Head to the Carpark opposite the small yellow sign for the
Kaitarakihi Track at the top the Kopu Hikuai Road on SH 25A.
Heading East, the sign will be on your left & the
Carpark on your right. This can be easy to drive past, there is space for a u
turn further ahead, if you over shoot – but can be pretty dodgy, good luck.
Even from the carpark across the road/highway, the track is
consealed and it looks like there the sign is just pointing into the side of
the hill with no track. Don’t worry the track is there .
The track starts out at the base of the sign and slopes
upwards. Straight away we find ourselves enclosed under the bush canopy. The
track is mostly overgrown and obscured and there are plenty of hidden tree
roots, vines & branches underfoot ready to trip up any unwary trampers.
There is also a bit of supple jack to contend with too. To add to the fun there
are plenty of branches & trees to climb over & under and as this track
has not been maintained for some time, there are plenty of markers missing so you
need to keep your eyes peeled. We found atleast 4 times, it seemed the track
had disappeared due to fallen trees over the track and then plenty of growth on
& around the fallen debris. You will need to keep your wits about you to
re-discover the route especially as there quite a few points where the track is
not defined.
About an hour into this meandering and undulating track we
pass the junction for the Devcich
Kauri Track on our right. It’s not long afterwards that we contemplate
morning tea. There was no real spot jumping out, but all our surroundings were
lovely & green with plenty of birdsong & there were an abundance of
sunbeams making their way though, so we stopped trackside for a cuppa along
with some Almonds & Dried Apricots.
Refuelled we carry on up & down veering left &
right, after close to 2 hours we get a view of the steep ominous Mt Kaitarakihi
ahead. After a bit more down, the track then heads upwards a tad more steeply
and soon enough we get to a really cool steep bit right up the rock face where
there are chains in place to help you hold on. Just after the top of the chains
is where you’ll get your best unobscured view looking south & westward. The
gradient then eases up a tad, but is still pretty steep. There are still a
couple of tricky scrambles up between rocks.
After another 15 minutes or so
upwards we reach the summit, this making it about 2 ¾ hours from starting out.
There is a sign here (but no trig) stating we’re at the summit & also the
Hihi track continues for 5 Hours. There is a small clearing, but up here we are
surrounded by trees except for a few trees cleared where you can look westward.
If you climb on top of the wobbly sign you get a bit of a cool view looking
East (It’ll take a bit of balance getting a pic). Instead of having lunch at
the summit we head back down and stop at the best viewpoint about a minute
above the chain. Here we kick back & tuck into our well deserved
Beetroot, Feta, Mushroom & salad wraps.
Afterwards we back track the way we came. Coming back down
the chain was plenty of fun too. It was still slightly tricky going back though
those bits where the track seems to disappear as the track looks different when
coming back from the opposite direction.
After about 5 ½ Hours we come out of the bush and arrive
back at the carpark.