From one side of the island to another
Big adventure up to Tunupo Trig in the Ngamoko range near Apiti, from the Iron Gates track, turning off just before Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge. Through mixed bush into beech forest, spongy underfoot with the layers of fallen beech leaves. Beautiful surroundings with lots of mossy cover giving everything a soft focus. Onwards & upwards & there was plenty of up!
Clearing the trees, the vegetation is sub-alpine with lots of flowers & tussock, wading through shrubs meant a few missed footings as we followed the ridge up. Found it a bit hard going & tried not to dwell on the steep drop either side. Last stretch and we made it to the top. Such a wonderful feeling.
And the view! I somehow expected higher hills on the other side but looked down along ridges to clear view of central Hawke’s Bay right out to the coast. Turning slightly, Tararuas & Kapiti to the south, hint of what could have been South Island, further round & there was the profile of Taranaki and round further to Ngāuruhoe and Ruapehu before completing the 360.
Had a well earned lunch sprawled in the tussock pondering the lack of a Trig! Read a chapter of my book then we made our way down (and down and down). Weary, footsore but very pleased with ourselves.
