Tararuas - New Hunter Follow Up

Headed out yesterday for my first trip in to the Tararuas. Left the Waiohine Gorge car park at 5am and headed up the track towards Totaroa Flats. Spooked a deer as I got toward the cone hut turn off, stopped and stalked as saw a second moving around further ahead but no luck as I lost it in the bush. Headed off again and stopped at the slip for a bite to eat and saw the first of what would be approx 50 trampers for the day. Turned out to be the busiest the area has ever been according to one of the hunters I came across. Made it onto the flats and out past sayers hut before calling it quits and heading back, spoke to a dad and son who were perched up in a great spot above the flats and they hadn’t seen a thing since first light except people moving across.

All told a great experience even to see a deer and scope out the area. Will head further up Clem’s creek as a poster told me that would be a reasonable spot for my next day trip, will likely try an overnighter for getting more time in morning/evening out at the flats.

Hopefully less people and more deer next time!

Seeing a deer on your first trip is excellent.

Good stuff. Try and avoid long weekends and even school holidays, as you have found out, it brings the tramps, mums with push buggies and ever increasing mounted bi-cycle hoards out.

Time in the hills will suss these things out, where and when to go.