Track Grade: Tramping Track
Duration of Event: 5.5 – 6 hours
Two options
Option 1 is a fantastic opportunity to venture into the Ruahine Ranges to the headwaters of the picturesque Oroua River and see the habitat of the whio (blue duck) and perhaps the birds themselves. We will be hosted by Janet Wilson, Project Coordinator of the Oroua Blue Duck Protection Project who will outline the history, funding, extent and success of the programme so far. She will also show us the types of traps used and how they operate. If time allows we will take a short walk up the Tunupo track before heading home.
Alternatively take a tramp up the Tunupo Track, initially through mixed beech podocarp forest, then horopito and mountain cedar, and possibly as far as alpine scrub and tussock before returning. Bird life will include fantail and waxeye for sure, with the possibility of tui, bellbird and wood pidgeon, and maybe whitehead, karearea and long tailed cuckoo. This walk will be hosted by trap line volunteers and/or members of Palmerston North Tramping and Mountaineering Club members. This track is also a trap line and you can hear all about the work volunteers do while walking up the hill.
The tramp in is initially relatively easy along an old logging road but the track down to the Oroua is steep in places, as is the pathway up Tunupo so a reasonable level of fitness is needed, and good outdoor clothing and footwear.
Please ensure that you wear appropriate walking footwear, and bring warm clothing, lunch and drink, and snacks for energy.
Hosts –Oroua Blue Duck Protection Project Volunteers & PNTMC
Schedule
7.50am Gather at Te Manawa Museum. Pre trip briefing & gear check
8 am Bus departs
9.00am arrive Petersons Road end Heritage carpark. Gear-up, pre tramp briefing. Split into 2 groups.
Group 1 – to Oroua River
9.15am – 10.00am tramp 3km along Iron Gates track then down to the Oroua River
10.00am– 11.30am Janet Wilson outlines the Oroua Blue Duck protection programme – Possibly see whio
11.30am – 12pm– tramp 1km to Heritage Lodge lunch.
1.00pm tramp up Tunupo track, returning the same route, ending back at Heritage car park.
3.30pm – Bus departs Heritage carpark for Te Manawa Museum.
4.30pm – Arrive Te Manawa. End of day
Group 2 – Tunupo Track
As above but spend all day tramping up and back down the the Tunupo Track.
If the weather allows we will venture above the bushline some come prepared with warm and windproof clothing and plenty of water. It is quite a sustained climb.
Tunupo is the highest point in the southern Ruahine range.
Date: Sunday 3 March 2024, 7.50am
Distance: 7 – 8km
Walking Time: 3 – 4 hours
Cost: $65.00
Depart: Bus departs Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, 326 Main Street, Palmerston North at 8am and arrives back around 4.30pm.
The bus will stop at the Feilding & District Information Centre, 61 Aorangi Street to pick up Feilding walkers at 8.20am. Please send an email to info@mwf.org.nz with your name, phone number and walk, if you wish to be picked up there.
Limited to 20 people, book now to avoid disappointment.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL – no ticket sales on the day.
Bookings can also be made at any venue Eventfinda tickets are sold, please note a $3.00 per ticket booking fee will apply. Click here for the venues
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- Heritage Lodge
