📌Southern Kaimai range (2 nights)
Details
From the 13th to the 15th of March (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), we will be hosting a two-night event in the southern Kaimai range. Our Base Camp will be located at Kaimua Lodge in this region. The feature hike of the weekend will be to the Radar station, which was constructed for aircraft navigation following a tragic passenger plane crash in 1963 that resulted in the loss of all lives on board. Portions of the route will traverse farmland, a gravel access road, an unofficial track, and a DOC track. Provided that the clouds do not obstruct our views, we should be treated to some spectacular views west towards the Hauraki plains and east towards Tauranga. On Sunday, we intend to take a shorter hike along the Henderson's tramline, covering the north and west branches.
If you are slow, 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: 12.3km
Sunday distance: 9.9km
Map of Saturday and Sunday hikes: https://tinyurl.com/4s7ykj7r
📌 Friday : There are no activities planned for Friday, and you can arrive anytime that is convenient. Check in time at Kaimua lodge is usually 14:00, although if you want to arrive earlier then please let me know. Try not to arrive after 21:00
🚩Saturday hike:
We start from Barton Road which serves a working quarry. We will need to walk around this quarry and through farm land which the local farmer has given permission to cross. It will be about a 600 metre climb to the Radar station and a bit further to Te Weraiti trig. Past the Radar station there is no official track, but it is generally flat for about 2km until the North South track is reached. A short distance further we will reach a junction that takes us down the north branch of Henderson's tramline and back to the Old Kaimai road, where we have a car shuttle.
12.3km (about 5 to 5.5 hours) For those who use a navigation device please request a GPX file from me.
🚩Sunday hike
We start on the Old Kaimai road, at the start of the North branch of the Henderson's tram line, gradually up hill until we reach the North South track, which is the same route as the previous day, except in the opposite direction. At the junction we turn left and follow the North South track until the West branch of the Henderson tram line junction. It is a gentle descent until we arrive back at the Old Kaimai Road where we have a car shuttle. It should take us about 3 hours.
📌 Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.0-3.5 (overall)
🚩 These are the 5 important stopping points to note.:
👉 1) Hoatu Kaimua Lodge, 282 Old Kaimai Road, Lower Kaimai
(Where we stay for 2 nights, & initially meet)
https://tinyurl.com/4mhc9v5p
👉 2) 132 Barton Road, Okauia
(Where we start Saturdays hike)
https://tinyurl.com/2kmhrr6k
👉 3) 59-177 Old Kaimai Road, Lower Kaimai
(Where we finish Saturday's hike & start Sunday's hike)
https://tinyurl.com/3fcwepwe
👉 4) Tuakopae Stream Bridge, Old Kaimai Road, Lower Kaimai
(Where we finish Sunday's hike)
https://tinyurl.com/5n7jdffc
👉 5) Redoubt Bar & Eatery, 48 Broadway, Matamata
(Where we have Sunday lunch or snacks and drinks)
https://tinyurl.com/ycxekm4c
🚩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 $45 per night, which is a total of $90x 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 are necessary.
There are two large campground style bathrooms - one for men and one for women. There is a large kitchen, spacious lounge room with an amazing 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.
The lodge is fairly isolated and the nearest shops/supermarket is Matamata, which is 25 minutes drive. We plan to have a shared dinner on Saturday night. Please bring something as a contribution.
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.
If you plan to stay elsewhere (other than Kaimua lodge) please do not RSVP.
More information: https://www.hoatu.co.nz/
Time line (guide only)
📌 Friday: Arrive at lodge anytime between 15:00 and not later than 21:00. Arrival is up to you. If you would like to arrive a bit earlier than 15:00, then this should be okay - just let me know.
15:00 Earliest time to check in
19:12 Sunset
📌Saturday:
07:39 Sunrise
08:00 Leave lodge & drive to Barton Rd with some cars left at finish
08:30 All arrive at Barton Road
08:40 Introductions and briefing
08:45 Start hike
14:00 Finish hike
14:30 Collect cars at start
15:00 All back at lodge
18:30 Group dinner at lodge
19:12 Sunset
📌Sunday:
07:39 Sunrise
08:30 Pack up and leave some cars at lodge
08:40 Leave some cars at finish of hike
08:45 All at start of hike
08:50 Start hike
12:00 Approx finish hike
12:15 Retrieve cars from start
12:20 Drive to Matamata Redoubt Bar for Snacks and drinks
12:40 At Redoubt Bar
16:00 Approx arrive back in Auckland
19:12 Sunset
Other information:
🚩 Check list of items to bring: https://tinyurl.com/46dzr7tp
🚩 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 lodge, please bring to share with everyone - thank you.
🚩 Costs:
$45 to your driver - if passenger (based on 15c/km with 2 passengers)
$90 for 2 nights accommodation
$135 Total (More for extras such as food and drinks)
🚩 Payment: You will need make payment of $90 by 16th March. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank "Hiking Aotearoa" A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Please write as a reference "Kaimua" 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/3t6xvhdc
Thanks 😊
Russell
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