Southern Kaimai ranges (Part 1)

This is the first of a three part series of hikes in the Southern Kaimai ranges. A total of 94 kilometres will be hiked and every track will be covered from State highway 29 in the extreme south to as far north as Wairere falls. There are 8 separate hikes to complete, and it will take 5 nights and 7 days spread over three separate weekends. Generally the Kaimai ranges are flatter in the south, and the views are not as outstanding as the central and northern sections. However it is an area seldom visited by hikers from Auckland, and it has some interesting tracks and sights worth checking out.

This trip is planned from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening, on the 24th, 25th and 26th of May. It takes place in the extreme southern part of the Kaimai ranges, covering the Hendersons' tramlines and the Ngamawahine river catchment. We plan to arrive approximately on Friday afternoon or evening, and we will stay at Hoatu Kaimua lodge on Friday and Saturday nights. Arrival time on Friday is not important, although arriving after 21:00hr is not recommended. These hikes are not suitable for slow and unfit people. Please do not RSVP if you think you are slow.

🚩 Summary of details:
📌 Duration: Whole trip is 2 and a half days and 2 nights
📌 Friday : No hiking
📌 Saturday : about 7 hours 15 minutes (17.1km)
📌 Sunday : About 4 hours (10.1km)
📌 Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.5-Saturday & 3.0-Sunday
📌 Maximum of 25 people
📌 Detailed map of hikes: https://goo.gl/qGbjmA

🚩 These are the 4 important stopping points to note:

👉 1) Hoatu Kaimua Lodge, 282 Old Kaimai Road, Lower Kaimai
(Where we stay on Friday & Saturday nights)
http://bit.ly/2Ihz2BQ

👉 2) 14-2 Ngamuwahine Road (end of road)
(Where we start the Saturday hike)
https://bit.ly/2Uh6SOC

👉 3) 177 Old Kaimai Rd
(Where we start the Henderson tramline Sunday hike & finish Saturday hike)
http://bit.ly/2VShnJ2

👉 4) Tuakopae Stream bridge, Old Kaimai road
(Where we finish the Henderson tramline Sunday hike)
https://bit.ly/2UsTO82

👉 5) Redoubt Bar and Eatery, Matamata
(Where we have food & drinks on Sunday afternoon)
http://bit.ly/2G9BKqj

👣 Saturday hike: We start at the end of Ngamuwahine Road, and hike up Ngamuwahine river valley until we reach the Leyland O'Brien tramway track, which eventually leads us to the Kaimai Ridgeway track and Hurunui Hut. We return back to the road via the Henderson tramline North branch and car shuttle back to our cars. Bring a flashlight/head light just in case we are late getting back to cars (About 7 hours 15 minutes)

👣 Sunday hike: We start at where we finish the Saturday hike - 177 Old Kaimai road. We go up the North branch of Henderson's tramline, until we reach the Kaimai ridgeway track, then meet a junction that takes us down the West branch of Henderson tramline, until we get back to the Old Kaimai road at Tuakopae Stream bridge . We complete the loop by walking back to our cars. (About 4 hours)

🚩Car pooling:
🚗 Will be arranged beforehand as our group is small. We will NOT be going to New World. Make sure messaging and emails via this meetup is not blocked. Each carpool passenger is asked to give $40 in cash to the driver, on departure.

👍 Driving through Matamata, nearly always has a traffic bottleneck. You can avoid most of this by turning left at Waharoa so that you drive on Waharoa Road, parallel on the eastern side of the State highway. There usually is no traffic, and you can then drive the back streets of Matamata to avoid the busy main street. Refer to Google map directions: http://bit.ly/2H5W2RY

🚩Accommodation:
We will stay Friday and Saturday night at "Hoatu Kaimua lodge" on 282 Old Kaimai road. The driveway is about one kilometre long (so do not become discouraged trying to find the lodge), and set near the edge of the bush. The cost per person is $26.40 per night, which is a total of $52.80 each.

They have two large rooms with about 20 bunks in each. These are subdivided into sections of 4 bunks that are closed off by a curtain. They provide bedding, pillows, and towels, so no sleeping bags necessary.
There are two large campground style bathrooms - one for men and one for women. There is a large kitchen, spacious lounge room with open fire and two barbeques on the deck. They also have an outdoor fireplace/bonfire pit, board games, table tennis, a little waterfall and natural pool if anyone is interested in antarctic swimming.

If you want to turn up early at the lodge on Friday, then anything after 15:00 is okay, although the manager can accommodate people who may want to arrive even earlier than that. Please let me know if you want to arrive before 15:00.
More information: https://www.hoatu.co.nz/

❌❗ As the sleeping area has only curtains as doors, being kept awake by snorers could be a problem. It may be advisable to bring ear plugs.

❌❗ The lodge is fairly isolated and the nearest shop/supermarket is Matamata, which is 25 minutes drive. So make sure you have food with you, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, over the weekend. We are not planning to go out for dinner on Saturday night, as we usually do.

🚩 Payment: You will need to pay me for the $52.80 for accommodation fee for the two nights at Hoatu Kaimua lodge. If payment is not paid by the date given, then someone else from the waiting list will take your place. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank account number: 11-5401-0349345-01. Please write your exact reference name that is the same as your 'AHG name', so I identify you.

