Otaki River and Waitewaewae River 29 December to 2 January

Medium trip going up the Ohau to South Ohau then over the Yeates Track and down the old cullers route to the head of the Otaki. From here we headed to Mid-Otaki then to a camp above the Waitewaewae Forks. From the Waitewae Forks we then heaed up the Waitewaewae to the fork to the East and West branches and camped next to Island Forks Hut. The final day we heaed up the West Waitewaewae, passing Island Forks (teh Island is at the confluance of the West Waitewaewae and Prout Stream a short distance above the fork of the East and West branches. We then carried on to a couple of creeks above Mick Stream and climbed up the spur to high point 828 on the Mick ridge. This has an old trak up it so you see occassional ancient chainsaw work. From the ridge we wandered along the track to Mt Thompson the down forestry roads to the DoC Campsite by the Waikawa Stream. Fine weather all the way. Plenty of trout, deer seen on three of the days (including a stag by Mid Otaki Hut) and plenty of goats. Bird life was pretty sparse though.