Battle Hill via Mt Wainui

Looking back at Campbells Mill Rd

Back in April Jan and I had walked from Campbells Mill Rd up to Mt Wainui: a hike that not many people are aware of. While on the top of Mt Wainui I had seen that the marked route continued over the other side. Now it was time to return and find out just where the route went.

Aseroe rubra "starfish fungus" seen on the track   
up Mt Wainui.

As before we started at Campbells Mill Rd and made our way to the start of the pink ribboned track over Mt Wainui. We made it to the top just a little quicker than last time, although the conditions were much more pleasant this time. We sat and ate lunch in the sun in the clearing near the trig.

Lunch in the sun.

After lunch it was time to follow the track over the other side of the trig. I suspected that it probably headed roughly W-SW, and was proved correct. The other alternative is that the track could have headed SE along the ridge towards point 650 - this certainly might be worth exploring at a future date.

The first 1km after the trig was very, very boggy. It was very slow trying to avoid the mud, but stepping in it risked losing your shoe! The ridge on this side was a lot flatter than on the northern side, presumably allowing water to sit for longer before draining or evaporating. It also appeared that this side has more visitors than the northern side.

Jan navigates the boggy track.

I put my foot in it!

After that first km the track dried out significantly and it was relatively easy travel through to the end of the bush. 2.07km after the trig we exited onto a farm road. There were a couple of orange disks to point us in the right direction (there was actually only one direction to go - south). Farm roads continued south, generally just below the ridge line. From there it was all straight forward travel, avoiding the farm roads that deviated either left or right.

Where the track exits onto a farm road.

The view south in the direction of travel.

Eventually we came to a fork where we had to choose left or right: left was exposed to the sun and fringed by lots of gorse; right went through a pleasant pine forest. Neither option had a gate or any signs. We chose right. When we exited the forest we found a big gate with a large "no entry" sign - that's all very well, but what damage were two walkers going to do, and why was there nothing at the other end of the forest?

Down hill a little further a we reached the track that heads down to Curtis Flat. Time for a short break and then we made our way to the downhill track for the Transmission Gully loop and from there back to the car. Total distance was 22.4km and total walk time was 6h05m.

More photos available on Flickr.