David Coxon springs into 2022 with a trip to the Whanganui River
As spring warmed up towards summer and the weather settled down, it was time for the first weekend camping trip of the year.
The plan was to do a backroad loop up to Whanganui on the Saturday afternoon, camp at Whanganui to get the cobwebs out of the camping gear, then have the full Sunday to do the loop and get home again. This time, as well as regular travelling companions Gillian and Ashley, another 4WD friend, Brett, came along for the drive.
The small group met at Queen Elizabeth Park off SH1 about an hour out of Wellington for a social lunch before starting the ‘long way round’ trip to Whanganui. The initial plan had been to do a couple of beach runs past Foxton to avoid some of the main highways however (due to a lack of foresight at the end of last year when booking the trip as a 4WD club touring trip) the tides were against us, so we took SH1 and turned off on the Himatangi Straight to visit Tangimoana Beach. This offered a pleasant spot for a quick coffee break in a fresh sea breeze, without having to risk getting stuck on a rising tide. A back road run just inland of Tangimoana Beach had the group rejoining SH1 just south of Bulls, then just past Bulls turning off SH3, bypassing Marton and heading into the hills for a loop through the hills on a mixture of sealed and gravel roads. This offered expansive views of lush green farmland and ranges of hills disappearing into the distances, as well as some attractive little lakes.
Eventually the convoy dropped down onto the Turakina Valley Rd, which was followed for a short while before using a side valley and a low saddle to cross into the Whangaehu River valley. Crossing the river the group climbed to a lookout with views across the Whangaehu Valley and surrounding countryside. At the lookout there was another group clearing space for a big BBQ event being run that evening. Their plans for the evening were much more relaxed than the slick presentation expected in bigger centres. Leaving them to their grass clearing, it was only a short run to Whanganui and camp for the night on the riverbank at the Top 10 campground.
After a pleasantly relaxed evening and a quiet night, we were ready and rested for the main trip on the Sunday. Leaving the campground on Sommes Parade the group followed the road away from Whanganui, initially following the Whanganui River on the true right (ie the right hand side when looking downstream). There were views across the river to tranquil green farmland, but as the convoy climbed the main river was left behind for a small tributary and the road turned to gravel with near-vertical mudstone cliffs on one side and a steep drop on the other.
Nearing the top of the valley, the terrain flattened and there was space for a coffee break. While this was a peaceful location, there were dozens of flattened beer cans on the ground where others had been careless about leaving the countryside clean and green.
Reaching the ridge line, rather than the left turn back to SH3, the group took a right turn to explore the rest of the ridge, deviating briefly to follow the Ahu Ahu Valley Rd.However, after only a few kilometres the road stopped at a gateway. Although the gate was open, it felt like the group was intruding on what was at least perceived as being a private area. Back on the ridge and heading north there were expansive if murky views out to the west and a lot of ‘Keep Out’ signs on the fences and gates leading off the road, one advising that trailers were not allowed, and one rather threatening, hand-written sign saying, “If I catch you I will finish it once and for all”, which made for a very ‘wild-west’ feeling.
The road continued to be mostly well graded, and looked lightly used, but was clearly a public road. The group finally reached an open gateway with a sign identifying the area as being under forestry management. There was no warning to keep out and the gate was mounted open, more as an entrance than a barrier, so after careful checking, the convoy continued, but soon came to another gate across the road – this time closed and right next to a house. A woman dashed out of the house calling that she would open the gate. A quick and very friendly chat confirmed that it was a public road for the next seven kilometres to Taunoka Station, and that the group was very welcome to continue – the gate was only closed to keep her horse from ‘exploring’. Feeling much more relaxed about our presence we completed the final run to the end of the road, with the only excitement being an enthusiastic welcome from a couple of dogs guarding a truck and flatbed trailer, used for transporting the large digger working on the station – obviously they hadn’t taken the ‘No trailers’ sign seriously. The group’s plan to have lunch at the Taunoka Station boundary gate was stymied by a cool breeze, forcing a return to a forested area nearby. Lunch was another peaceful experience with the sound of the wind in the tree and the creaking branches providing a pleasant background.
With lunch over, the trip to the point where we had reached the ridge seemed quicker, and the group then took the more direct way back to SH3, coming out near Kai Iwi beach and with an expected three-hour run back to Wellington. Unfortunately, the now common congestion at Otaki and just south of Paraparaumu made the total trip just over five hours, for a total of an eleven hour driving day.
