Friday 3rd Feb: For those that can get half of Friday off, meet at the carpark of BP Motorway Services before the Drury off ramp at 12:30. From there we convoy to National Park in time for dinner at The Park Traveller's Lodge. If you can't get away until after work, your key to your room will be at reception and the rest of us will be still talking shite in the bar or snoring in our comfy beds.

Saturday  4th Feb: The lodge has a big communal kitchen and we will join up here with all the fixings from home to out do each other cooking a LROCA Big Breakfast. After feasting together in the Dining area we will drive to Go Bush on Highway 41 east of Taumaranui. We'll fire up the kettles in the north hut for morning tea followed by a morning of exploring a labyrinth of tracks in the steep punga forrest. Lunch is back at the North hut, and is provided by the Park Lodge. Then we begin the 2.5 hour track to the south huts on the river. On arrival, stake your claim to a camping site, set up your gear then join everyone at the main hut for a well earned drink. Our host Danny will then fire up the open fire, throw a sawblade on it and expertly sear some wild venison or boar for everyone. You will need to provide the 3 veg or whatever culinary delights you require to accompany Danny's handywork with a rifle. There is a slab timber cooking and dining area under a clear roof and a diesel generator will provide the light. There may be one basic cabin unspoken for, I'm reserving this for someone with a partner who simply won't stay in a tent [A koha to Danny for the use of cabins is appropriate].

 

Sunday  5th Feb: Bring your bacon and eggs to the campfire again and join everyone for breakfast. Then explore this stunning area for a while. If you think there may be a trout in a pool with your name on it, you can cast a fly in the water. Or you can walk the cliff track up to the fork in the river for some great views. After morning tea, we'll head back to the north hut by another route. Those that want to can then convoy back to Auckland. For the remainder, we can explore some new tracks in the horipito scrub. We will have lost our guide at this point so I just hope either Brian or I will recognise the start of the scariest track I've ever done and avoid it. [We are talking lowering trucks down a rock face here using another truck as a pendulum...] Oh and you know a track is going to be interesting when you have to have a man in front of your Land Rover wielding a machete to find it.

Monday  6th Feb [Optional]: For those who haven't had enough, we can either camp overnight at the north hut [tents essential] or cosseted types can head back to the Park Lodge or sort out  a bed in Taumaranui. Then it's east along Hwy41 before turning north to the Pureora forrest on the western side of Lake Taupo. We can explore the forest until it's time to nail it to Auckland and home.

 

Bring: All meals, snacks and drinks to get you through the weekend. Only Friday night, saturday lunch and saturday night's meat are provided. All camping gear for a comfortable night or two. Toilets are provided at the huts [even showers may be available if you ask Danny nicely and help stoke the boiler]. Bring a camera. Bring the her/him-indoors that will only come on a couple of runs a year - this is considered by many to be the best run you will do all year.

 

Book: Contact Brett Whyte as soon as you can. Include contact numbers etc. and your plans around the start and finish options. We need to know exact numbers to firm book the rooms and restaurant for Friday night. Due to large contingent of dutch tourists, there are no standard rooms left, only Loft Rooms as described above. Let him know if you are happy to share a room. Remember, if you are successful at chatting up a Helga at the bar, what happens on tour, stays on facebook for a long time these days.