Roger's Walkabout : Te Araroa 5/12/25

Day 73, Te Matawai hut to Nichols hut.

It was a beautiful bright morning but some clouds moved in quickly over the high tops but lifted later.

A bright clear morning

There was a steady climb up to Pukematawai at 1432m, unfortunately in the cloud. There were good views before the cloud covered me.

Being overtaken again!

Once I descended the clouds lifted, of course, and there were some lovely views over the hills and forests.

And then it all opened up

Clouds clearing

I met Luke, the north bound walker who I came across in Wellington, on the ridge and we had interesting conversation before moving on in our different directions.

The view starting to improve

Back to the fairy forest

The ridge descended to the treeline and plunged me back into the fairy forest with all the moss and lichen covered trees, so magical looking.

North Island Edelweiss high on the hills

After a few more ups and downs on the ridge I reached Dracophyllum hut just in time for lunch. It is a tiny hut with a bunk but there are some camping spaces outside.I thought I might have found the others finishing lunch there but I was obviously going too slowly.

Dracophyllum hut (named after a tree)

I found the steep slippery track very difficult walking and had to be very careful where I put my feet, awkward where the path was overgrown, but I only landed on my back once.

A lovely high path

There were some very steep scrambly bits, luckily mostly upwards, which made it even slower.

Good ridge walking

A final climb out of the trees to Nichols peak and I could see the hut just below. There were only eight of us staying in the hut, the others had gone on to the next one.

On Nichols Peak

There are only six bunks but with a bit of juggling everyone fitted in, I slept on the floor, close to the door. Convenient for that old persons bane, nocturnal visits to the toilet.