Paparoa | FindPenguins

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Trip start
June 5, 2023
Paparoa Traveler
Drive to Punakaiki
June 5, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 11 °C
We left Chch on wet cold day. It was fine by time we got to Sheffield. Lots of fresh snow on hills.
We stopped at Castle Hill village for toilet and Arthurs Pass for lunch. Very cold at Arthurs Pass so quick lunch in sun with cold wind.
Much warmer once we got to the coast. Beautiful drive along coast from Greymouth to Punakaiki.
Checked in to family cabin at beach camp. Had hot drink then wander a round camp, beach and along road and new cycle path. Saw where track comes out. We all had our own dinner in kitchen which was warm with logburner.
Camp fairly empty with just a couple of caravans. We seem to be only ones in cabins.Read more
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Paparoa Traveler
Paparoa track Day 1
June 6, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
We set alarm for 6am and were up in the dark getting ready. We were on the shuttle ready to go at 7.45. Pete was the driver and gave us a commentary along the way. Our group of 6 were only ones on shuttle. He stopped at Runanga Miners union hall, talked about the various mines, mining disasters. Stopped at toilets in Blackball before driving up to SmokeHo carpark. Many changes and upgrades since I was last there 15 years ago.
It was cold but fine and we were in the shade most of the day. Track went down to start with then gradual up. Morning tea stop at 2nd hotel site with frost on table.
We did side trip to historic Garden gully hut. It took us 5 hours to get to Ces Clark hut which is just above bushline in sun. We met the 2 hut wardens for our first 2 huts who were ebiking in.
We relaxed at hut and watched sunset with amazing views. Hut warden Rachel came in and had several long chats with us.
The hut has solar lights, phone charger, cell phone reception, 2 new toilets with toilet paper, hand sanitiser.
We are the only ones in hut so all get bottom bunk. Has new double glazed windows since last here. Hut was super clean as warden had just given it a good spruce up, even scented toilet deoderisers. The cleanest hut toilets I've ever seen.Read more
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Paparoa Traveler
Paparoa track day 2
June 7, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Ces Clark hut to Moonlight Tops hut.
Watched the sunrise between 7-7.30.
Warden took our group photo on the deck before leaving around 9am.
Walk took 5 hours today including a side trip to Croesus knob which was recommended by warden. We dropped our packs to go up the steep knob. It gave amazing 360 views from trig at top and could clearly see Aoraki & Mt Tasman.
Today's walk was gentle uphill most of way walking below or on a ridge on rocky, stony track. Some frozen puddles in places. We were mostly in the sun on a beautiful day with just gentle breeze. Got to hut and sat on sunny deck soaking up views.
Hut was warm as windows face north so didn't need fire on. Hut reasonably full with 14 of us in 20 bunk Hut. Only 2 bikers.
Hut warden Alex gave us a very detailed history of Mr Moonlight in her hut talk.Read more
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Paparoa Traveler
Paparoa track day 3
June 8, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
This was our rest day so got up later and had breakfast after most left. There were 2 DOC hut/track inspectors who stayed in separate sleepout and they did their inspection. It was interesting chatting to them.
I had a wash including shampoo hair.
We left for a wee walk around 10.30. We did what warden recommended and went up ridge near hut. Had morning tea on top. Then down ridge away from hut until met Moonlight track. Went down this icy track until it got steep then back to saddle for lunch with view over Grey valley. Short walk back along the main track to hut.
Sat in sun on deck again, aired our sleeping bags and clothes and did some hut cleaning.
Before dinner watched sunset on hill above hut with other hut occupants. Much colder tonight so lit fire.
Only 7 in hut tonight. Great stars and milky way viewing and possibly hearing kiwi.Read more
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Paparoa Traveler
Paparoa track day 4
June 9, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Got up early and left 7.40. Another beautiful day. We were in the bush most of the day. A bit cold and frosty to start with. The best scenery day so far. Lots of rocky cliff faces and bush clad hills.
Went near the Pike River mine area and saw a ventilation shaft and heard helicopters.
Stopped at halfway shelter for lunch. We could see Moonlight hut many times looking back. It was gentle uphill for first 4 hours then generally downhill after lunch.
Amazing track engineering just after shelter. Also then forest with huge boulders. Saw a brown & white goat on forest slope.
Took 8 hours to get to Poroari hut.
Hut full with male cyclists mainly.
