I really just started keeping GPX files for myself when I couldn’t avoid losing a map for long enough to make it at all useful to start drawing lines over one.

Thanks for the info in your Orongorongo posting. I completed a Papatahi crossing at the weekend and (thanks to your GPS tagging) I was able to locate the campsite beside the Orongorongo River for Saturday night. Just as well because there was really nowhere else to camp that I could see. It was very steep for quite some time up the Papatahi track – DOC has even placed a rope in one place. Great trip, althhough lots of Onga Onga on the way out to Onoke on the Wairarapa side. Took me 3.5 hours to campsite and 9 hours the next day (including a couple of long stops for a brew on top and lunch at the Wharepapa hut) to get out to the Onoke carpark.

I’ve noticed there’s quite a lot of Onga Onga in the Orongorongas as soon as you get away from the rivers major tracks, and also in the Aorangis further to the east. Actually I’ve even come across some in parts of Belmont Regional Park in Wellington, which is largely farmland (at least the the part where I was). Maybe it’s something about the latitude.

Seeya.
Mike.

You made the right call not going up Mt Matthews with an iffy knee. I went up the Mt about 4 weeks ago and it is quite steep in places. I started the day from Catchpool when the gates opened and it was a full day up and back. The views from the South Saddle are spectacular (there is also Onga onga up there – around eastern parts of the perimeter of the grassy knoll on the saddle). Funny thing – I didn’t think I’d have company while going up the mountain. Was about 3/4 of the way up and stopped for a coffee when I heard voices and was overtaken by two middle-aged ladies who were climbing at great speed (well – relative to mine).

Have found the river valley quite fun to tramp on – both north and south of hump bridge.

Enjoyed reading your trip. Hope your knee recovers soon.

Cheers

Phil