📌Upper circuit route, Mt Taranaki (3 nights)

This event lasts for three nights and four days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). We will traverse the base of Mt Taranaki at an altitude ranging from 600 metres to 1700 metres. This circumnavigation of Mt Taranaki has a bit of everything, from stream crossings to a waterfall, native forest to alpine tussock, solitude and unbeatable views. The route is marked track except for a section of unmarked route over Curtis ridge to Manganui gorge for about 2km. This part is likely to be mainly steep scree slopes and rocky river valley.

We will stay in three huts throughout the mountain circuit. The three designated huts are Kapuni Lodge (19 bunks), Holly Hut (32 bunks), and Waiaua Gorge Hut (16 bunks).

Priority will be extended to regular participants and those who have completed more than three hikes with 'Hiking Aotearoa' in the last 12 months. This event is NOT appropriate for individuals who are slow or unfit. Regular participants will be prioritized over those who only occasionally attend Meetup hikes.

🚩 Summary of details:
📌Duration: Whole trip is 4 days and 3 nights
📌 Day 1: Car Park to Kapuni Lodge 2.8km (1 hour 30 min)
📌 Day 2: Kapuni lodge to Holly hut 12.7km (6 hours)
📌 Day 3: Holly hut to Waiaua Gorge hut 12.0km (7 hours)
📌 Day 4: Waiaua Gorge hut to Car Park 12.0km (7 hours 15 min)
📌 Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.75 (overall)
📌 Max attendees: 10-12 people
📌 Map of route: https://tinyurl.com/24yhh5y3

🚩 These are the 2 important stopping points to note.:
👉 1) Awakino Hotel & Pub, SH3 Awakino
(Where we have Thursday lunch)
https://tinyurl.com/3kh53fzf

👉 2) Dawson Falls Car park, Manaia Road
(Where we park our cars, also start and finish the hike)
https://tinyurl.com/36rnb8jp

📌 Other information:
🚩 Metvuw rain forecast : https://goo.gl/9zpzs9
🚩 Just some hiking group etiquette: http://bit.ly/2ZmOmEG

🚩Time line (Guide only)
📌Thursday:
08:00 Suggested time to leave Auckland*
11:45 Arrival at Awakino Hotel & Pub for lunch
12:50 Leave Awakino Hotel & Pub
14:50 Arrive at Dawson Falls road end
15:00 Briefing and introduction
15:05 Start hike
16:30 Arrive at Kapuni Lodge
20:30 Sunset
* Drivers will need to determine what time to leave Auckland so that they arrive at Awakino at 11:45, by using Google maps and allowing for passenger picks ups, stops etc.

🚩Friday:
05:52 Sunrise
08:00 Leave Kapuni Lodge
14:30 Arrive at Holly hut
20:30 Sunset

🚩Saturday:
05:52 Sunrise
08:00 Leave Holly hut
15:45 Arrive Waiaua Gorge hut
20:29 Sunset

🚩Sunday:
05:51 Sunrise
07:30 Leave Waiaua Gorge hut
14:45 Arrive Dawson Falls car park
15:00 Optional snack stop in Stratford - (Casa Pequena Cafe - TBC)
16:00 Drive back to Auckland
21:30 Approx arrival back in Auckland
20:22 Sunset

🚩Costs:
$80 if a car passenger (Based on 10 cents/km)
$25 Kapuni Lodge - 1 night
$50 =$25x2 (D.O.C. Green tickets) For the 2 huts
$155 Total (Not including food etc)

🚩 Check list of items to bring: https://tinyurl.com/4pyj5s4u

🚩Accommodation: As mentioned we will stay one night each at these huts: Kapuni Lodge, Holly Hut, and Waiaua Gorge hut. Kapuni Lodge hut has been group booked. Holly hut with 36 bunks is bookable, however if the weather is poor we may postpone another weekend. Unfortunately DOC do not allow for cancellation because of weather. If you do not book and the hut is full then you could camp at this hut. Waiaua gorge hut (16 bunks) is much less popular and it is very unlikely this hut will be full, also this hut is not bookable. You will need a DOC green ticket for both these huts.
🚩 Payment: There is a payment of $25, for a one night stay at Kapuni lodge. The lodge has Gas stoves, wood/coal fire, solar lighting and some kitchen gear.

Please make payment of $25 into ANZ Bank Hiking Aotearoa A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Write "AMC" and your reference name that is the same as your Meetup name. Please make payment by the 6th November.

❌❗ A postponement will happen, if the weather is poor and a new date will be set to the following weekend. Be prepared for a possible change of date.

🚩 RSVP questions: https://tinyurl.com/2y2sab2b