South Wairarapa Tramping Club – Ngahau trip

Looking across the Wairarapa valley at morning tea time

Fourteen keen trampers converged at a farmhouse along a road east of Pirinoa. We were all looking forward to a farm and bush walk in completely new territory.

First we were led by Ann on what was a short but exciting steep down-and-up 4 wheel drive farm track – the Big Dipper. We left two vehicles at the end of our tramping route, and drove the rest on to the beginning, a couple of kilometres away.

The ranges on the far side of  the Wairarapa valley were cloaked in white misty clouds, which we hoped would remain in the west, the cloud level being much higher for us in the east. We set off over farmland, climbing up to a grassy slope where we had morning tea, overlooking Lakes Onoke and Wairarapa.We then climbed about 300m up a ridge of the southern extension of the Aorangi Range, to an altitude of about 500m. Cloud obscured the usually  visible  South Island, but there were good views of Palliser Bay, the lakes, and up along the Tararua range. Crossing cloud and rain showers provided great contrasts of lights on the mountains.

At this stage we could see moisture-laden clouds moving in our direction, so we investigated the bush to the right to find a sheltered grassy spot just over the fence between farm and Aorangi Forest Park to have our lunch.  The 6 wire fence was conveniently lying on the ground, so very easy to cross!

We walked cautiously down another firebreak track, extremely steep in places  –  we were very glad it hadn’t rained, as that would have made the track dangerously slippery. When we reached the farmland,   we took the longer bush and stream option, enjoying bird calls, clematis in flower, natural moss and tree trunk “sculptures”, and historical information provided by Ann.

Finally back at the 2 vehicles, while one member of the party thought all 14 of us could fit in, 5 of us who weren’t feeling enough like sardines, chose to cross several paddocks up to where we had thought Ann had said the other vehicles would be, only to find that we had misunderstood, and while we could see the vehicles, they were in the far distance! So we had a bonus walk, trying not to disturb some ewes whose lambs had crossed through a fence and were all baa-ing frantically.

A cup of tea at the farmhouse rounded off a great day of interesting tramping through different terrain, and we were grateful to Ann for leading the trip.

SWTC welcomes new members! Phone or email Ed and Juliet Cooke 304 9497, efjac@xtra.co.nz, if you are interested in joining the club for an outing, or just want a bit more information. Check out our website and Facebook page.