Kahurangi NP
5 Day tramp to Kahurangi NP
■Kings Hut■
Day 1.
After 6 hours of driving from Chch, we finally arrived Kahurangi NP. Drove into a long long gravel road, then we stop in front of a big ford. It was swift and deep. Cindy - our car, she won't be able to make it. We decided just walk 8km on rest of the gravel road to begin the tramp, but luckily after 1.5km, a med school student gave us a ride. His intention was tramp on the track further up to Mt Owen, where the location boyfriend reference of weather forecast on the further days, as our Mountain (Mt Patriarch) doesn't have one on MetServise.
Track was easy and well packed, we took exactly same amount of the time as D.O.C estimated to get to the first hut, mainly was because my fitness drop to average. Hence our ambitious plan won't work.
We have the first hut only our own which was great. I got sting by wasp for the first time of my life, was worrying would have bad reactions, but it turns only a bit red and itchy and disappear in the next day.
Me : ( Show the part I got sting by wasp to boyfriend. )
Cam : It's looks a bit swollen.
Me : Nah that's my fat.
Cam :.....😑
■Stone Hut■
Day 2.
Easy work and literally Holiday style of tramp.
After 2.5 hours walk we arrived 2nd hut. We have all afternoon under sunshine and enjoy the nice breeze, cup tea and snacks, just relax.
About 4:00pm another tramper couple have arrived to the same hut, had a short chat with them then we went up to Saddle to add a bit more adventure on the day.
The couple from Mauple was very quiet but nice. They went to bed supa early, 7 - 8:00ish hence we prefer stay outside just for talking freely without disturb sleeping people.
We got chance to see the Whio (blue duck) couple by the river when they were hunting food! They are smaller than I thought, I never seen one before.
They are the only ducks who living in mountain ranges, facing extinction problems. Kahurangi NP has putting a lot of efforts and knowledge all trampers to protect the beautiful species.
The birds life restoration went well over Kahurangi, not just blue duck, we also seen / hear heaps beautiful birds and sounds due the next few days 💙
■Kiwi Saddle Hut■
Day 3.
Walk, walk, walk. Walk all the way back to the first hut then another 20 minutes start walk up to the Kiwi Saddle.
We knew we going to have same buddies at the next hut tonight, as we are told they going through Mt Luna top to the same destination as us.
We've arrived 5:00pm which we took our time in the morning and breaks. The track has few over-growing-plants parts and some of bits are damaged, except for these, all were easy walk.
We also stop for vivid bird’s life. Cam took great photos of a Kaka, he wasn't happy with his photos as these branches were on the way of Kaka, how every these photos are amazed me!
Richard and Wendy, the couple we stay with for 2 nights, they were introvert and awkward, exactly like us. On next day morning, we 4 sitting by the table for brekkie and no one was talking, which when we thought back was super funny.
Trampers obsessed for birds, plants, mushrooms etc, often tramping in the bush away from society. Enjoy more inner world compare with people who can react finely under attentions, are quite normal to be awkward persons I'll say 😆
■Jone Reid Hut■
Day 4.
Big day.
First mountain ridges walk for me while the 13 - 16km winds were blowing.
If it's only Cam himself, he will be just fine and fast, but I was very nervous for the high and winds.
We walk on the left side ledge let winds blow us to the rocks rather than cliffs. Good past tramping experience does help, stay calm and make sure always step on something stable, but it took me long, as well as my low cardiac capacity.
About 4 - 5 hills up and down then we finally seen the hut.
Bizarre experience ever!! I was very enjoy, thank you boyfriend's patiently waiting 🥰
■ Home ■
Day 5.
We were expecting no one will be the hut for the night, unfortunately after a month of on one stay, 2 parties of people (including us) were in the same hut at the same night.
Beautiful hut ever. Love it so much hence took shit lots of photos of it.
Toilet was a bit far away from the hut and water sources was in the middle between toilet and hut, both need to wear boots to get to.
An ordinary track for walking out to the main road, beautiful and easy but I don't feel like to leave the bush. Cam was the same.
Big river to crossing in the end, then we walk 4km on boring gravel road back to ford.
A beer and good dip in the river before the ford, wash away of our sweat of 5 days which was superb 👌 my first summer river dip has been done!
Stop at Murch had dinner then head back home, the moment arrived Chch, we start missing the bird sounds of Weka 😔
That's alright, we will go back to bush again very soon !
Upper Matiri Valley to 1000 acres plateau
- Lake Matiri Hut
- Poor Pete’s Hut
- Larrikin Creek Hut
