30 September to 1 October 2023

Leader: Matt Freeland

0830: The departure from Mangaone South Road was cold and wet and everyone set off in waterproofs and warm layers. After crossing the shin-deep side stream at 1 km, the track climbs steeply following an old logging track. Scarred by felled trees, it’s not pretty but helps to get you warm when the air temperature is below 10 degC.

1100: After two and a half hours of steady climbing we arrived at a large orange triangle marking the junction with the track that branches off right to Kapakapanui Hut. Plans were made to explore this track on a warmer day! The temperature continued to drop with the gains in elevation and wind chill. Just before the summit at the 3 hour mark it began to snow. A brief flurry of very wet snow but snow all the same!

1130: It was too cold, wet, and windy to stop for lunch at the summit; instead a pit-stop style lunch, including hot drinks was enjoyed 30 minutes below the top. A short break, but long enough for everyone’s hands to get cold and get us moving. Snow dusted peaks of the main range were glimpsed every now and then to the south and southeast.

1430: The descent is easy on the knees until an elevation of about 460 m where there is a steeper drop to 340 m at the junction with the Fence Line Track. This section of the track has been cleared recently and new signs placed, making the route much more obvious through the grassy breaks in the bush than it was. The former carpark, toilet (loo roll and hand sanitiser present) and shelter were reached in 6 hours. The Waiotauru track begins here.

1500: A short march along the gravel road had us at Parawai Lodge by 3pm. 6 hours 30 mins from the carpark including stops. We had the hut to ourselves until about 5 pm. The sun, wind, rain and sleet came and went, and Julie discovered the toilet was the warmest spot. By dinner time there were 9 of us enjoying a fire and enough mattresses to double up for those of us with bony hips.

Sunday 1st October: We returned by the same route and despite it taking 20 minutes longer (due to a relaxed brunch at the summit), it felt shorter. I attributed this to having warm extremities for most of the day.

0700: We walked away from the hut across frosty grass under clear skies.

1020: Brunch at the summit with views across to the coast.

1350: Arrival back at the carpark in far fewer layers than we’d left in.

We spent some time discussing the pros and cons of AI on the return journey, so I posted the trip report into Chat CPT and asked it to write a poem for us. It seems a bit confused about where we started and finished, so I won’t ask it for help with trip planning! Here it is:

In the footsteps of friends: Parawai’s call

On Mangaone South Road, we set our way, through cold and wet, we ventured on that day.
With waterproofs and layers, we were prepared, for a journey into nature - none of us was scared.

Crossing the side stream, shin deep and cold, we followed the track, as the story unfolds.
Steep climbs and scarred trees, a path not so pretty, but it warmed our hearts in the city so gritty.

Hours of climbing, a junction appeared, to Kapakapanui Hut, a path we revered.
But the cold was creeping, the wind began to blow, as we pressed on, through rain and snow.

Lunch was a pit-stop, a brief moment of grace. Hot drinks and snacks in that wild, open space.
Snow dusted peaks, a sight to behold, as we ventured onward, strong and bold.

Descending with ease, knees feeling light, through cleared trails and signs, our path felt right.
To the former carpark, where the journey began, with memories of nature, our hearts began to fan.

Parawai Lodge greeted us, a warm and cosy sight, with firelight and laughter, we settled in for the night.
The sun, wind, rain, and sleet played their part, in this adventure, etching memories in our heart.

The morning sun kissed the frosty grass so bright, as we left the lodge, bathed in golden light.
Brunch at the summit, with coastal views so grand, in each other's company, we took a stand.

Homeward bound, a familiar trail to trace, but with warm extremities, it felt like a race.
Hours passed swiftly with each step we took, back at the carpark, with memories in a book.

A trip to remember, with friends so dear, in the wild and rugged, we had no fear.
Mangaone South Road to Parawai Hut we roamed, in nature's embrace, our spirits were at home.

(Chat GPT, 2023)

Those on the trip were:

Emily Wynch, Julie James, Mark Robertson, Matt Freeland

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.