This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 85, no 3, April 2013
Overnight to Turere Lodge, Ōrongorongo Valley E
Wed Thur 27 28 Feb
Set off from Catchpool carpark at 10am on a lovely sunny morning. Nine ladies and two men, all members. Of this lot only two men and three ladies are staying over, the rest were there for the nice easy walk to the river for lunch and to have a look through the new Lodge which none had been to before. They seemed quite impressed.
In by just after 12.30 ready for our leisurely lunch, a cup of tea and a good look around. We dispatched our heavy packs in our quarters and headed down stream to look through the TTC Lodge (Waerenga) which again some had not seen since it has been restored. The day walkers headed home over Turere bridge, the three ladies who were staying over headed back to the Lodge and the gents carried on down stream to explore some of the private and DOC huts as well as the Research Station laboratory and house, then back to the lodge for a well earned cuppa. A huge Dixie of hot stew for evening meal outside in the cool, and some chocolate as a sweet, yummm. Outside until after 10 watching the full moon come up over Papatahi, just magnificent.
Next morning up to watch the sun come up in the same direction while having our breakfast. Pack up, clean up, we then headed upstream, hiding our packs in some bushes on the river bed. Explored Haurangi Lodge then back to pick up our packs and point out more huts on our way to Turere Stream where we had lunch. Headed out at around 1.30 passing three huge groups of school children heading in for a swim in the river. Out at Catchpool by 3pm. A very pleasant and leisurely trip had by all, a bit disappointing more didn't come as we had the entire lodge to ourselves (sleeps 32).
- Party members
- Brenda Neill, Diana Barnes, Margaret Foden, Carole Haigh, Lainey Cowan, Mary Cropp, Kath Kerr, Lois Hope, Syd Edwards (leader and scribe), John Foden, Barbara Ogilvie