Old
Wires Track - Maratoto Wentworth Valley
Trip report by Jo & Graham Brooks
Trip dated: October 30 - 2005
Old Wires Track - Maratoto - Wentworth Valley (Sunday 30th October 2005)
This was our first tramp with the ACTC. Even-though we had been on a previous
activity which involved snow and skis rather than hiking boots We were still
not counted as members as two tramps are required to be allowed to join this
elite club of people! We may have been able to ski but could we take the pace
on foot with this fit bunch of people?! Our friend Jen who introduced us to
the club joined us on the tramp.
So up with an early start for a Sunday morning we were picked up from Takanini
after making our way there from Waiuku.
Ken parris drove the very smart new bus and skilfully made his way up the narrow
metalled road to the start of the Wires Track. He then made his way with two
other trampers to the other end of this linear walk where they walked into the
Wentworth Valley to meet us hopefully halfway.
We commenced our walk amongst fields but soon entered the thick bush. It was
great to be with people who knew the native names for some of the interesting
flora and fauna in the bush. We saw wild orchids and some unusual looking lichen.
We saw several of the old telegraph poles that give the track its name and at
one point the track climbed using the hand-cut water gullies left over from
the mining days. At 1 to 1.5m deep that was a lot of work for some poor soul.
We were never teased because we were a single backpack couple much to the envy
of the other trampers who said we should each carry a load! However it was a
blessing in the end because we were able to relieve one of the trampers of their
load when she became injured.
It was a beautiful sunny day and we were thankful for the peace afforded us
by the 4WD track that runs through the area still being closed. We met up with
the other half of our party soon after lunch and they had increased in number
by 1 - a very friendly dog in need of a good walk. We stopped off in Paeroa
for some grub and arrived back at Takanini late but tired.