Holiday day 5: Fourth Day on the Wangapeka Track.
The fourth day of the tramp was a short day of only 8.6 kilometers through some lovely South Island beech forest but also through some rough patches of unmaintained track.
Starting out in the morning
I decided to start the day wearing trousers while tramping for the first time to protect my legs from all the scratches I received yesterday from the hidden cutty grass, but after several hours it was just so hot I had to go back to shorts.
Brough's Tabernacle - remains of historic hut from 1898
Along the track there is a side track heading down a steep 100 meters with the Saxon Waterfall nearby, and we decided to go down and have a look at the waterfall as it was a short day – but it turned out that there was no easy safe way up to see the waterfall so we had a look at the wonderful view and then headed back up to the main track.
Below the Saxon Falls that we never saw
It was an hour diversion but provided us with some amazing views up along the valleys behind us including back up towards near the Wangapeka Saddle that we were at yesterday.
View below the Saxon Falls.
Not long after rejoining the main track Julianne had this huge dragonfly land on her outstretched finger, I have never seen someone so in touch with nature – this large beautiful dragonfly actually landed on her finger several times. This amazing experience became one of the highlights of the entire tramp for Julianne.
Julianne with a huge dragonfly on her finger
Also when we stopped for lunch we had several robin and a weka come and investigate us. So the whole time we ate we got to watch all these native birds - this is why I go tramping.
Two Friendly Robin
The rest of the day passed uneventful and unfortunately as I approach the Taipo Hut I spotted other people who were staying there as well. Three people who were heading in the same direction as us and then later 3 French people.
I had been getting used to having all the hut to ourselves so we can spread out and do what we like, and now we were surrounded by 6 other people with little space to put our stuff in the kitchen; we were just so lucky over the last 3 nights I guess. The bonus of having these people around is that if one of us gets hurt at least we know there is someone nearby which was a relief.
Julianne finally goes for a swim
I had got by my feet wet at each of the rivers near the previous huts but not got properly wet as the rivers were so cold, but today I was able to get myself fully under the river and have a good soak which was super nice to get clean and refreshed.
The view up towards the Lower Wanganui Saddle, tomorrow walk.