CNI walkabout

Hi all,
I have this idea of spending a bit of time in the Kaimanawas, Kawekas or Ruahines wandering around with my rifle and the dog in spring/early summer.
I'm thinking 1-2 weeks, travelling on marked tracks and hoping to spend a bit of time on the tops or open valleys rather than all in the bush. Some hut stays with maybe a few night flycamping, and maybe some family members flying in to join me for a day or two when I'm at a hut (and to resupply me with food etc).
In terms of doing a loop (or loops), the Kawekas look like the best option (lots of tracks and huts).

Has anyone done something similar and/or recommend any possible routes?

A couple of guys who might be members on here did something similar "6 months gone bush" on You Tube from memory will give you the answers your looking for

The green rain is pre fedding on the Kaweka front country now.

The month of December is just gold for hitting animals up on the tops of the Kaimanawas. Many moons ago I walked from East to West. Kiripapango through to Kiko road. 8 days but none off for a hut or hunting day.

If you are fit enough you could start southern end of Kawekas, head north, cut across at the top to the Kaimanawas and head south, finish up on the Desert road.

I flew into Boyds airstrip and walked from there via the Mangamaire and Mangamingi over the Island range, into the Rangatikei, over the Middle range, into the Waipakahi, over the Umukarikari and met my pick up on the Desert road. Brilliant trip. 3 days but is really a 5 day trip. If I did it again I would start from Te-Puia/Kawekas and take a couple of weeks.

Ive crossed the Ruahines from Pouranaki to Tiki Tiki and the Tararuas from Shannon through to Putara too. Good trips - the Ruahine one is stella.

Did 10 days in the Kawekas a few years back
Makahu, Back Ridge, Rocks ahead, VT, side trip to Maugaturutu and Te Puke, back to VT, Ballards and back down to Makahu.
Plenty of landing pads if people want to drop in and catch up with you ( good chance to resupply )
Absolutely loved it, even took the dog along.
Actually we ran out of food the last 2 days.
Still had dog biscuits though.
I still give Gonzo shit about liking tux ��

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Originally Posted by XR500

If you are fit enough you could start southern end of Kawekas, head north, cut across at the top to the Kaimanawas and head south, finish up on the Desert road.

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I'm definitely not fit enough for that, though if I did that walk I would be by the time I got to the Desert Road!


With the Inreach I can keep things very flexible (and the family can see where I am), and I can call in a chopper pickup if needed (assuming no flat battery, no lost glasses, and helicopter friendly weather!).

I did Mangaturutu, VT, rocks ahead, spion kop, rocks ahead, back ridge, over the j to the makahu a couple of xmas’s ago. Was a great trip.
Took me 9 days but could probably have done it in 7.

I’m looking to do a big walk like yourself this xmas break too..december and january are too good to leave alone

Another option, kaweka crossing. Poronui to mangatutu.

So many options.....so little time....
I would start at the Waipakahi. You may not be able to for much longer.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

I flew into Boyds airstrip and walked from there via the Mangamaire and Mangamingi over the Island range, into the Rangatikei, over the Middle range, into the Waipakahi, over the Umukarikari and met my pick up on the Desert road. Brilliant trip. 3 days but is really a 5 day trip. If I did it again I would start from Te-Puia/Kawekas and take a couple of weeks.

Ive crossed the Ruahines from Pouranaki to Tiki Tiki and the Tararuas from Shannon through to Putara too. Good trips - the Ruahine one is stella.

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Whoops. Tuki Tuki (not Tiki Tiki)

Snap, I was looking at maps and tramping blogs last night and came up with this route for the Ruahines. Same deal take the dog, rifle and fishing rod for a walk over xmas.

Day 1 - Sentry Box to Upper Makaroro via Parks peak
Day 2 - UM to Ruahine corner hut
Day 3 RCH to Colenso Hut via Potae Mangatera river track
Day 4 CH to Otukota Hut via Iron Bark
Day 5 OH to Crow Hut via Moki Patea range
Day 6 CH to Mckinnon (short day)
Day 7 MH to Wakelings Hut (short day)
Day 8 WH to Maropea Forks hut
Day 9 MFH to Sparrowhawke biv
Day 10 SH to Barlow (Trout around Barlow)
Day 11 Barlow up unmarked spur to Parks Peak track / hut
Day 12 Back out to Sentry box.

A little bit of back tracking from RCH and McK Hut but not much country covered twice, could drop a few days out by going from Otukota to Maropea HGuts and dropping off Crow/Mck and Wakelings Huts

I am no way fit enough to do this but in hope in 3 months I will be.... Get to visit some of the classic huts in the Ruahines and well back off the front country

Have looked at doing
Poronui
Oamaru
Boyd
Tussock
Harkness
Tepuke
Mangaturutu
Makino
Makahu
Will get around to it one day.
Allowing a few days buggering around resting in a hut.
Give us a yell if you want to be dropped off picked up.
Plenty of options.
We are getting flown into Boyd walking out Oamaru/Poronui in Nov plenty options like that.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Whoops. Tuki Tuki (not Tiki Tiki)

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Yeah, I had worked that out. I grew up within a km or two of that river!

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Originally Posted by Fat belly Dog

Snap, I was looking at maps and tramping blogs last night and came up with this route for the Ruahines. Same deal take the dog, rifle and fishing rod for a walk over xmas.

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A fishing rod is a great idea (depending on where I go), I have a good little telescopic setup.

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Originally Posted by erniec

Have looked at doing
Poronui
Oamaru
Boyd
Tussock
Harkness
Tepuke
Mangaturutu
Makino
Makahu
Will get around to it one day.
Allowing a few days buggering around resting in a hut.
Give us a yell if you want to be dropped off picked up.
Plenty of options.
We are getting flown into Boyd walking out Oamaru/Poronui in Nov plenty options like that.

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Family friends of ours managed and part-owned Poronui about 40 years ago. It would be great if they still did, even just to be able to drive to the park boundary!

Quick question - can you take dogs thru Poronui?

Have seen guys take their dog through.
Would have to be kiwi trained for the park.
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....s-track-65707/

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Originally Posted by erniec

Have seen guys take their dog through.
Would have to be kiwi trained for the park.
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....s-track-65707/

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Thanks.
I'm working on getting the dog her Kiwi aversion certificate. Don't need it for the Kaimanawas, but do for the Kawekas and Ruahines.

Lots of dogs are taken through Poronui,meant to be on a lead

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Originally Posted by Tahr

I flew into Boyds airstrip and walked from there via the Mangamaire and Mangamingi over the Island range, into the Rangatikei, over the Middle range, into the Waipakahi, over the Umukarikari and met my pick up on the Desert road. Brilliant trip. 3 days but is really a 5 day trip. If I did it again I would start from Te-Puia/Kawekas and take a couple of weeks.

Ive crossed the Ruahines from Pouranaki to Tiki Tiki and the Tararuas from Shannon through to Putara too. Good trips - the Ruahine one is stella.

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Nice....but suspect the Boyd to Desert Rd walk was some time ago?

Did something not entirely dissimilar in the early 1990's......Ngapuketerua, into upper Rangitikei, Mangamarire saddle, down river to Mangimingi, and out to Boyd.

Not quite so easy to cross parts of that route these days.....


@Cigar ....if you're not that bothered about staying in huts, have a look at MapsPast | Current and historical topographic maps (topomaps) of New Zealand for old routes thru the Kaimanawas.....

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Have you got the contact details of the local certifier?

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I have them if needed?
@Cigar training is done not far from your place.

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Originally Posted by Bobba

I have them if needed?
@Cigar training is done not far from your place.

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@Bobba
When I looked a while back someone was doing the training out Tamahere way I think.
But when I looked last week, the link on the DOC website didn't have anyone in the Waikato doing it, so the contact details would be appreciated.

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Pete Evans?

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Yep. That's the one. He did my boy late last year.

I emailed Pete Evans, he is no longer doing the training. :(

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Originally Posted by Cigar

I emailed Pete Evans, he is no longer doing the training. :(

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Bugger. He was really good. Explained what was happening, didn't zap the shit out of my boy.

The dog got her kiwi aversion certificate this morning. I had to go to Thames to get it done, but can tick that job off the to-do list now.

The more I look into where to go, the more it looks like two or more walks (e.g one in Kawekas, one in Ruahines) might be on the cards. So many interesting options! The Ruahines look like flycamping might be the best option, rather than staying in huts.

Huts are a good option in ruahines too there. The ruahines is a great place to get out . I've seen deer on tracks 2 mins walk from the huts . Not that I would shoot them on the track but I have seen them. Be careful of some of the kawekas at the moment with your dog as they just dropped 1080 . In the north eastern area of the kawekas . I personally find the hunting much easier in the ruahines as the deer numbers are good . But the deer in the kawekas are tastier haha good luck

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Ruahine huts are very well placed to hunt from. Plus a couple of bivvies up high to hunt the tops from. Howletts is great. Lots of deer possies close by;)

I have some rough ideas sorted, but everything is subject to change and will be flexible day to day and change based on weather, deer sign etc.

Ruahines
Longview, Makaretu, Leon Konvig, Toka biv, Top Gorge, Howletts, Longview

Kawekas
Makahu saddle, Dominie biv, Back ridge hut, Back ridge biv, Kiwi Mouth, Manson, Otutu, Rocks Ahead, Venison Tops, North Whetu biv. I did think about heading in & out via the lakes carpark, but now I see that area is getting bombed with 1080 in late November.

The dog and I got back yesterday from 12 days/11 nights in the Kawekas.
It ended up not being the big walk I planned due tho knee issues, and the weather stopped the missus and young fella (and food!) flying in to join me for the last few days, but it was an enjoyable adventure.
It will take me a while to settle back in to the real world, I’m now used to being up at sparrows fart, into bed by dark, and eating freeze-dri (lost about 3kg).
I’ll post a report and pictures once I get myself sorted.

Looking forward to that.

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Originally Posted by Cigar

The dog and I got back yesterday from 12 days/11 nights in the Kawekas.
It ended up not being the big walk I planned due tho knee issues, and the weather stopped the missus and young fella (and food!) flying in to join me for the last few days, but it was an enjoyable adventure.
It will take me a while to settle back in to the real world, I’m now used to being up at sparrows fart, into bed by dark, and eating freeze-dri (lost about 3kg).
I’ll post a report and pictures once I get myself sorted.

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice one , look forward to a good read.

I have started posting my report here:
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....8/#post1394873
There will be lots of photos, but I have reduced the file size a lot so hopefully they don't take ages to load.

nice spot