Two Day Hikes

Having heard about the new Ironsgate Gorge in the Ruahine Forest, we set out on a cold and sunny day to check it out. It took some time to actually find the track, but with the snow covered mountains for much of the drive we didn’t mind wandering around on the backroads. This particular track was built and is maintained by the community and is said to be up to “tramping standards”. We prepared for about a two hour return trip to the gorge, and we gave it a go, but turned back after about fifteen minutes (it wasn't to our tramping ability) and instead took an easy trail up to one of the overnight huts. It was an average hike and we got some needed exercise, but the view of Mount Taranaki, Mount Ruapehu, and Mount Ngauruhoe from the “car park” was worth the whole trip! 

Not a bad Sunday ride in the countryside

Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Taranaki

 Without the pink triangles we wouldn't have known where to go. We had to hop between frosty tufts of grass to stay out of the water underneath. When the path became steep, rocky, muddy, and slippery, we turned back.

A new hut for overnight tramping and quite nice!

And as we headed home, we saw the best rainbow we have ever seen! Right outside of Palmy was a big, bright, long lasting rainbow with the Te Apiti Windfarm in the background. 

On another day, we drove to the Rimutaku Hill, north of Wellington. We hiked up a brand new trail, this one in excellent condition, to a beautiful view of the Wairarapa Valley, Wairarapa Lake, and Palliser Bay-on the Pacific Ocean.