This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 93, no 6, July 2021
Rata Street loop and beyond E/M
26 May 2021
The original intention was to ascend through the Rata Street Loop Track to the NZED road at the top of the eastern hills of the Hutt Valley and hike south to descend the Wilkie Cres track. On beginning a reconnaissance of the Wilkie Cres track, we decided to eliminate it from the trip, as the rock surface was far too slippery.
The intention on the day was to ascend from the Rata Street Loop Track and descend via the Te Whiti Riser. The day was very pleasant and progress was good. On reaching the top of the Summit Road track we had lunch, having noticed a sign close by for the 'Waddington Winder' track. Curiosity got the better of most of us, and it was agreed to split the group, three descending via the Te Whiti Riser to their cars and bike, while the rest tried out this 'new' track.
The Waddington Winder turned out to be a reasonably well-established, partly fresh-cut track. The lower half was undeveloped and sometimes slippery. We came across a tree planter who told us that work on the undeveloped section had to be stalled because a falcon was nesting on the proposed route. This new track is a real asset but I would recommend traversing it upwards in damp weather.
- Party members
- Diana Barnes, Alan Benge, Hadley Bond (leader and scribe), Elizabeth Bridge, Daphne Dashfield, Michele Dickson, Julia Fraser, Carol Kelly, Lois Kluger, Lynne Pomare, Alison & Bill Stephenson, Peter Whiteford, Rosemary Wilson, (all members), Bill Black, Annie Van Herck, and Robert Tredger (visitors and potential members).