By Justin Atkinson, 02 December 2023
Welcome aboard, you've joined the VUWTC express to the Waitotara Conservation Area. Passenger list: you, Patrick, Arlen, Justin.
First stop on the line: Taumatatahi Road Car Station. This first leg was 4 hours drive from Wellington. Enroute was a pit stop at Bulls (where we toured the new multi-level community hub, it had a cute little library!), several road swing bridges, and an ATV bike convention with about 100 bikes.
Second stop: Trains Hut. This was an interesting 5 hour walk from the car station. We encountered wildlife: bees, wasps, cows, goats, spiders, cute purple flowers, a fossil, an annoying traffic warden, you name it.
Following much hardcore navigation of maps, "danger poison" and "trespassers will be shot" signs, steep dropoffs, slips, windfalls, the aforementioned wildlife, a deep rock culvert, chasms where you couldn't hear the bottom, bridges overwhelmed by cobwebs, and a thunderous waterfall with a great swimming hole, we found Trains to be a charming and homely spot. We had it to ourselves that night!
Third stop: Tahupo Hut. A scheduled 8 hour return walk, this crossed a cool swing bridge before heading up a steep ridgeline. It eventually levelled out. It was drizzling lightly, which made for an atmospheric and relaxing journey. We found more goats and even a frying pan to cook them with.
Unfortunately, there was a breakdown in Justin's parts, so we only travelled for 3 hours before returning back to Trains. We stayed there one more night, before commuting back to Wellington. But not before stopping at the Best Kebab Station in Bulls!
