Waitomo & Leitch’s Hut: Whareorino forest
13th-15th November 
Easy Medium
Leaves Como Street; Friday 6.00pm
Tents to be carried!
Topo map BF31 & BF32
Cost: $140 - $20 deposit on booking please
This is the third attempt we have had to visit this area, so we have turned it into a mini weekend to allow us to see a bit more with daylight saving. Leitch’s Hut is our main aim of this little adventure and 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). You will pass through farmland, regenerating bush and see stands of Tawa, Kamahi, Hinau, Rewarewa and the odd Kahikatea on the way to the hut. This is a very popular area to visit, so you will need to carry a tent as the hut may be full!
Friday; We head to Waitomo for a night’s accommodation staying at the Hamilton Tomo club hut 155 Te Anga Road. https://www.htg.org.nz/accommodation
Saturday morning early start which will allow us to do a few tourist things first visiting,
Manapohue natural earth bridge, about 20 min,
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/mangapohue-natural-bridge-walk/
Piripiri cave, about 10 min,
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/piripiri-cave-walk/
and the Marokopa falls, about 20 mins.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/marokopa-falls-walk/
Ruakuri walk, about 45 min,
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/ruakuri-walk/
All short walks are in the same area.
We then head to Leitch Road and drop party 1 at the entrance to Leitch’s track, this route is the shortest and easiest way to Leitch’s Hut, expect about 2 to hours of easy tramping and you also have the option of returning via this route on Sunday. 16 bunks 1 x blue hut ticket.
Party 2 and the bus will then head to the start of the Mahoenui track which follows the Awakino river to Leitch’s Hut to set up camp, expect about 4 hours tramping. 16 bunks 1 X blue hut ticket.
Sunday Party 1 carries on to the bus at the end of the Mahoenui track and party 2 heads back to Leitch’s road end and waits for the bus before returning to Takapuna.
Organiser: Chris Peard 021 277 0270
Driver:
Gear List: NSTC Gear List.pdf
