Ruahine Ranges - From the East!
 

October 23rd dawned and three excited 4TC trampers headed over the Bombay hills at 6.30 a.m. Never having been into the Ruahine Ranges from the Eastern side this was going to be a new experience. Steve missed the trip to Taupo - he was catching up on some beauty sleep in the back seat. Coffee and breakfast was a welcome sight at Taupo McDonalds…

Arriving at the start of the track, at 2.30 p.m. it was good to see only one other car in the carpark, knowing Sunrise Hut is a popular spot. We started up the well benched, metal track to Sunrise Hut (someone has done a heap of work on this track!), stopping regularly to catch our breath and read the numerous Norsewear signs along the way. It was good to see the mistletoe growing on some of the trees and interesting to read about Shuteye Shack - where a horse carrying building materials to Buttercup Hollow collapsed and died.

At Sunrise Hut it didn’t take us too long to get the supplied gas going for a nice hot cuppa. We had a relaxed evening, keeping warm by the gas fire, watching the sun go down. It was quite a windy evening and I now know why the toilet has been tied down on all four corners… the door also has a weight pulley “thingy” on it! I tell you… it wouldn’t have been a pretty sight if the wind got any worse. The sign on the door says to “Keep it Shut”.. it was a struggle to ‘get it open’!!!??

Track between Sunrise -
Top Maeropea

Sunrise Hut

Sunrise at Sunrise Hut is well worth getting up for… even if I didn’t have any company?? The wind had died right down and after a relaxed breakfast we headed off to Top Maropea Hut, over Armstrong Saddle, so named after Hamish Armstrong, who’s Gypsy Moth crashed here in 1935 and he was never found. Only having 1½ hours between the two huts, we took our time and enjoyed the views across to Mt Ruapehu & Mt Ngauruhoe. Spending the afternoon relaxing in the sun, reading our books and (me) catching up on some lost sleep – bliss!

Next day we headed back down past Sunrise to Waipawa Forks Hut, beside the Waipawa River. A lovely spot. The rain began at around 5.30 a.m. the next morning, soon after we headed off to cross the river and get out of the Ranges before the predicted heavy rain arrived. Luckily, we managed to change the flat tyre on my car, before the torrential rain obliterated the ranges. Breakfast at the Tikokino Hotel Cafe of Bacon, Eggs, Sausages, Hash Browns, Tomato, Toast and coffee, was YUMMY!!!! A perfect end to a great trip! Cast: Claire, Steve and Noel

Written by:  Claire Marshall

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