Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
end, when you follow a track into the
Chilly Stream gully
and are faced with a 10-minute
climb out, just before emerging at the farm where you find your accommodation, the
Sta-
ging Post
.
Day 3: The Staging Post to Ngaroma
4-6 HOURS, 12.3KM, 429M ASCENT, 449M DESCENT
The third morning begins with a short van ride taking trampers north on SH1 to the start of
the track. The usual departure is 9am, but if it appears you're in for a hot and sunny day you
might consider an earlier start. All the uphill walking is completed in the first two hours,
which is always easier in the cool of the morning.
From the trailhead you immediately climb through a pine plantation over a ridge but
within 1.5km descend into Buntings Bush Gully. This conservation area is a rich forest com-
pared to the farmed pines and features huge podocarps, including one totara big enough to
be turned into a Maori war canoe. All too soon, however, you begin the long hike to the tus-
sock tops. Within 3.5km (one hour) of the start you reach
Heather's Bench
, overlooking the
Conway Valley, and after another 1km you're out of the trees for good, arriving at
Bruce's
Bench
. This bench, a huge split log overlooking a mountain panorama, almost commands
you to take a break, even if you're not tired.
You're now ridge-walking in the
Hawkswood Range
, by far the most scenic stretch of
the day. With views all around, you reach a saddle and are greeted with the Kaikoura coast
on the horizon, and then in another 500m you climb to
Skull Peak
(489m). At either point
you can see the Pacific in one direction and inland mountains in the other. From the peak
you can also see Skull Peak Shelter, 1km and a tussock gully away. The final climb to this
delightful lunch spot is gentle, and reached in two to three hours (7.5km) from SH1. Inside
the small hut there is water, a gas cooker for tea, and even a couple of mattresses for a post-
lunch nap. Outside there are benches and stunning views.
The second half of the day is all downhill. You steeply descend along a 4WD track for
more than 1km, losing much of the height you worked so hard to gain before lunch. You re-
turn to a walking track at the Back Paddock and, 2.5km from the shelter, re-enter native
bush when you descend to Possum Drive, the reason there's a 'Cow Bar' across the track.
Over the final 2km of the day you cross a couple of bridges - one labelled 'Muddy Butt
Bridge' because it's at the bottom of a long slippery slope - and cut through several pad-
docks complete with grazing sheep. Ngaroma is reached two hours (4.8km) from the shelter.
