Fishing Report (?)
River flow is up over 45 m3/s and dirty – so why aren’t you here? Looking great for the rest of the week.
Turangi’s Big Day Out (“BDO”)
This morning we had two phone calls for directions on what we call our BDO (Big Day Out) Similar enquiries for directions are received at TRM every weekend and will increase towards summer, hence this explanation. These enquirers are seeking directions to complete the delightful circuit along the “Anglers Access” tracks up one side of the Tongariro River and back down the other side.
This river side walk is far more popular than most realise, particularly when adverse weather conditions restrict skiing or fishing.
There are many more recreational users – both walkers and mountain bikers – using these tracks on weekends than anglers. Wilderness walking and biking must be one of the fastest growing recreational activities for family groups which has slipped under the radar of many Tourist Programmes. (Over 60,000 completing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing every summer proves that.) This Tongariro River circuit is one of the best tracks in this region so the increase in enquiries is understandable. Usually we refer them to TRM’s website LINKS. But as they had already read it, we obviously need to provide a more detailed explanation as follows:
TRM’s LINKS had the original description from the Daily Report on 26 October 2007, and this was amended on 5 September 2008 advising the walk was temporarily suspended due to a wash out. But that has not stopped determined walkers at all. They know there are other options and we have been advising them regularly how to navigate safely around the wash out.
Now the Bad news – the difficulty about this deviation is that we understand you might be trespassing on “private land” so please respect it. The service road is on DoC land and naturally they do not encourage public use through their back yard. That is totally understandable. But it is over a year since the river edge track was washed out and now has the main river flowing through it so regular walkers have had to find another route. In the interests of public safety it was not wise to send them along the edge of SH1 as there is no footpath. Hence this alternative temporary (secret) route.
The Good news is that the local Rotary Club are now investigating this issue for a project to re-route the track to avoid the washout. In the meantime this is the temporary “unauthorised” safe route.
From TRM or from Turangi village, the 3+ hour circuit starts at the Koura Street swing bridge. The well used track is straight forward up river on the eastern side (true right bank looking down river) to the Red Hut swing bridge. The Red Hut car park is the half way pee stop to enjoy a rest and a snack. From there back along the western side the route gets tricky. Take the track down river to Duchess Pool. After about 400m it emerges on a gravel road providing access to houses on Kowhai Flat. At this road turn right for about 15m then look for the track on the left. (This is where some walkers get lost?) This track is in fact the original main road (still on Googled plans) and extends about 600m with level gradient to the Silly Pool.
This track leads to an old Private Entrance sign blocking the track. The old track sent walkers off over the headland above the Silly Pool. That leads back to the river where the washout makes it impossible without waders. So here is the tricky bit. Walk past the Private Entrance sign and continue on the old road until it is blocked and you will find a faint track off to the left over the knoll and down on to a gravel service road.
Someone (?) has marked the entry/exit with tapes about 100m beyond the Private Entrance sign. Proceed along the road for about 300m and it emerges at the Trout Centre ponds. Walk through to the river side and continue through the trout centre (another pee stop if required) to their main road car park through to the Anglers Access car park where the track continues and is sign-posted past Cattle Rustlers Pool and beyond to link up with the Stag Pool car park.
If this BDO is of interest then peruse TRM’s website LINKS – “Other Walks”. We will add the instructions above to the LINKS.
P.S. TRM’s guide dog Boof, loves going for walkies too. He knows the way…