📌Maratoto Valley (2 nights)

Join us from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd November for an action-packed weekend exploring the rugged history and dramatic landscapes of the Maratoto Valley. Based out of Dicksons Holiday Park just north of Thames, this expedition dives deep into a region rich with gold-mining heritage, where fascinating relics still wait to be discovered beneath the regenerating native bush.

The adventure kicks off with an optional Friday warm-up hike up Karaka Hill behind the Thames township, followed by a thrilling Saturday trekking through the McBrinn Stream mining area and tackling the steep, rewarding climb up the iconic Maratoto Rock. We wrap up the weekend on Sunday with a final hike out to the historic Volunteer Mine—the only operation in the entire valley to successfully turn a profit.

While regular participants are given priority, newcomers are absolutely welcome and encouraged to sign up. However, please note that this is a full-weekend event; only RSVP if you intend to stay and participate in the Sunday hike. To ensure fairness for the whole group and keep trip logistics smooth, those who choose to drop out early may find it challenging to secure a spot on the "Going" list for future overnight trips.
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🚩 Summary of details:
📌Duration: Whole trip is 3 days and 2 nights;
📌Friday hike : Karaka Hill 2 hrs 15 min (5.3 km) - optional hike
📌Saturday hike :
(1) McBrinn stream 3 hrs 30 min (4.5km)
(2) Maratoto Rock return 3 hrs (2.5km)
📌Sunday hike : Volunteer mine 4hrs 15 min (5.3 km)
📌Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale,
Friday: 3.0
Saturday: 3.0
Sunday: 3.0
📌Max: 22 pax
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📌Maps:
Friday:
Karaka Hill loop https://tinyurl.com/2wfcnrb9
Hike starts at 16:00 and is optional
Saturday:
(1) McBrinn stream https://tinyurl.com/mr3kr5b3
Zoomed in map of mine workings:
https://tinyurl.com/bmb9r4e2

(2) Maratoto Rock https://tinyurl.com/99sdpzdw

Sunday: Volunteer mine https://tinyurl.com/3de4srkk
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🚩Time Guideline:
📌 Friday:
13:00 Leave Auckland (Approx)
14:00 Earliest time to check into Dicksons HP
15:00 Start Karaka hill track loop**
17:30 Finish hike
20:11 Sunset
** Karaka Hill track is optional and you can arrive any time on Friday

📌Saturday:
05:56 Sunrise
08:00 Leave HP
08:40 Arrive at start
08:50 Start hike
15:50 Finish both hikes
16:30 Arrive back at HP
18:30 Optional dinner at Gastonomics restaurant
20:10 Sunset

📌Sunday:
05:56 Sunrise
0x:00 Pack up and leave HP
08:30 Arrive at start
09:10 Start - Volunteer mine hike
13:30 Finish hike
14:00 Snacks and drinks in Paeroa
15:30 Drive back to Auckland
17:15 Approx arrive back in Auckland
20:10 Sunset
20:30 Please avoid arriving after this time
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🚩 These are the 5 important stopping points to note when driving:

👉1) Dickson Holiday Park, Victoria Street, Tararu, Thames
(Where we stay on Saturday nights)
http://bit.ly/2IAl0Lj

👉 2) Karaka Track, 501 Karaka Road, Thames
(Where we start & finish the Karaka hill hike on Friday)
https://tinyurl.com/4a2nshhu

👉 3) 1037 Maratoto Road (Not road end)
(Where we start & finish both Saturdays and Sundays hikes)
https://tinyurl.com/3jxwrxay

👉 4) Gastronomics, 428-430 Pollen Street, Thames
(Where we have optional dinner on Saturday night)
http://bitly.ws/Ig93

👉 5) One3One Cafe & Bar, 131 Normanby Road, Paeroa
(Where we have optional drinks and snacks on Sunday)
https://tinyurl.com/3up9fj6e
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🚩Accommodation:
We will stay Saturday night at "Dicksons holiday Park" just north of Thames, at Tararu. They have have a mixture of dorms, cabins, caravan and a 'flat'. The cost per person varies depending which option you have. Please read the RSVP questions for details regarding the rooms/cabins that have been booked.
If you plan on staying elsewhere then please do not RSVP.
Prices vary for the various beds.
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🚩 Payment: Make payment of between $80 to $147. Please refer to future comments for bed allocation and costs. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank Hiking Aotearoa A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Write "Maratoto" and your reference name that is the same as your Meetup name. Please make payment by the by 27th October. However do not make payment before beds have been allocated.
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🚩Check list of Gear: https://tinyurl.com/2eh2ajey
🚩 Metvuw rain forecast : https://goo.gl/9zpzs9
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🚩Costs:
Passengers need to give to their driver:
$40 - if one passenger (based on 10c/km)
$25 each if 2 passengers (based on 10c/km)
$80 to $147 - 2 nights accommodation
$145 to $227 Approx Total

🥂🍔🍗 We have an optional dinner on Saturday night at "Gastronomics" in Thames. Menu: https://gastronomics.co.nz/menus#dinner

🚩Please answer the RSVP questions:
https://tinyurl.com/ymmpcnc6