****This trip is cancelled and will be reschduled next year.
Whareorino Forest: Leitch’s Hut (16 Bunks) 15th – 16th of August
Winter end is near? Easy mini weekend tramp.
1 x Standard blue DOC hut ticket needed but tents to be carried, this is a non- bookable hut and popular area for locals and hunters.
Leaving Como Street Saturday 15th August 8.00 am
Arriving at the track head at about 11.30am – 12.00pm
There are several tracks to Leitch’s Hut, but we will take Leitch’s track which is the shortest and easiest track to the hut for the night - 8.5 km 3hr tramp.
Leitch’s Hut is situated on a grassy flat on the side of the Awakino River, the site of Sam Leitch’s old residence, a soldier from WW1 who won the ballot to farm this isolated area now part of the Whareorino Forest (Western King Country).
On the way we will pass through farmland, regenerating bush and see stands of Tawa, Kamahi, Hinau, Rewarewa and the odd Kahikatea.
Upon arriving at Leitch’s Clearing we will organize our gear and then explore a little of the Mahoenui track which follows the Awakino River.
Within the Whareorino Forest there are protected areas where Archeys Frog (Leiopelma archeyi) can be found. Archeys Frogs are evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered amphibian species. If we are lucky as I was in the Coromandel we may spot one.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/whareorino-conservation-area/things-to-do/leitchs-hut/
Sunday 16th we will tramp back to the bus and allow enough time to make a short side trip to the Manapohue natural earth bridge and the Piripiri cave both in the Waitomo district, before we return to Takapuna.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/mangapohue-natural-bridge-walk/
Costs $70.00 per member (exclusive of your own hut ticket)
Organiser: Chris Peard
Ph: 021 277 0270
Drivers: Arletta/ Chris
Maps:
