25. Ngapurua – Puketotara – Tieke Kainga (TMM 5) – Pipiriki (Jetboat)

Tuesday, March 5: Cloud and fog to begin with becoming hot & sunny

Tramping: 11.8 km

Whanganui River Adventures, Pipiriki Campground 2522 Pipiriki Raetihi Road, Pipiriki 4576 (shared cabin, $25)

Sleep was very interrupted last night; the camera switched itself off when the battery was low and I hauled it inside; even so it took a while to get to sleep.

But I was up pretty much on the dot of 7:00, and everything packed away quickly so that I could get on the go by 8:40. Tried capturing the kilometre posts and I knew I was doing about 4 km/h. The crash site of a Vampire jet plane which remained lost for many a year was passed. The Caves were well signed and I thought that a detour would be admissible, and saw and photographed one cave with stalactites. Track condition was variable, but there were a few more markers today. One big new slip even had danger signs on it and was taped off, but by this time no more kilometre posts could be found.

Pretty much on three hours into this I arrived at the final hut. Time to finish one water bottle completely, and for a couple of brackets of the track before leaving it. Just as I got over the hill, Ruapehu made another callout and had to be photographed one last time. I left the hut on the dot of 12:00, stopped once or twice for some shots of the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge and Tieke Kainga marae as they came into view. The final section is over some farmland, with pigs, sheep, and cows attending.

Slide Show

Down at the bottom just before 1:00, I decided to have a look around and walk along the shore to the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge jetty and call across to Boyd, but no one answered. Was in the middle of photographing some fossil shells when one jetboat from Whanganui River Adventures zipped past and appeared to stop (although I suspect it didn’t) then I hurried back & moved my pack to a more prominent position and sat in the shade nitpicking. Tried some more fossil photography, two o’clock neared, another jetboat from Whanganui River Adventures zipped by and was waved at; then just on 2:15 the boat meant for me turned up with three mountain bikers on board.

Once seated we got going again, interesting to experience the timelapse in real life for once, also interesting the maneuvers necessary to get the boat down the rapids on one piece. Towards the end we overtook a couple of Canadians, the last few on the rapids, so there was no slowing down. Once here & my pack lifted off the boat, was offered a lift up to the reception where I put the wallet back into commission. Was a little unsettled by being greeted with both first and surname, and it took me a while to figure out why. Anyway, had a free coffee while I waited for everything to get sorted out, then an apple and was shown around the place. Very pretty campsite, way off the beaten track, and perhaps another chance for some star photos.

Interactive Map

Very slowly getting things organised. Have a bed in the shared cabin, at the moment with no sharers. One German woman Kristin has her camper on the camping green and is emptying it. Have decided I’ll go for a microwavable pie with rice and peas for dinner, let’s see about breakfast. On my way to the lounge was waylaid a bit by Sheneil who admitted to being a Treanor, and hence the unusual greeting. A can of fanta ($2.5) later and am beginning to think clearly once again. The reception area is plastered with newspaper cuttings of various adventures, including Sheneil’s grandad (Thomas) conquering the Matemateaonga as a boy in gumboots more than half a century ago.

Won’t wash the clothes here – not worth it – but hung up the sleeping bag to air and as soon as I have cooked dinner I will have a shower and put on at least some fresh (!) undies, sox, and the sleeping gear.

Dinner was a mince & cheese pie ($3.5) heated in the microwave – quite tasty – and the remains of the peas with a portion of rice, all liberally salted and doused with butter. Real food tomorrow. Our hostess (Josephine, Sheneil’s mum) was doing the rounds with some new arrivals, when she commented on the fact that there was abandoned food in the fridge, a piece of which was a cup of yoghurt. I needed no further invitation.

What a way to go! It takes a bit of oomph! but it can be done. And now on to the last mountain.