Head to Kuataika Track car park on Anawhata Road. We start off over the fence and through a paddock (often accommodated by cows) with a pretty good view and we follow the discreet marker poles. Soon enough we reach a gate, that we pass through and the orangegy brown clay track reveals itself. This track is easily wide enough for a quad bike and also pretty steep in parts too. It winds its way down and even offers the occasional grand view of the valley below.
After about half an hour we reach the Anawhata Stream. We cross this and now we climb upwards again and its pretty much as steep (if not steeper) than the part of the track we had just come down. Once we get to about the original height that we started off on, the track heads downwards again. After another half hour we reach the Kuataika Stream (the Kuataika Track continues straight across). Here we head left, down stream. From here we rock hop a bit, and make our way over some small rapids. It’s not too long before we reach our first small waterfall with an inviting pool which we make our way down to the side. There are a couple more that we come across as well. Afterwards we find that the bank on either side of the stream is flat and we can make our way down the side. As one side gets too thick with bush we cross over to the other side and alternate our way down.
There are plenty of great spots to stop, so once our tummies were rumbling we stopped for lunch of epicure cheddar & zucchini pickle sarnies. Continuing on, we check our GPS to see actually passed where the Cannibal Creek joined without noticing this must have happened whist walking inland a wee bit avoiding some of the thick growth that surrounds the stream in parts. After the stream and creek join, there are parts when you need to wade through the stream as the growth, including plenty of cutty grass is too dense on either side. Keeping balance can also be a wee bit tricky around this bit too as the rock underneath slopes down steeply on both sides. Soon enough the bush dissipates and there is a bit of rock & boulder hopping. Then we are treated to some beautiful waterfalls with some lovely inviting warm pools (the warmest that I’ve swam in yet). One of the waterfalls had lots of cool green slimey mossy stuff too.
After about 2 3/4 hours or so on the Kuataika Stream we reach Pareoha Bay. The beach which is quite beautiful , but the sea is very rough with lots of rock , so we keep to the water holes at the base of the waterfalls for our cooling off. We had a bit of an explore about and even climbed up the rock to the left in the direction of Anawhata, but after we gained a bit of height we were stopped in our tracks by an abundance of gorse & cutty grass. So we headed back to the stream again. After a bit more swimming, climbed back up the waterfalls and made our way back the way we came.
On our return journey up the stream we passed the junction to the Cannibal Creek and also an unmarked stream as well. We kept to the right & kept a close eye on the GPS to keep us in the right direction. After about another 2 3/4 hours we’re back where the Kuataika Stream met the Kuataika Track And we headed right and made our way back to the car another hour later. Total tramp time was about 7 ½ hours.
Level of Difficulty
Moderate
Time
7.5 Hours (Summer 2013)
UA-33242843-1
Kuataika Track, Anawhata Road, Anawhata Stream, Kuataika Stream, waterfalls, cannibal creek, rock and boulder hopping, pareoha bay,