Kaimanawa Thunderbolt Circuit

Location: Kaimanawa Mountains - Umakarikari Range & Middle Range

Difficulty: Medium. 6-7 hour days. 700m elevation gain each day. a couple river crossings.

Conditions: A few steady climbs up to a mostly flat ridgeline, with a saddle inbetween. Day 1 and 3 are poled routes with visible tracks. Day 2 is following a well used hunting trail and backcountry route, or alternatively following the Waipakihi river.

Max People: 10ish, but since we are camping basically as many as cars will allow, there's ample space to camp around the hut.

Note: The trip may be adjusted as weather conditions allow. The ridgeline is easy but exposed, and it may be very cold, possibly still some light snow left.

Costs: Waipakihi Hut is $10 + around $150ish in fuel split among your car + around $5-10 per night for group dinners.

Gear: We'll camp for 2 nights, so you need a tent and other camping equipment. You must bring everything on the overnight tramp list, your own lunches and breakfasts, and plenty of snacks. Warm windproof and waterproof layers are a must. At least one item of bright clothing is recommended as there are sometimes hunters about.

Itinerary

Day 0 - Depart in the afternoon (No later than 3:30pm) from Wellington on Thursday to make the 5 hour drive to the Waikoko Valley Campsites. Get dinner along the way. Camp for the night.

Day 1 - Start reasonably early to begin the 7 hour walk across the Umakarikari Range to the Waipakihi Hut, the only hut on the western side of the Kaimanawas. It's a small-ish 12 person hut and popular with hunters, so we might have to camp. It's one of the few parks where hunting dogs are allowed, so if we're lucky we'll get a hut dog.

Day 2 - This is the weather dependent route. 5-7 hours. Either head up the Middle Range track and follow the hunter/backcountry trail across the ridgeline to the Thunderbolt access, or descend with the Waipahiki River. Some bushbashing may be required. We'll camp at the river's edge. If the weather is absolutely perfect, we can camp on the tops too.

Day 3 - Start off with a river crossing, then head up to the Urchin Track. Excellent views of the Central Plateau. Then descend back down towards the carpark, and be back in Welly by 7pm. OPTIONAL post-hike soak in the Tokaanu Hot Pools if people are ok with getting back very late (10pm-ish)