Pureora Forest (Timber Trail)

-


 Day 15: Pureora Cabins to Piropiro Campsite (41km/11.5 hours)



A very short walk from the cabin and we were at the start of the Timber Trail (an 84km mountain bike trail, part of the NZ Cycle Trail). We have both ridden this before but were excited to be climbing up to the top of Mt Pureora for the first time (and to be walking on well-formed tracks again for a while TBH!).

A lovely start on a leaf-carpeted meandering trail through a massive podocarp forest and surrounded by the screech of Kaka and many other birdsong. Interspersed were open areas with sneak peaks of the mountain we were about to ascend. 









The detour of the bike trail to climb up the mountain was about 40 minutes and we were very excited as we knew we had picked a good day for it weather wise. 






The views from the trig at Mt Pureora (1165m) were AMAZING! We had full 360 degrees panoramic views, including Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Lake Taupo. This has to be one of the best views I have ever seen. Photos do not do it justice. 

We could not stop grinning!!











Our descent back to the bike trail was on an unmaintained track but nothing compared to what we had been through before. 

We soon arrived at our turn-off point for Bog Inn Hut (approximately 20km) which is where we had planned to stay for the night. However, it was only midday, the weather was good and we were both feeling fine so we decided to push on through to the half way (ish) point of the Timber Trail instead. 









Six hours later we reached our campsite! Both tired and a bit sore but glad we had made the decision to keep going. 

Piropiro campsite is a large DOC owned campsite where families come every year for their summer holidays. Our tiny two-man tent looked quite out of place amongst the caravans, clusters of family tents and major camping set-ups! 


All in all it was a great day. Beautiful birdsong. Fantastic views. 






Day 16: Piropiro Campsite to #10 Campsite (27km)


Roger got up early and got some great sunrise photos, as well as sketching. 











Our second day on the Timber Trail. We had a leisurely start as we waited for the tent to dry our a bit and chatted to our camping neighbours (and their beautiful dog). 



More incredible bridges over huge valleys and massive trees. More beautiful birdsong. Lots of Kereru (wood pigeons). 













#10 campsite is one of the many historical sites along the trail where the loggers built camps. Now there is just a long drop toilet, a shelter and a short walk to a stream for water but it was perfect for us. 




Day 17: #10 Campsite to Taumarunui (47km, of which we walked 20km) 






Our final day on the Timber Trail. Walked along the spiral (built to allow the timber locomotives climb a steep gradient) and enjoyed having time to stop and read all the information boards which I have just ridden past before. 









At the end of the trail we hitched a ride. And what do you know! Gayanne, the kind lady who gave us a lift, not only lives just around the corner from us in Auckland but her husband, Stephen, is one of the GOMs (Grumpy Old Men) that Roger meets at Crave Cafe every weekday morning!! Small world! 

With huge smiles on our faces we checked in to Kelly’s Motel in Taumarunui for two nights (a well deserved rest and admin day tomorrow).  

Roger’s trail notes below:




Day 18: Zero (rest) day in Taumarunui 

Easy admin day. Planning and booking the next week or so.

 

Each day Roger is teaching me a “birdcall of the day”. We did not start straight away but so far we have had: 

Kingfisher 
Malay dove
Grey Warbler (thanks to Linda) 
Magpie
Tui
Fantail
Pheasant 
Rosella
Kaka
Kereru
Cuckoo

More to come! 





























Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Post Walk Reflections

-
Image
Our TA experience took us 116 days with 10 rest days. For a number of reasons this was spread over 10 months (the first 93 days December 2021 - March 2022 and the last 23 days in October 2022). Whilst we both would have liked to have done it all in one go with no interruptions, life (and my injury) got in the way. We were very lucky that we are based in New Zealand so stopping and starting again was a lot easier than for our international visitors. It also did not take long to get "back in the groove" once we did start walking again.  Our last leg (Auckland to Cape Reinga) took us 23 days. We stretched this out a bit with a few very short days but we were in no rush to finish. I was very relieved to have no pain and no niggles on this stretch and I honestly would have been happy to just keep going and going.  All that said, it was amazing to finish and having Anne and Chris meet us at the end was really special. On the drive back home,  Anne and Chris asked a few really good
Read more

Setting a Start Date

-
D-Day - 100 days "I am going to send you an invite to a meeting." my GM said. "Is this the kind of meeting where I should bring a support person?" I asked. And that is where it began! As soon as we knew I was being made redundant, we started to plan our Te Araroa South bound (SOBO) walk. Some amazing friends offered to drive us to Cape Reinga and walk the first few kilometres with us. A date was set and the countdown began! D-Day - 50 days First day of Level Four LOCKDOWN! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! "That's OK" we said to ourselves. "We will easily be at Level Two by 07 October." And so the nervous wait began.... D-Day- 10 days Now in level three. We will find out in a week's time whether we will move to level two the day before we planned to start walking! Keeping fingers, legs, arms and toes crossed. D-Day - 3 days With my bag pretty much packed, we watched the press conference with fingers, toes, legs and arms crossed. Still level three! NOOO
Read more

Training walks

-
Image
Whilst in lockdown in Auckland, we visited a few local gems as training walks… Heading out to Pararaha Valley (via Karekare Beach) to test out our gear.  About ten minutes in to our walk on a glorious sunny day. I think I will be following that great view quite a lot over the next few months! The sand is very soft and makes it quite hard work.   Great friends, Irene and Graham, brought us some liquid refreshment!  Early bird catching the worm? Or dancing?  Walking with the gorgeous Anne at Scandretts Regional  Park, Mahurangi Peninsula.  Gannet Colony, Muriwai beach Omanawanui Track, Waitakere Ranges Walking up towards the Pararaha Valley from Karekare beach (a different day). 
Read more