A photo and a map illustrating this article were published in Tararua Tramper July 2025, p.17
Spurred By Curiosity
Wednesday June 18
In April this year, on a trip with David McNabb and John Dement in Kaitawa Scenic Reserve northeast of Waikanae (Tararua Tramper, May 2025), we encountered red markers that directed us down the spur past the Lodestar plane crash. My curiosity was tweaked... where did the markers continue on to?
On this frosty morning I allowed myelf a tuatara-ish prolonged break in warming sun at the comms tower on Field before heading into the cool forest. Once down the aforementioned spur, I travelled downstream about ten minutes before spotting another red marker, accompanied by pink tape, on the TL. The ascent out of that first watercourse required bush mountaineering skills to get up the steepish, loose-rocked slope. As it transpired, all the descents from and ascents up to the spurs on the day had steep challenging aspects and required care and attention.
On the crest of the next spur there is a visible travel pad. Travelling NW on that spur, an unexpected experience confronted me - sun strike in the bush. Being just days away from the winter solstice, the sun came through the canopy at a low angle. I missed the change of direction off the spur indicated by a single red marker, and had to do a short backtrack to begin the descent in to the next watercourse. The markers lead down to a fork of Waikanae River headwaters – an attractive levelish terrace with mostly punga trees. The final ascent to the next spur followed the general NE direction of the day's route, and met up with an overgrown logging road I followed back to the main Field access road, and hence down to the top of Hadfield Road.
This is a short adventurous, spur-focused day trip, ideally suited to the limited daylight of winter. The elevation changes rising to and descending from the spur crests are not significant, but the nature of the immediate terrain at times requires off-track travel confidence. Acknowledgement must be paid to the unknown person who marked the route; for whatever initial purpose. It is an example of using bush nous to offer an opportunity to entice others into new challenges. - Bill Allcock