnacles today (27/12/09), took me 5 hours and 45 minutes return. I wasn't rushing and I had lunch at the Pinnacles hut, so the times stated on the Doc info signs are pretty generous. The track was dry and easy. 16.5kms on my Gps, a most enjoyable day out. 

I bagged Mangatangi today, (25/10/09) starting from the Dam base carpark. I was planning to start from Kaiaua Road but there was no were to park so I carried on to the Dam to find a Geocache and thought I might as well start from here. Two hour's up and down, no bush walk involved just a metal road all the way to the top. A bit boring, but a good work out all the same. 

Whakapoungakau
I bagged Whakapoungakau on the 19th of Sept 09, starting from the educational centre. The track is well formed and wide, easy enough but is fairly steep in placers. Only an hour and a half to the Trig and an hour back down, shame about the rain at the top. Also a shame about the big patch of Gorse near the summit. 

08/23/2009 04:58 AM
Mt Te Aroha
I climbed Mt Te Aroha on the 14th of April 09, started from Te Aroha Domian. Track was good at the start but became very damp and and a little slippery as you got nearer the top. Couldn't see 50ft in front of you due to thick fog & mist. Went back the same way, 3 hours up and 2 down. Excellent day out.

Rainbow Mountain
I bagged Rainbow Mountain on the 5th of September 09, fairly easy walk to the summit. For the most part the track is well formed and easy with only a couple of muddy spots. It took me two hours over all, well worth it for the 360 degree views.

10/11/2009 04:19 AM
Mt Pureora
I climbed this today (11/10/09 exactly 2hrs there and back, a good pleasant work out. A bit boggy in places but not to bad considering the recent rains, there were a number of wind falls across the track but nothing to bad. Beautiful views from the top made it all worth while.

Mt Pirongia
I bagged Pirongia on the 2nd of May 09. Started at the end of Corcoran Rd, up to Ruapane trig was easy enough and then the hard yards. Very wet and boggy in places and very cold on top. Back in the carpark after 5 hours of hard work, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Otanewainuku
Started from Mountain Rd car park about 11.30, I was back by 12.30. Track was easy with lots of leaf litter after heavy winds and rain, not slippery like I was expecting. Beautiful New Zealand bush walk. 29/8/09

Mt Ngongotaha
I bagged Ngongotaha on the 5th of Sept 09 after I did Rainbow Mountain. I was pleasantly surprised with the Jubilee track, I thought it would be all farm land and pine trees as that's all you see coming in to Rotorua from state highway one. I didn't know there was a nice patch of native bush there. Did the whole track, including the new loop track which is well formed and easy walking. There's a large tree that's fallen across the track about half way up that may be a struggle to get over for some people but all together an enjoyable walk that took two hours.