Bush School 1

Location: Kaimanawa Ranges

Date: 2nd - 4th May 2025

Author: Ella Speers

Friday 2 May

Our trip began at the Hamilton Night Markets, where the group tried a variety of food trucks and cuisines. It was already pretty chilly in depths of tropical Hamilton city, so we were a little nervous about the temperature at tonight’s campsite in the Kaimanawa Ranges, and the rather gloomy forecast for the rest of the weekend at that. We’d been checking Metservice all week and were hyping each other up about the forecasted high of 3 degrees for the whole weekend and otherwise persistent rain. 

After a long drive, we arrived at Urchin DOC campsite in the Kaimanawas around midnight. We set up tents, donned layers and lay down on bedrolls to try to get some precious hours of sleep before a jam-packed weekend in the bush.

Saturday 3 May

We woke early to clear skies and exchanged stories of how we’d slept over breakfast of oats and coffees. Our instructors gave us a lesson on how to pack our packs properly, and tons of gear was spread out on tarps to get everything packed up properly and waterproofed in preparation for the forecasted rain. An hour after we said we’d leave camp, we departed, with everyone having made the most of the final long drop we’d see that weekend. Back into cars we piled, soaking up the last of the heat before we set out into the bush. 

At the trailhead, we geared up, had a briefing on who was first-aid trained, then set off along Urchin track. We started climbing straight away through beautiful bush. The sky was still a perfect blue, and morale was high as we moved off and fell into easy conversations, getting to know each other. We stopped frequently along the track, pulling out our maps to figure out where we were, learning about orange track markers and the importance of staying on the track. 

Just before the bushline ended, we stopped in a clearing and had lunch where we discussed whether cheese and peanut butter was an acceptable combination (no), where to get 275g pouches of peanut butter from (Paknsave), and typical AUTC conversations about dressing up for themed tramps (think Lord of the Rings style). Fuelled up and wanting to move on before the chill set in, we moved onto the tops where we were rewarded with stellar views of the National Park Mountains; Ruapehu the best of all with a fresh dusting of snow on top. We were free to make our way to the trig at our own pace, so we climbed up and had a break before falling into a line and tramping the rest of the way to the split in the track down to Waipakihi River. 

On the climb down, we snuck glances at the snaking river below and tried to tell ourselves it wasn’t that big, deep, or fast. We reached the bottom of the track at mid-afternoon, where we wrapped up and listened to our instructors brief us on how we were to safely cross. We assembled into trios, and set off across the freezing river with linked arms, washing the day’s mud off our boots. Halfway across, we found our feet and legs went a peaceful kind of numb, and elated, we all met on the other side of the river before moving off across the muddy tussock to find a suitable campsite.

We reached the riverflats just as the sun was setting, so we put up tents around giant bunches of grasses, and set off finding firewood so we could bring some feeling back into our toes. A reluctant fire was coaxed to life, and we gathered our stoves and dinners and settled onto logs surrounding it to cook, where even the smoke couldn’t turn us away. Toes were pointed around the flames, which inched closer and closer, to thaw them out. Finally, tired after a big day and finally warmed, we dropped off one by one to bed, wrapping up to fend off the frost we’d been told may come. 

Sunday 4 May 

We woke early, overjoyed no frost had settled due to the gusting winds that rushed though the valley all night. It was lightly spitting and the wind was still strong and icy, so we packed up and settled in the bushline amongst the moss for breakfast and some map and compass theory. 

All packed up, we headed out of the bush to the river, where we got into groups and crossed again, putting our new skills to practice in a slightly deeper part of the river. All across, we faced our next challenge. Three groups were to bush bash their way up a ridgeline to find the Urchin track. 

My group started climbing, following deer tracks through the bush. We held a steady pace up, marvelling at how the bush wasn’t too thick, and turning around to admire the views of the river we were quickly leaving behind us. Morale was high until we came to a sheer rock wall, blocking our way up the ridge. We stopped for a break (the pouch of peanut butter came out again) and decided to move around it until we could continue heading up the ridge. However the bush was thicker closer to the tops, and when we finally broke onto the Urchin track at the top of the ridge, we found we all had half the bush in our clothes and packs. We walked along the track to the meeting spot, where we found we were the first to have made it out. We pulled out lunches and dry socks, and waited for the other groups. 

After quickly refuelling in the cold, we all marched along the track, realising we’d be racing nightfall to get to the cars. The views along the track on the tops were incredible; we were still blessed with crystal clear skies, and except for a light drizzle in the morning, our raincoats still hadn’t left our packs. We reached a spot of reception where we sent messages to our contacts saying we’d be out late. We marched on, reaching the bushline where we realised we were not going to win the race against the falling light. We ensured headtorches were easily accessible and set off down the hill. 

The last hour was tramped in the dark, but we saw it as another skill to learn and enjoyed the bush at night. At last, we reached the cars where we devoured two packets of biscuits and packed all the borrowed club gear into one car. Then, piling into warm cars, we set off north into the night. A compulsory stop at a kebab shop in Tokoroa made the store owners happy to get our business, and some of us were rewarded with free drinks and ice cream. We returned to Auckland very late on Sunday night, tired but happy, and full of new skills to set off into the bush again. 

Massive thank you to our instructors Elliott, Nick and Mia, who were all so friendly, educated and ready to help!