This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper in December 2001
Takapu Road - Belmont Trig - Petone
8 September 2001
As Michael said, this was a medium grade trip "with conditions". Soon after we had climbed the track over Outer Town Belt from Grenada North to Horokiwi Road, the "medium-plus" part of the tramp began. WCC owns a block of land managed as part of Belmont Regional Park, between Horokiwi Road and Korokoro Stream True Right branch. It begins as a strip about 50m wide running east from the road. It is not fenced at the road edge. After about 280m along the strip in pasture, gorse and regenerating bush, the main part (1.3km x 0.7km) of the block begins.
We descended the gully, avoiding several small waterfalls on their True Right and enjoyed the picturesque forest with numerous nikau. Then, a short distance before Baked Beans Bend, came the challenge of the trip. We had to bypass a tall waterfall on its true right*. To help our descent, we used a 6mm nylon line, with hand loops tied in it at intervals. The first part was down a rocky notch with numerous rock and root hand-holds, then finally across and down a steep, loose, clay/shingle slope. Two hours after leaving Horokiwi Road we celebrated our success with lunch in the sun at Baked Beans Bend.
We tramped up the scenic True Right branch of Korokoro Stream to Horokiwi Bridleway and climbed it, getting ever- more extensive views to Belmont Trig (457m). After scroggin on the wind-swept summit, we walked through another lovely forest from the Stratton Street track to Oakley Street. Sunlight filtering through the canopy made the tree trunks, nikau palms, shrubs and vines look their best.
Finally we walked from the end of Acacia Avenue down through "Jasmine Grove" Reserve, via the track near "sugarloaf", to George Gee Drive, then from Te Whiti Grove Park down Galbraiths Gully to Korokoro Road, three minutes from Petone Station.