📌Centre of the North Island (2 nights)

On the 13-15th June, we have a 2 night trip to Pureora Forest Park, in the centre of the North island. Our Base Camp is at the Mangakino Water Sports Camp, in Mangakino, next to the Waikato River. Our plan is to complete two different hikes both in the Pureora Forest Park. The first one on Saturday, will be climbing to the top of Mt Titiraupenga, and on Sunday climbing the nearby sister cone of Mt Pureora.

If you are slow and unfit, then you should NOT RSVP. Regulars also get priority to join, however if you are a new comer, but fit and capable, then you should be suitable for this event.

As with all overnight weekend hikes, if it is your plan to skip Sunday's hike then please change your RSVP to "Not Going". On future hikes, you will also be unlikely to join the Going list.

🚩 Summary of details:
📌 Duration: 2 nights
Saturday distance: 14.7km
Sunday distance: 8.3km
Map of Saturday hike: https://tinyurl.com/bdz4zkku
Map of Sunday hike: https://tinyurl.com/4242wa8f

📌 Friday : There are no activities planned for Friday. You can arrive at any time Friday after 13:00 as there are no other groups planning to stay there beforehand, although the buildings could be locked if you arrive very early. The earliest arrival time needs to be confirmed, closer to the event date. Please try not to arrive after 21:00

🚩Saturday hike:
A car shuttle will need to be organised, so one group of cars will go first to the end of the hike at Link Road and then one car will bring all the drivers back to the start at Arataki Road. The majority of the group will then drive to the start at Arataki Road, to meet the rest of the group. Drivers who go to the end will be compensated $15, as this is an extra 68km of driving. We park at the end of Arataki road, and then walk for 5km on a gravel road to the start of the proper track. From here it is nearly a 500 metre climb to the top of Titiraupenga, where we should have some views. From there we descend down the other side, passing through the exact centre of the North island. The last part has several more dips and crests to hike, until we get back to the cars. It should take us 5.5-6 hours

As daylight hours are very short this time of year, please bring head lights just in case the last part is hiked after sunset.

🚩Sunday hike
We start at Link Road and the same place where we finished the Saturday hike. We climb steadily upwards and reach the summit of Mt Pureora after one hour and a half. From this point we head down the Toitoi track until the Timber trail is reached, so we may come across Mountain bikers. The last part zig zags down through pine plantations until the car park is reached.
📌 Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.0-3.5 (overall)

🚩 These are the 4 important stopping points to note.:

👉 1) Mangakino water sports Camp, 26A Korari Crescent, Mangakino
(Where we stay for 2 nights, & initially meet)
https://tinyurl.com/4d4z3nac

👉 2) 465-506 Arataki Road end
(Where we start the Mt Titiraupenga hike)
https://tinyurl.com/3wbn3ee2

👉 3) Link Road (finish of Mt Titiraupenga hike)
(As far as the Google map goes to location for Saturday's hike)
https://tinyurl.com/2ybccaev
Topo map showing the remainder of travel to the finishing point:
https://tinyurl.com/urntzm92

👉 4) Link Road (Start of Mt Pureora hike)
(As far as the Google map goes to location for Sunday's hike)
https://tinyurl.com/2pudz64k
Topo map showing the remainder of travel to the start & finish:
https://tinyurl.com/m368j8vn

Please note the finish of Saturday's hike and start of Sunday's hike are the same place. However drivers will approach this point from different directions on either Saturday or Sunday. As the car shuttle drive is longer than usual drivers will be compensated, with a contribution from everyone.

📌Accommodation: We stay 2 nights at Mangakino Water Sports Camp, which is at Mangakino on the banks of the Waikato river. The Camp can cater for groups of up to 80 people, so there should be plenty of room for everyone. We will probably all stay in the lower Lake House. You will need to bring your own bedding, i.e. bottom sheet, sleeping bag/duvet, and pillow as well as a towel. The cost is $20 per night.

The Camp facilities are split into two levels - 'Top House' and 'Lake House facilities'
Top House Facilities:
• Located through the main entrance gate down the right of way past the two privately owned units
• This facility consists of a large kitchen & dining room attached.
• A dormitory is located on the first level attached to the back of the kitchen that sleeps 10 people
• There are toilets below this dormitory
• There is a stand alone two storey dormitory on two levels. The bottom level sleeps 24 people. The top level has a small kitchen facility and three bedrooms. Each bedroom has minimum of 2 beds in it.
• There are also 5 cabins on this top house level that sleeps 20 people in total.
Lake House Facilities: (we will probably stay here)
• Located on the Lake shore down the driveway
• The main accommodation block sleeps 28 people
• In addition, there are 4 cabins that sleep 16 people in total
• The kitchen is located in the main accommodation block

Time line (guide only)
📌 Friday: Arrive at lodge anytime between 13:00 and not later than 21:00. Arrival is up to you.
13:00 Earliest time to check in - TBC (However buildings could be locked)
14:00 Buildings probably unlocked -TBC
17:01 Sunset
18:00 Snacks and drinks for those who have arrived

📌Saturday (14th June):
07:32 Sunrise
07:40 Meet at lounge room for introductions
07:45 Car shuttle drivers leave to Link Road
08:30 Rest of group leave
08:55 Everyone at Arataki Road end
10:50 At summit of Mt Titiraupenga
14:45 Finish hike at Link Road
15:15 Arrive back a start to pick up cars and drive back to Mangakino
15:45 Arrive back at Mangakino
17:02 Sunset
18:30 Group dinner at Mangakino Camp

📌Sunday: (15th June):
07:33 Sunrise
08:50 Briefing and organize car shuttle
09:00 Pack up and leave some cars at lodge
09:10 Arrive at start of Mt Pureora hike
09:20 Start hike
10:30 Approximate at summit of Mt Pureora
12:45 Approx finish hike
13:30 Lunch or snacks & drinks (TBA)
14:45 Drive back to Auckland
17:00 Approx arrive back in Auckland
17:02 Sunset

Other information:
❌❗ If there is poor weather, then this event will likely be postponed, likely to the following weekend. Confirmation as to whether the event will go ahead will be made on the 10th June (Tuesday)

🚩 Check list of items to bring: https://tinyurl.com/3fht77ja
🚩 Metvuw rain forecast : https://goo.gl/9zpzs9
🚩 Just some hiking group etiquette: http://bit.ly/2ZmOmEG

🍔🍗🍷 Saturday night Dinner:
On Saturday night we will have a shared dinner at the Camp, please bring a plate of prepared food to share with everyone - thank you.

We will need to take any rubbish generated by us away to a dumping point, otherwise we will be charged a fee.

🚩 Costs:
$55 to your driver - if passenger (based on 10c/km with 2 passengers)
$8 to car shuttle drivers
$40 for 2 nights accommodation
$128 Total (More for extras such as food and drinks)

🚩 Payment: You will need make payment of $48 by 26th May. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank "Hiking Aotearoa" A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Please write as a reference "Mangakino" and your name that is the same as your Meetup name, so I can identify you. Please do NOT leave payment until the last minute.

RSVP Questions: https://tinyurl.com/5auwsha3
Thanks 😊
Russell
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