Our high level alpine trip was well supported with 18 turning up & good weather.

We walked from the Plateau via ski field to Tahurangi lodge. Taking the higher route back to Warrick’s Castle, under the Policeman, then a traverse above the Maunganui Bluffs to gain Priest’s Fingers on Curtis ridge then back down the ridge to our cars at the Plateau.

We had great views with some cloud & a breeze keeping things cool. Some of us stopped off at the Mountain House for a well earned drink!

A great ridge loop walk was had in perfect conditions by 4 trampers and a dog to “Kowhata”, a 1000 acre sheep/beef and manuka hill country block.

We drove 25 minutes meandering along the Waitotara Valley to our destination beginning our walk at 9.30am. Access to the property was via a swing bridge up to the old homestead and then across the paddock to the wool shed, and then we began our ascent up the first hill. We then veered left to go up onto what was once an airstrip.

We then headed down hill and then back up again into an area of the farm that is not farmed and has wild beef cattle running around on it and plenty of goats. We came across 3 wild bulls on the track that thankfully high tailed it out of sight not to be seen again. We took in the 360-degree views at the top and then stopped for lunch in the bush line before our descent down. We had heard and seen 2 motorbikes on the airstrip in the distance not thinking that they would make it to where we were, on our sometimes steep downward track heading back. But surprisingly they did appear and caught up with us. We had a bit of a chat to the guys on their adventure bikes (my husband and a friend) then we all carried on down the track to the bottom and back over the swing bridge to the vehicle to finish off with a nice cold beer and kombucha.

It was a 10km walk which took us 3 hrs. Enjoyed by Al Barkla, Kathryn Jones, Helen Cooper, Michelle Meyer, Ginny and adventure bikers Michael Meyer and Kevin Ford.

Michelle Meyer