Thread: Some Tararuas pics

Haven't been in the hills since end of April. Have been hunting the Tararuas for a while. began at school in the early 60s, tramping, then got 303 at 14 or so, and carted that around, eventually getting to stumble onto deer and getting one occasionally. Probably visited ever hut while at school, spent most holidays and weekends up there. Since then have regularly tramped and hunted there, except when living elsewhere in NZ. Since retiring few years ago, have spent a bit of time in the hills, mainly hunting but also doing upkeep of some huts.

below are some pics of fairly recent trips, might give an idea of the place, for those that arnt familiar.
Tararuas seem to have a bad reputation, among hunters, might have something to do with the weather and leatherwood. Which is a good thing, the place doesn't get too crowded, except for the usual roar invasion.

Have hunted the bush, probably nearly all of the range. These days, the bush regeneration has been prolific, and often hunting is quite different to 30 years ago or so. With deer out on the open a lot more, tops hunting is much more enjoyable.

Have done a few trips into Arete Forks area a bit lately, its one of the huts group of ex Tararua cullers maintain. Did trips before the Roar, and near the end of it also. One trip was from Arete Forls through to Carkeek hut and on to Mcgregor bivvy and out Holdsworth.


Arete Forks is in the head of the Waingawa valley in the background. Bit of a walk in, at least 7 or 8 hours, sometimes longer. The track isn't maintained, so its getting slower every year.


Aim was to return the hut to the original design specs for the old NZFS S70 type 6 bunk huts. Some 400 or so were built around the country in the 1960s. The hut had been modified over the years, we restored the standard open fireplace these huts used. And repainted in the original NZFS Orange, and Light green interior. Regen beech had got away and a major felling of beech trees regen was needed also.




Some of the tops around the Waingawa, Bannister is good if you like leatherwood


Tops around the Arete Bivvy


The trip from Arete Forks to Carkeek climbs the tops to the Waiohine Pinnacles and then down Carkeek Ridge.


The tops around Tarn Ridge, Dorset Ridge, Carkeek and Waiohine Pinnacles


The head of the Waiohine valley is one of two ex glaciated valleys in the range


Ex Tararua culler Paul Gush doing Repaint of Carkeek hut. Local pilot Jason Deidrich's flies hunters in regularly, especially over the roar.


Cakeek hut, as it was in the 1960s, not long after building.


Park Forks, in the upper waiohine. An idyllic spot on the way to McGregor bivvy


McGregor bivvy, another hut we maintain. when nearing the hut in the bush, met up with a tramper, who was headed where I'd just came from. After giving some direction to him, he proceeded to get lost for about 6 days, with 10 SAR parties out looking for him. Eventually found in the waiohine river bed. Bit worse for wear.


The tops around McGregor and Dorset Ridge


The Three Kings and southwards from Mitre.

Some great photos there never been there looks good country though. Good on you for looking after those huts bit of history there

Same, never been into that country but it sure looks inviting, you guys are doing a great job maintaining those huts as they used to be, a great bit of our hunting history. Well Done.

Great photos
Brings back memories from my Kapiti days.
Carkeek was good in the Roar 90's - what is it like today ?
Should be a lot more Deer today - I imagine ????

Originally Posted by Mooseman

Same, never been into that country but it sure looks inviting, you guys are doing a great job maintaining those huts as they used to be, a great bit of our hunting history. Well Done.

Not many days without wind unfortunatly :-)

@Sarvo few out on the top now, they were bit scarce back in the 80s, 90s, there

Originally Posted by Tararuas hunter

@Sarvo few out on the top now, they were bit scarce back in the 80s, 90s, there

Yes - I had a mate on the Western side who would drop us up for an overnighter on Tops in his 300 - hard pressed to see one at all - drop down into the bush and # were not to bad
Thats goos to here and JD still flapping around too I see

Nice pics,do you do much further north around cow creek area.good bush hunting around there.

@Yesmate a bit, spent lot of time around there in the past. beginning when I was at college

sounds like giving directions isnt your strongest suite....LOL
awesome photos,great job looking after those huts,much longer and they would dissapear with the history along with them.

Neat photos, cheers

Haven't been to Cow creek since about 1967. Hunted in from Kaituna quite a bit in younger days, lived in Masterton till the mid 80s

Great post cob , awesome looking range South Island looking to me what a beautiful country we a privileged to able to enjoy

Sent from my TA-1025 using Tapatalk

Great photos of some spectacular views, I have a book on NZ huts, oh the stories they could tell. Thanks.

Good to see you’ve migrated to this forum TH.