15-17 May 2026
Leader: Tony Quayle
It’s easy enough to plan a Ruahine Crossing route. Arranging transport for road ends 235 km apart is more difficult. Fortunately, Jacqui - who lives quite close to the Mōkai Station finishing line for this trip - was able to enlist the assistance of her husband, Pete, to drive three of us to the Sunrise carpark then take my vehicle back to Mōkai. The remainder of our group was dropped off at the Sunrise end by Elisabeth, who very kindly volunteered for that lengthy up-and-back drive.
Jerri, Marian and Owen, who’d travelled with Elisabeth, were first to set off over the hill to Top Maropea on Friday, with Gordon, Jacqui and me following a couple of hours behind. Both groups enjoyed stunning views of mountain peaks and ridges rising above the solid low cloud layer we had climbed through to reach the sunny tops. Top Maropea Hut was in the cloud though, making for the chilliest night of our trip. That didn’t stop newcomer Jerri from sleeping in his tent, or Gordon from making himself very comfortable in the woodshed.
Although cloudy at first (damned easterly) the walk downstream to Maropea Forks on Saturday was easy and pleasant. Along the way we came across a recently-deceased 8-point stag lying on the riverbank. Speculation on the cause of death was rife: perhaps shot from a helicopter (search and destroy missions to reduce deer numbers are ongoing); shot, injured, but not located by a hunter; or maybe a victim of 1080 poisoning (there had been a drop in March).
The modern Maropea Forks Hut is spacious and comfortable, with a bunk for each of us. A lovely place to wile away the afternoon, with short walks and firewood gathering to keep us occupied.
We were straight into it Sunday morning, tackling the short but steep grunt onto the Puketaramea ridge. Our front runners were fortunate to spot a couple of deer along the way; something Owen and I, trudging at the rear, missed out on. Along the long ridge (far more pleasant then the Marchant) we bagged Puketaramea high point (1,338 metres), and the unnamed but not insignificant ~1,002 metre hill above Otukota Hut, for the rivers and peaks challenge.
Ironbark Hut is always a delightful place to stay - all the more so after a Backcountry Trust renovation a couple of years ago - but unfortunately the local whio population failed to put in an appearance.
Monday was a straightforward, fine weather mission out to Mōkai, followed by a delicious second lunch at Jacqui and Pete’s farm.
Postscript: On seeing a photo of the dead Maropea River deer, Jacqui’s professional hunter son, Corey, noticed one of its front legs was broken. It seems likely it fell and broke the leg after being shot.
Those on the trip were:
Gordon Balfour, Jacqui Marshall, Jerri Bassi, Marian Cox, Owen Cox, Tony Quayle
Currently there is no photo album for this trip.