Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park – Thoughts on a Tramp on the Te Araroa Walkway
Day 1: Christchurch to Crooked Spur Hut
Away from Christchurch by 8.30
First stop Ashburton – toilet stop and coffee (counterproductive?)
Second stop Mt Peel – ditto
Third stop (and real start) – Rangitata River by Bush Stream
- lunch and pack weighing (how much?)
- farewell to Peter and the van
- crisscrossing up a fairly low Bush Stream
- too many clothes on!
- lovely varied rock colours and formations
- welcome break after an hour or so (lovely water to drink)
- zigzag or continue in stream?
- opt for stream
- good scrambling – no water higher than short bottoms
- large hebes
- another break by a lump of concrete ex swing bridge
- we go up THERE!!
- steep scramble from stream bed up a ridge (presumably Crooked Spur)
- lovely views back to Rangitata
- welcome view of hut
Fourth Stop – Crooked Spur Hut
- holes in the walls from the reused corrugated iron
- bunks re scrimmed recently
- Richard wisely(?) deciding to sleep in the tent
- joined by a hunter (Wayne) – gun probably an excuse to get out in the backblocks as animals seen close too but not fired at
- views around magnificent – don’t look at where we are going tomorrow!
- explore horse paddock and dog kennels
- water from nearby stream (hole in the hut water container)
- wood for fire wherever you can get it
- after dinner round the fire
- trivial pursuit questions from Stu
- time for bed
- ominous noises from scrim bunks followed by: a) hammering of reinforcement staples to hold the scrim and b) an opting to sleep on the floor by a number of the party.
Day 2: Crooked Spur Hut to Royal Hut
- disturbed night – lots of mice
- lovely sunrise – contemplated over breakfast
- farewell to Wayne
- away by 8.15
- steady climb up from behind the hut
- at first break claims by the Team Leader of rates of ascent that pilots would think were very acceptable
- highest point of the day reached before morning tea giving views of Stone Hut (“we’ll be there by lunch”)
- several Thar seen after morning tea
- wonderful big country
- snow grass can be difficult to walk through
- lunch by a pleasant stream ( though not all of us may think so)
- onwards after lunch
- is it going to rain? No only spots from the north west
- suddenly a track and bridge (over Bush Stream) leading to Stone Hut
- Wayne ( the hunter) nicely settled in
- 3pm time for a brew-up
- get going again towards Royal crossing and recrossing Bush Stream
- WET
- ditto to comments about snow grass but even worse in the rain
- after an age sign post saying that halfway there and STILL AN HOUR TO GO!
- thank goodness for someone’s sense of humour (!?)
- hut in view
- may have broken windows, no fuel for the fire and a door that needs a stone to keep shut on the inside but it was a royal welcoming sight after an 8 hour day
- toilet placed away from the hut – watch the stream getting to it
- after the first collection of water from Bush Stream extra supplies topped up from the gutter above the door
- rain heavier then lighter, then stars by bed time
- more trivial pursuits with variations
- snug in bed listening to the wind get up followed by the rain
- thank goodness I’m not team leader!
Day 3 – Royal Hut to Camp Stream Hut via Stag Saddle
- frosty morning with sprinkling of snow on the tops
- sunny day, you could watch the snow melt as the sun rose
- breakfast outside in the sun
- good gear drying stuff
- leisurely start and away by 9.15
- crisscrossing Bush Stream again
- steady climb followed by
- steep portion – morning tea
- plateau with Stag Saddle in view
- glorious panoramas of the peaks and valleys still looking towards the Rangitata
- on the saddle for lunch – cool breeze
- views the other way down to Tekapo and the Main Divide as well as back through the Bullock Bow saddle to Banks Peninsula
- promises of all downhill from now on (where have I heard that before?)
- off the rocks back into tussock
- Chamois heard but not seen
- magnificent enormous fantastic valley (with great views)
- competition to spot the next marker
- into another stream (Camp Stream) – my boots had almost dried
- where the hell is the hut?
- farm track in sight
- we go up there?
- lovely little hut
- down to the stream for water
- oh it was available closer!
- two opt for tents as only 6 bunks
- enjoyable evening with trivial pursuits and discussion around leadership round a good warm stove
- and so to bed under wonderful stars.
Day 4 – Camp Stream Hut to Christchurch
- some wind during the night
- lovely fine morning
- you told me the tent only weighed 1.6kg Stu when I carried it, why are you now claiming 3kg when you are carrying it (navel fluff?)
- drop from the hut back into Camp Stream just after 8
- crisscrossing again till we cross Coal River
- lovely shadows and colours as the sun changes on the tussocks and grasses
- from Coal River up the side of Round Hill
- views of Lake Tekapo, the Main Divide and tantalising glimpses of one of Aoraki’s faces (will it won’t it show – the answers no)
- there’s the ski field road and carpark
- no bus , we are early
- down the road – are those old or new tyre marks
- right decision taken as there is the bus at the gate and Peter on his way up with coffee and apples
- lunch at Tekapo and so home
A lovely few days that I really enjoyed. It is quite demanding at times and is a poled track only and in some places the poles are few and far between. A matter of following your nose. We were fortunate with the weather as apart from the musterers huts used overnight there is very little shelter.
Many thanks to my co-trampers for making this a memorable trip (and a first for the Club) – John Wisker (Leader), Jill Goddard, Mary Miller, Dave Collins, Greg Steer (we will see you back for more I hope), Stu McHugh and Richard Wisker.
Gavin Hampton – co-opted Scribe