1st September 2018 – Spur of the moment solo after-Flu recovery hike to Karangahake Trig and back. Plan was to originally start from Karangahake Gorge Car park and walk up Mt Karangahake Walk, however upon arrival, discovered the Top of Mount Karangahake Clouded over. Drove on to Dickey Flat Campsite.
From Dickey Flat Campsite, Walked unnamed track Eastwards then southward following along Waitawheta River. The track crosses Waitawheta river which is at least knee deep. Warning: best not to cross when river is a raging torrent nor right after heavy rain
The track then takes you through up a fairly young Kauri Grove before descending back down and meandering to a junction with Mangakino Track. Turned Right and followed up Mangakino Track. Walked past a couple of Kauri trees as you Ascend up the track. Passed through intersection with Grassy road continuing through a track with a number of fallen trees that could be fairly easily climbed over, and zig zagged all the way up to County Road. Note that towards the western end, The track is only partially marked and on two occasions, the track seemingly disappeared require a back track in order to find the correct path. My pace in the end matched signage timing of 2 and a half hours. (Yeah, I was coughing and spluttering my guts out… Lingering dry cough)
After much track finding, arrived at junction with County Road and took Track towards Mount Karangahake. Signs indicated 1 hour 20 minutes, but you can do this in about 35 minutes. After visiting Karangahake, return back same way to junction with County Road. Had lunch on the way up.
Back at Junction with County road, turned left and walked for 50 minutes around a zig zagging, muddy, but flat County road to Junction of Dubbo 96 Track. Turned right down Dubbo 96 Track. Track condition was extremely muddy, slippery, and well trodden and was largely in worse state than Mangakino Track.
At Intersection with Waitawheta Pipeline walk, turned right and Arrived back at carpark with Day light to spare. Total time 7 hours (at easy pace, including breaks)
