Mt Hikurangi, East Cape
When: 25-28 Jan 2019
Details have been finalised for this long weekend trip. Due to the travel time required, the bus will now leave on Friday 25th January at 10am.
Departure location:
10am Bus Garage, behind YMCA Akoranga Drive-
Park in Evelyn Street, off Sunnybrae Road
Return: Monday 29 January (approx 3-4pm)
Cost $210. Trip limit of 18 people in total, including a tent option for up to 10 (same price). Final payment due Thursday 17 January.
For additional detail please refer to the links below .
Mt Hikurangi (1752 metres) in the Raukumara Ranges is the tallest non-volcanic mountain in the North Island, and the first part of mainland New Zealand to greet the rays of the new day’s sun. It is a place of immense spiritual importance to the Ngati Porou people.
Friday: The drive to Te Araroa near East Cape (via Tauranga and Opotiki) will take about eight hours. We’ll spend the night at Te Araoa Holiday Park and Motel. Either sleep on the bus or tent if you want to.
Saturday: At 8.00 am drive to Ruatoria, then via Tapuaeroa Valley Road to Pakihiroa Station. The party will walk up to the Hikurangi hut, mostly over open farmland and takes about 5–6 hours. Yellow poles indicate the route. Just before the hut, we will encounter nine whakairo (carved sculptures) representing Maui and s family, erected to commemorate the new millenium. Options of tenting or staying in the hut. The hut sleeps 8–10 people and is described on one website as “very rustic”.
Sunday: Walks up to the summit (2 hours). The last 400 metres is a steep scree slope. If the weather is kind, the views will be spectacular, extending to Mt Ruapehu. Back to the drop-off point by 3.00 pm and return to Te Araroa camp. Options again of sleeping on the bus or setting up tent.
Monday: We drive back to Auckland, with one or two short stops along the way, depending on weather/interest.
Organiser: Chris Bilham 022 657 3837 / 551 7780 or email here
Bookings: Register via the website, or contact Karen Baeyertz ph 027 410 6001 or bookings@nstc.org.nz.
More information:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/east-coast/places/raukumara-conservation-park/things-to-do/mount-hikurangi-te-ara-ki-hikurangi/
https://webmail.xtra.co.nz/appsuite/api/mail/Mt%20Hikurangi%20Tramping%20Info.pdf?action=attachment&folder=default0%2FINBOX&id=257890&attachment=2&user=4&context=2156752&decrypt=&sequence=1&delivery=view
Weather Info:
Ruatoria:
http://www.metservice.com/rural/gisborne#!/ruatoria
Hikurangi Hut:
https://www.yr.no/place/New Zealand/Gisborne/Gisborne Canoe and Tramping Club Hut
Updated Maps (28/10/18) Online / Printable / GPS
To access the printable maps, download the zipped file, and either:
- open the zipped file, then drag the files to a new location OR
- press and hold (or right-click) the zipped file, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions
NZ Topo50 Maps:
- BE44 Te Puia Springs (includes Mt Hikurangi)
- BD45 East Cape
- BF45 Maru Point (Tolaga Bay)
