{"id":1174,"date":"2019-09-03T13:00:16","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T12:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leetraynor.com\/blog.multi\/kiwi7\/?p=1174"},"modified":"2026-03-28T01:47:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T00:47:12","slug":"32-lake-dive-waiaua-gorge-amc-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leetraynor.com\/blog.multi\/kiwi7\/?p=1174","title":{"rendered":"32. Lake Dive \u2013 Waiaua Gorge (AMC 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tuesday, March 12: Clear skies overnight with mixed cloud returning during the day<\/p>\n

Tramping: 9.3 km<\/p>\n

Waiaua Gorge Hut (Doc, $15)<\/p>\n

Venus was very low as the morning star, and the sunrise was almost photographable. When I had my stuff together I took off for the lake to take photos of the reflections of Fantham\u2019s Peak. Quite a day for photos today \u2013 at least while I was walking \u2013 as the sun shone through a little.<\/p>\n

Took the climb at a very measured pace (was still sweating) and was surprised to be at the turnoff after just an hour. A ten-minute break was necessary here before I took off around the mountain. Fairly easy to begin with, then the ravines became more and more daunting and difficult to cross. Got some good photos anyway. This took a good two hours, and the final part was around the base of some basaltic flutes, just like Madeira, but somewhat drier. The track, however, was shot to bits, and care was required. After a while I could see where the route went down a ridge and decided on lunch in the sun on the ridge at just after 12:00.<\/p>\n

Slide Show<\/h5>\n
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Click on the image to stop\/start the animation<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I now thought I would make the next hut by 2:00 (which I did) and if Holly Hut was given as less than five hours I would continue on, as the track would be afternoon dry (and not morning dew wet, and possibly wetter if rain is on the program tomorrow). There was no track down to Brames Falls, so all I could catch were a couple of distant shots before the alternative (low) track \u2013 Taungatara \u2013 rejoined. From now on everything seemed fine, with ferns obviously zappered and orange triangles everywhere. Then there was a descent to the valley floor and across the unbridged stream. No alternative to getting the boots full of water, at least in this case I didn\u2019t fall in.<\/p>\n

Then \u201cThe Ladder\u201d, quite a feat of engineering. The hut was now just around the corner. And it does have a green roof, so I had been able to see it from the lunchtime saddle. However, Holly Hut was signed as nine hours, so that was out of the question.<\/p>\n

OpenStreetMap<\/h5>\n
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Up the mountain, and down again. GPS quality: 30\/30, coverage: 100%<\/p>\n

  • Buy Lake Dive to Waiaua Gorge GPS: \u20ac1<\/a><\/li>\n

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    Once here, wet boots and sox were stripped off, the sox washed with ordinary soap, as well as the feet, which were then put into fresh sox. Trousers were dried on me. Some wood was transferred from one of the Russian suitcases to the wood store under the deck to allow them to dry. (Three of these with what appears to be a delivery date of March, 2018, and each with about a tonne of firewood are lying outside exposed to the elements.) Then the floor was swept, half a table and a workspace were cleared for use \u2013 curious thing here is that the internal sinks have no water supply \u2013 only the two external ones. Wood was prepared with the splitter for tonight\u2019s fire, and I may well sleep in the kitchen again.<\/p>\n

    Gigantic bunkrooms here \u2013 must be at least for 16 people each. Mountain doesn\u2019t look like it\u2019ll put on a show. Tried breaking up a very used soap bar to clean the billy and bowl with. Worked OK. About the only thing people have left here was some salt I gratefully filled up my salt shaker with.<\/p>\n

    Set the declination on the compass and the positions map nicely: 48° to the Sisters and 65° to Fantham\u2019s Peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Where<\/td>\nWhen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Leave Lake Dive<\/td>\n8:40<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Lunch Break<\/td>\n12:00-12:20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Arrive Waiaua Gorge Hut<\/td>\n14:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n