Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the Kohi Saddle car park, a large sign marks the beginning of the track. Begin by climb-
ing through regenerating bush along a spur, towards the crest of the
Matemateaonga
Range
. Within 30 minutes you move into a thick forest of kamahi and tawa, the dominant
feature for the rest of the tramp.
The track eventually becomes a 3m-wide trail as it follows the remains of the original
dray road that was cut all the way to Pouri Hut. Sidle the narrow Tanawapiti Valley and fol-
low it to the signposted junction with
Puniwhakau Track
(right), 1½ hours from the car
park.
At the junction the Matemateaonga Track reaches the crest of the range. It continues east
(left fork), then north, descending easily for 30 minutes. The track levels out at a small
saddle, where Omaru Hut is in a clearing. The hut, featuring mattresses, a wood-burning
stove and rainwater tank, is surrounded by forest near the source of the Omaru Stream.
Day 2: Omaru Hut to Pouri Hut
5 HOURS, 13.3KM
The track heads southeast from the hut and continues in this direction practically the whole
day. At first it follows the southwestern slopes of the Matemateaonga Range, through thick
forest. After two hours you cross to the northern flank of the range; if the day is clear there
is an occasional glimpse of the three Tongariro National Park volcanoes through the trees.
The track, which is muddy in places, continues through the forest until it reaches a junction
with the trail (right) to the summit of Mt Humphries, 3½ hours from Omaru Hut. This
makes a good side trip if you have the time.
The track continues roughly southeast from the junction, and after 30 minutes or so
passes through
Humphries Clearing
, the site of the former Humphries Hut, an animal-con-
trol hut that was removed in 2000. It's another hour or so from this junction to Pouri Hut (12
bunks), in a large clearing at the end of the dray road.
SIDE TRIP: MT HUMPHRIES
1½ HOURS, 2KM RETURN, 100M ASCENT
Known to Maori as Whakaihuwaka - 'made like the prow of a canoe' - 732m
Mt
Humphries
is a rewarding side trip. From the top are excellent views of the King Country
around Waitomo to the north and Mt Taranaki to the west. On a clear day you can see three
national parks: Egmont to the west, Tongariro to the north and Whanganui at your feet.
