📌Te Whetu (2 nights)

On the 10th-12th of October, we will embark on a three day journey to explore the historic saw milling town of Te Whetu, located near Tokoroa, and on Sunday, we plan to hike along a portion of the riverside track on the Waikato River walkway. Our Base Camp will be situated at the Mangakino Water Sports Camp, adjacent to the Waikato River, where we have previously stayed.

Te Whetu is a former saw milling settlement that ceased operations in 1976 due to the depletion of timber resources. Currently, not much remains of the town, except for the old swimming pool that was once part of the local school. Perched on the hill is a disused fire lookout tower, standing at 40 metres tall. The mill was connected by a tramway for transporting logs, which was serviced by a steam train and extended for approximately 15 kilometres. Although little of the tramway built in 1916 survives, there are two short tramway tunnels, built by hand into rhyolite rock, one of which measures about 400 meters in length, and is known as the Lower Crimp Tram Tunnel which was built in 1914.

Directly behind the town and the fire lookout tower, there exists a curious grove of Redwood trees, planted nearly 100 years ago, and are unlikely to be milled. These trees were sold as Bonds by the acre, however it was found that the timber was not suitable for milling. Currently most of the area is covered in Radiata pine, except for some farm land around Galaxy road.

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: 22km
📌Sunday distance: 14.4km
📌Map of Saturday hike: https://tinyurl.com/ydbcx9j5
📌Map of Sunday hike: https://tinyurl.com/47vjw86f
📌 Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.0-3.5 (overall)

📌 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:
We commence at Galaxy Road and cross a short stretch of farm land until the pine plantations are reached. We follow a forestry road all the way to Te Whetu. Just before we reach Te Whetu we will visit the fire lookout tower, and then descend down through a redwood grove, abd then to the remains of Te Whetu, which the only evidence is a swimming pool. From Te Whetu we trace the old route of the tramway and two tunnels which we will pass through. We eventually get back to the cars via some of the same forestry road. (Estimated time 7.5-8.0 hours)
Please bring head lights just in case the last part is hiked after sunset. Also lights might be needed for the tunnel.

🚩Sunday hike
From Maraetai dam we walk on the true left bank of the Waikato river which is a part of the Waikato River trail. The track is wide, with a few small hills to ascend. Please be aware this is a shared track with Mountain bikers. The last part of the track is beside the main road, and takes us to Waipapa dam. We will have a car shuttle to take us back to the start.

🚩 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) Galaxy Road
(Where we start & finish the Te Whetu hike)
https://tinyurl.com/26n8cuzm
Street view: https://tinyurl.com/3nedjdpp

👉 3) Sherman Road
(Start of Waikato River hike)
https://tinyurl.com/mw6zjewb

👉 4) Waipapa Road
(Finish of Waikato River hike)
https://tinyurl.com/2dnnmd2t

📌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.

Last time we stayed at the riverside house, however this time we will stay at the - 'Top House' this has a larger kitchen and dining room. Most Bedrooms are upstairs and the kitchen and lounge is below. There are also cabins, next to the building.
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.

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
18:00 Snacks and drinks for those who have arrived
19:30 Sunset

📌Saturday:
06:40 Sunrise
07:50 Meet for introductions and briefing
08:00 Drive to Galaxy Road
09:00 Start Te Whetu hike
12:40 Arrive at Te Whetu
17:00 Finish hike
17:50 Arrive back at Mangakino
18:45 Group dinner at Mangakino Camp (Time TBC on the day)
19:30 Sunset

📌Sunday:
06:40 Sunrise
08:15 Car shuttle drivers to Waipapa dam
08:30 Camp cleaned and packed up
08:40 Camp cleaned and packed up
08:45 All drivers to start at Maraetai dam - start hike
13:45 Finish hike
14:00 Back at start & depart to Auckland
16:45 Approx arrive back in Auckland
19:30 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/4tw5999p
🚩 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:
$60 to your driver - if passenger (based on 10c/km with 2 passengers)
$40 for 2 nights accommodation
$100 Total (More for extras such as food and drinks)

🚩 Payment: You will need make payment of $40 by 12th September. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank "Hiking Aotearoa" A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Please write as a reference "TeWhetu" 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/4m7v7wat
Thanks 😊
Russell

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