Bridges and bush in the Ruapehu
The call went out early for wet weather gear, a change of clothing and horror of horrors, umbrellas.
Fortunately, this Rāhina our planned walk was a new section of the Te Hangāruru trail between Pōtākākā Road and Horopito and mostly in bush.
It was slightly disconcerting to find the signpost to Horopito pointing in the opposite direction to the settlement but we obediently followed the groomed gravel path which led to an underpass and sturdy shelter where the track took a U-turn and we were happily walking the ‘right’ way. A necessary safety deviation to avoid crossing the North Island Main Trunk Line which runs parallel to long sections of the route.
We crossed bridges, more than twenty counted. Some metal, some wooden boardwalk style crossing wet areas, and others passing over larger streams.
We even saw one half completed waiting, trackside in reserve.
Initially, tall and straight avenues of mānuka and open foliage bordered the trail.
Soon we entered the moist and darker section of the bush. Moss of many shades of green and yellow clung to the living and dead trunks.
Young and old tōtara and rimu were living here. The track dipped down and after a sharp corner revealed a beautiful suspension bridge.
‘Ten people at a time only’, the signed warned. We took turns to lean over watch and listen to the great Mangaturuturu River thunder over boulders and swirl around the bank.
Slips further down river showed the effect of its fast current.
The 30-metre-long bridge required helicopter work and abseilers to cross the span.
There was a short easy climb to a fenced section of track where we looked out over the river to a waterfall.
We had crossed a stream earlier with a huge rock seeming to partially occlude its outfall.
From the viewpoint we could see the rock was shaped like an upright heart and the water was tumbling down from the gap into the river below.
Surprisingly this impressive and beautiful waterfall was man-made in the 1950’s.
The track wended its way to another suspension bridge where we found an intriguing short tunnel with a bricked roof and a possibly concrete floor running underneath.
The trail emerged from the bush onto a wide gravel road. Harder on the joints but many enjoyable sights.
We saw alpacas, a metal dragonfly sculpture and houses and lodges built to reflect their owner’s penchant.
After several kilometres we came to the treasure trove known as Smash Palace AKA Horopito Motors.
Cars of many vintages are kept until each piece is used and much of what appears as rust was apparently caused by paint being stripped off as a side effect from chemicals from the Mt Ruapehu eruption.
We backtracked to Pōtākākā Road, full of admiration for iwi, government and council funders and all the volunteer bike groups who have worked to complete this section of the Mountains to the Sea- Ngā Ara Tūhono Great Ride shared trail.
Umbrellas still unfurled we bundled back into the vans, just as the heavens opened and the rhythmic sound of windscreen wipers battling the rain lulled us all the way home.
Next Monday we are looking for farming relics, fingers crossed for a fine day. If you would like to join us or for more information search Taupo Monday Walkers on Facebook, or email walkersmondaytaupo@gmail.com