❌❗ You need to pay by the 10th May, otherwise someone else from the waiting list will take your place.

🚩 Check list of items to bring: http://bit.ly/2VyWVIP
🚩 Metvuw rain forecast : https://goo.gl/9zpzs9

🚩Time Guideline:
(Guide only):
🔸Friday:
15:00 to 18:30 Approx leave Auckland from pre-arranged departure point
17:00 to 20:30 Approx arrive at Hoatu Kaimua lodge

🔸Saturday:
07:16 Sunrise
08:00 Arrange car shuttle
08:30 Approx start Ngamuwahine Rd to Henderson’s tramline hike
15:45 Approx finish hike
15:55 Car shuttle drivers to collect cars
16:05 Arrive back at lodge
17:10 Sunset

🔸Sunday:
07:17 Sunrise
08:30 Leave lodge
08:40 Arrive at Tuakopae Stream bridge
08:45 Start hike
12:45 Finish hike
13:15 Stop at 'Redoubt bar & eatery' in Matamata
14:30 Approx drive back to Auckland
16:30 Approx back in Auckland
17:09 Sunset

🚩 Costs:
$40 if carpool passenger (based on 10 cents per kilometre)
$52.80 for 2 nights accommodation at lodge

$92.80 (more if buying food and drinks)

👌 Fun fact: The "Kaimai ridgeway track" runs for 85km North to South, and was formerly known as the "North-South track". It stretches from SH29 in the south to SH2 (Karangahake gorge) in the north. It takes at least 5 days of serious tramping. This walk can be rugged, unmaintained and unmarked. There are 5 huts which can be used during this route but camping is also necessary along the way.

The upgrade of the Kaimai ridgeway track is being managed by the Kaimai Ridgeway Trust, with an affiliation from tramping clubs, deerstalker branches, and individuals. Work has already vastly improved long sections of the track, as well as current building of a new hut, in the southern section. About one third (26km) of the Kaimai ridgeway track will be covered in our coming series of hikes to the southern Kaimai ranges.
More details: http://www.kaimairidgeway.nz/

🥂🍔🍗 We will go to the "Redoubt bar & Eatery" for after hike drinks and snacks on Sunday afternoon in Matamata. For more information: https://matamata.redoubtbarandeatery.co.nz/

❌❗ Postponement: If the weather looks poor for the planned weekend, then the trip will be postponed, and be moved to the 7-9th June. If you can not make it for this weekend, then a full refund will be given back for accommodation.

🚩 Summary of what you need to do:

1. ✔ Answer the 3 RSVP questions
2. ✔ Make payment by the 10th of May
3. ✔ If required, organize to leave work early on Friday
4. ✔ Prepare enough food and drinks for weekend
5. ✔ Prepare gear for overnight stay.
6. ✔ Prepare usual hiking gear. Refer to check list.
7. ✔ Have vehicle fueled and ready to go (if you might be driving)
8. ✔ Study description, meeting places and maps

❌❗ For those people on the waiting list, to increase your chances of going, it is important that you must confirm that you are still interested in joining this trip. I will send out a group email (via meetup) to all those on the waiting list to confirm that you would still like to go. If I do NOT get a reply within 24 hours then all those that do not reply will be changed to "Not going".

🚩 Just some hiking group etiquette:
📌 Before the hike:
👍 Answer all RSVP questions whether you are on the waiting list or not, otherwise you will be changed to 'Not going'.
👍 Study the description and meeting points. Preparation is paramount for an incident free trip.
👍 Drivers especially need to know where to go beforehand, otherwise arriving at the wrong place, can inconvenience the whole group.
👍 Be considerate by keeping your RSVP up to date at all times, and do not pull out 4 days or less before the hike begins, otherwise you will block someone who may want to join.
👍 Please be contactable, to others. If organizers need to, or your passenger/driver need to make arrangements etc, then make sure private messaging (via meetup) is not blocked, your cell phone is turned on, and text messages are regularly checked.
📌 During the hike:
👍 Pay your driver at time of departure.
👍 Please DO NOT RSVP if you are going to join the hike late, or leave early. It just makes things complicated and difficult to organize.
👍 Keep together as a group – i.e. not too fast or too slow. If you think you are very slow please DO NOT RSVP.
👍 Please wait for the rest of the group at track junctions.
📌 After the hike:
👍 Bring plastic bags for muddy boots or clothes otherwise you may leave mud and water in someone else’s car.

Important: Please make sure you answer the 3 RSVP question (even if you are on the waiting list), otherwise your RSVP will be changed to "Not going"

(1) What is your transport situation for carpooling:
(A) have transport, can offer rides
(B) have transport, can drive if needed, but prefer to get a ride
(C) Have no transport, need a ride
(D) other (please say more)

(2) If you are a driver what time approximately do you think you will arrive at Hoatu Kiamua lodge on Friday afternoon/evening. Passengers answer: "N/A"

(3) Please give me your cell phone number in case I need to send everyone a text for a last minute change of plan. Numbers will not be made public, and your number and RSVP answers are only visible to yourself and the organizer. They will also not be passed on, unless myself or someone in our group needs to contact you for car pooling etc. No made up numbers please.

Thanks 😊

Are you interested to attend?
If so see you on Friday afternoon/evening on the 24th of May
You can join the conversation below to discuss this trip

Russell