Tuna Tales
After a few tramps with only a couple keen, we managed to rally the troops and get a group of 10 together. With all the different experience levels and ideas of creature comforts that were needed, it made for an entertaining trip!
The pre walk sunscreen and bag check.
We all headed off from Wellington around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, thanks to Eliza and Cam, who were handling pickups. We crammed into packed cars and eagerly discussed who had had good sleeps the night before and what people had brought for dinner, or how long it had taken to pack. Or who got car sick..
We set off from the car park around 11 am, and a quiet chatter formed amongst the group. It wasn’t long before the bog holes were being avoided, and playing stepping stones on tree roots to save wet boots seemed necessary, but fruitless in the end, as the bog always wins.
One of a few swing bridges on the Lower Waiohine Track.
The Lower Waiohine Track follows the river pretty closely for its 9.5km length to the Totara Flats Hut, with not a lot of elevation to play with. The main challenge comes from the slippery tree roots, bog holes, and short, steep sections of tracks to cross small gullies. You can make a decent pace, and sub-three hours is easily possible. could definitely be done as a day loop.
A quick shoe repair near the start of the walk.
Big stick off.
About two hours into the walk, the group had naturally split in two, so we thought we should take a break in the sun and enjoy a moment or two. Once we had all reconvened, we set off for the flat open section of track that stood between us and the hut, although nice and flat on a hot sunny day as we had, the sun was a tad brutal!
A stop at the river for a refill.
I thought I’d split with group two at this point and try to chase down group one along the open river flats after also having managed to acquire a sunburn at the beach the day before (thanks to a beer or two with a view), I was quite keen to get out of the blaring afternoon sun and made good pace along the final stretch.
Everyone had reached the hut around 5 pm, taking in the views is always more of a priority on day one (as you do when headed into a new spot), so it took a little longer than suggested. On arrival, we all headed down for a well-deserved beer and a swim in the river, which was very refreshing after a day in the sun.
Totara Flats Hut lies at the end of this valley.
A usual scene.
After everyone had had a dip and debriefed for the day, we sorted dinner, and the evening hustle and bustle in the kitchen began. This particular Saturday, there was a full hut and every bed was taken, so it all had a gentle hum about it. Some of us had opted for the dehydrated options, while others were on yet another Cam of Tuna for the day. The night commenced, and I headed off to bed early while the others spent an hour or so around the fire.
Not a bad spot for dinner.
The evening extender.
Sleep arrived for some, while others had had mildly more restless nights fighting both the summer heat and the other hut sounds you’re blessed with when sleeping in a room with 15 others. We all got up around 6:30 to prepare breakfast and start packing up for the day, having planned to try to make it out early to miss both the rain and not all of Sunday, it was all go.
Rueben, Charlotte, Cam, Gemma, Ben, Serafina, Alice, Eliza, Kai, Me (had to make one photo)
Such an amazing open valley in the usually dense Tararuas.
Escaping the way we came, we made good time back to the cars and then into Greytown for some lunch and a coffee. Another successful trip in the books, awesome to get a big group out and make the most of the amazing hut systems we are lucky enough to enjoy!
