Another calm blue-sky day for 17 of us gathered at the Parker Road carpark Huntly to commence our walk at the northern end of the Hakarimata Range. This range encompasses 1850ha of native forest which is protected as a scenic reserve. The Hakarimata Walkway traverses the ridgeline some 12km, about 6-8hrs tramp. It can be walked either north or south. There are several access points making it a popular walking area & is part of the Te Araroa trail. Our plan today is to visit the Kauri Grove area, view the various lookouts & continue onto the tramping track proper for a way then retrace our steps. 

We commenced immediately with a long flight of steps to the track junction & veered right to do part of the Kauri Grove Loop. Here we viewed the majestic kauri tree, with a girth of 7 metres. It is one of the largest in the Waikato area. Further on is a kauri grove of young kauri known as 'rickers' & here we paused to view & look across at the impressive forest. There are several viewpoints on the way over the forest & after the kauri area the track climbs steeply up many steps to a track junction & what is called the Upper Lookout of Huntly area etc. We stopped here for a morning tea break.  

Soon after we were onto the Hakarimata Walkway, a proper tramping track following the orange markers. The undulating track follows the ridgeline with exposed multiple tree roots everywhere, supple jack, usual leaf litter, all sorts waiting to trip the unwary up! However today, no mud, and in fact the tracks were very dry. The Hakarimata Range is a mature forest with many large trees, lots of ferns, moss etc & with wafts of sun shining thru, showing up the lush green of the foliage (see pic). Other areas were darker due to the large canopy. 

We stopped at the southern lookout (see pics of sign & views) just a few minutes off the main track. The views certainly would be stunning on a very clear day. We continued on, giving ourselves a good workout negotiating all the tree roots & climbing up & down the tracks. We eventually stopped at around noon for lunch & after a break it was time to retrace our steps. Once off the tramping track we came down the other side of the Kauri Loop, down, down lots of steps! We made excellent time heading back & were at our cars before 2pm. However, perhaps a good thing as we beat the worst of the motorway traffic coming home. 

Many thanks, Elizabeth, for organising this walk for us. 

Colleen W. 

To see Colleen’s photos, click here