Several slept on mattresses in kitchen, must have been snorer in their bunkroom.Read more
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Paparoa Traveler
Paparoa track day 5
June 10, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 9 °C
Left Pororari hut 7.50am. Mainly downhill today. Was not too cold to start with but got colder as we went down and was quite frosty in places. Was in forest then got to river and flattened out a bit. Was 4 bridges to cross.
Had lunch at Cave stream bridge junction in a sunny spot.
Soon after track split into cycle and walking track. After this was the most scenic with stunning river gorge with nikau and fern palm trees and clear green water and Cliff faces. Even a short rock tunnel and 2 lots of stone steps We took so many photos.
Track today was much better surface and easier to walk on
Took 7 hours but lots of stops and photos.
Checked into Driftwood cottage, a x 2 bedroom house. Had shower, cuppa then to pub to dinnerRead more
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Paparoa Traveler
Group photos
June 17, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
I've received some photos from my tramping buddies on the Paparoa with me in them, so adding a post to have them here.
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Paparoa Traveler
St James day 1
December 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Cannibal Gorge
Another tramping trip with Karen
We met at Boyle lodge at 10.30am and had pre-booked car storage and shuttle to start track.
Started track at 11am and took 4 hrs to Cannibal Gorge hut. Track was dry, a couple of swing bridges and mainly in beach forest and uphill. Warm mainly sunny day.
We had skinny dip wash in river by hut. We were first to hut and 1 lady arrived soon after. We met lots of groups walking out. Another lady arrived at 9pm. So 4 in hut. Karen and I played cards.Read more
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Paparoa Traveler
St James day 2
December 29, 2023 in New Zealand
Cannibal Gorge to Christopher hut.
Left hut at 8am and took us 5hr 40min.
Light rain or drizzle most of day but we had a couple of brief moments of sunshine. It was not cold.
Passed a group of tents on way to Ada hut.
Wildlife highlight was a herd of deer we interrupted on the move. They scuttled away up the hill pretty quickly when they saw us. Also lots of wild flowers
I also saw tui, robins, tomtit, rifleman.
We were first to hut so could wash and shampoo hair.
Our hut buddy Sally arrived later. She is staying at same huts as us. One other man so only 4 in hut that night. Plus a couple who put tent up nearby and arrived later.Read more
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Paparoa Traveler
St James day 3
December 30, 2023 in New Zealand
Christopher to Anne hut.
Left at 7am and took 5 hours today. Arrived at 12 and had lunch after wash Weather was light drizzle for first half hour then fine and sunny after that but a nice cool breeze. We stopped and had several breaks to seek shade as it was quite warm
We wanted to get to hut early before TA walkers.
Wildlife highlight was wild horses in 3 herds near Christopher hut. There were lots of wild flowers today and butterflies. Track was mainly walking on edge of hill just above river, then over grassy flats with matagouri patches and wild gooseberries. One swingbridge.
Anne hut is a roomy new one with lovely big deck and lots bench space. 20 bunks in 2 bunkrooms and 2 toilets
3 TA walkers arrived later.
We had a sponge bath and aired and dried out our gear on the lovely big deck. It was quite windy so got to use my pegs for washing and rocks left on deck to hold down other gear.
Us 2 and Sally had bunkroom to ourselvesRead more
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Paparoa Traveler
St James day 4
December 31, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Anne to Boyle Flats hut
We left 7.30am and took 7 hours. It rained until 11am. We had just dried out when it rained again half an hour from hut so we arrived wet. We had lunch in sun along Boyle river.
My raincoat and leggings I had just re-waterproofed were soaked through after 15mins so that didn't work and I need to buy a new raincoat.
Nice scenery but the rain prevented us from appreciating most of it. Had to cross some sidestreams and the track up to Anne saddle had become a stream. It was colder rain than other days and very windy in parts. It was nice walking along Boyle river in sun, until it rained again. There were 5 of us in the hut and we played Pub Quiz card game they had. It rained on and off all evening.
Karen lit a fire to dry our gear so it was cosy, but the coolest evening we've had. We are both tired with sore feet so looking forward to getting home tomorrowRead more
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Paparoa Traveler
St James day 5
January 1, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Boyle Flats hut to Boyle village.
We left at 7.30 and it took us 5 hrs
Nice sunny warm day.
You follow a river most of way in bush. Track could do with some attention. Lots of muddy bits and some streams to cross. One swingbridge at Magdalen hut junction.
We used the road for the last section which took us to Boyle lodge where we took off the boots, used the loo and collected the cars.
We were both pleased to have finished and looking forward to a shower at home. We both decided 5 days is 1 day too long, as we were pretty weary. But glad we didn't have longer days.Read more
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Trip end
June 11, 2023