Taipo River - New Year Tramp
■ Mid Taipo Hut 🏕 - 29 Dec
2.5 hours drove from Chch, 2 hours walk to Dillons Homestead Hut which I met my man and other buddies on 2019 - 2020 New Year eve.
There's 3 wire bridge for us to cross after Dellion hut for us.
That was first time for me and Brad. As it's quitescary, I refused to look down to the rapidly river under to be stay calm to walk through the 3 wires, it took me long time. Brad seems alright, Cam was basically half ran through the bridge as he used to it. ( The way back was better tho, I trust the bridge after my 1st try. )
After 4 hours we arrived Mid Taipo, time was 5:00pm.
Boys were smashed, as they both lack of sleep, also they were volunteering of some track maintenance while we were tramping, like they always do. I'd in charge of dinner and next day brekkie.
Brad had some great mid-night fight with possums while Cam and I were sleeping. Saw some possum fur and a dead possum body next day morning.
■ Julia Hut / Historic Julia Hut 🏚 - 30 Dec
2 hours walk to next hut, easy / relaxing day.
Went down to geothermal zone besides the river, boys start dugout hot springs.
I grab a shovel dug my own hot spring hole on sands, boys blocked the river with rocks and tried to mixture hot water from the ground / cold water from the river.
When it's nearly form up, I couldn't wait to jump in. It was so grrrrrreat !!!
Time was 3:30, we haven't had lunch yet so we leave the hot pools back to Julia Hut, Brad lit up fire and Cam helped finding dry woods. Me, I took a nap 🤣 ( Useless )
A group of girl trampers came around from long way, through the mountain ridges, attracted by the good fire so decided to stay in the same hut with us. Very nice, easy going people, some of them are great trampers. Somehow these cool girls reminded of me that I should do more tramp by my own.
Brad share his possum stories to them, we had dinner, then we went back to hot pools.
Not all of these pools are in right temperature. Brad's and mine were way too hot ( dug too deep ), would got our bum cooked if we sit in it.
We combine Cam's and mine, finally make some space with right temperature, still not as good as those hot pools by Welcome Flat Hut tho.
Cam and I stay in the pool til late, Brad went back to Hut. They had a bit concerned whether should go down to checking us, but I'd mentioned that we won't be back too early.
What a night, sitting in hot pool that we dug by ourselves, watching the glow worm glow in the bush, that's exactly what I need 💕❤
■ Went up Dunns Creek Hut
Then back to Mid Taipo Hut 🏕 - 31 Dec
2 hours walk back to Mid Taipo Hut from Julia Hut, after took a small break, we ditched our backpackers and walk up to Dunns.
Without pack I felt like monkey 🐒 500 meters distance long with 400 meters lift high = steep.
Love to climb with my both arms and legs, I blame my cardiac drag my mass fitness down but sort of realized I need more muscles in my legs too.
Brad said there's tramper sunk into the swamp somewhere around this Hut then die from suffocation. "What a way to die" I think. Never be fan of mud. Then next second my right leg sunk into a big puddle of muddy water, deep to my waist, dammit.
The story isn't real by the way, but I do feel that swamp have the potential swallow a life 😨
Up to Dunns are good cardiac training, but go down from it are knees killing.
We back to Mid Taipo, met family were camp a small distance from the hut. Brad went into them start have chat with them.
After tea, we let one of their children (Josh) had a shoot of the gun to a possum, then we collected dry woods, in mid of river bed, lit up a beautiful bonefire 🔥
Cam mules a bottle of great port wine and now is the time to enjoy it !
■ Happy New Year!!
Bye Bye 2021, Hello 2022🍺
The first tramp of the year, we sort of walking fast. We also had a refresh river dip at a nice swimming hole looking place.
The way drove out we had a small accident to Brad's car - one tyre down 🤣 Happy New Year Brad.
Always great into the wild 😁
Thanks everyone who made this tramping trip happened!!
Welcome Falt
Welcome welcome Welcome flat hut!
Thank you my hero managed 3 days awesome trip and did the long way drive (7 hours one way) plus carry heavy bag full of supplies (food and booze, I am fat now) walk in, and helped someone who needs carry their stuff when we walk out of the track.
Dramatically saw a helicopter land / take off in the landing spot near campsite while we sitting inside the hot pool.
Met a cool American lady who did a great emergency process job when someone has injured!
Great memories and impressive trip ever!
Taramakau
Blessedly good weather.
3 and half to 4 hours walk from road end to began of a supa steep track up to Townsend Hut. It took me exactly 3 hours get to the top, including 2 decent breaks and lots little small breaks for catch up breath.
Track is well packed, wide pathway with lots good strong tree roots / plants to grab. Cam or even me with lighter weight can do better than 3 hours.
View wasn't like what we were expecting but still a stunning spot to have a good night. Warm and roomy hut, beautiful rescuerd orange color. Heard kiwi not far from the hut in the night.
Day 2 slow, relaxing walk to Locke stream hut, historic hut of this, lots of characters. Met a nice couple are doing Te Araroa from the south, had good chat with them at the night.
3rd day walk 21km in the valley back to road end, stop over than 1.5 hours at river brunch had a good swim and lunch break, it was cold and fresh but awesome. We were playing like little kids 😆
We start walking at 10:45, back to car park at 5:30. As we had topic about frankfurter and hot dogs on the 2nd day, we were craving hot dog from fish and chips shop since then. Once we jump into the car, rush driving back to Chch at 7:52 ( shop close 8:00 ) to finally get our hot dogs!!! Love tramp and good food 😋
