Just found the photos from last Clarke family tramp in to the Kawekas. The grand plan was to tramp to the hut, drop the kit and continue onto the Mangatainoka Thermal Springs a further 45mins from the hut, but after the 2hr drive to the carpark and the 4hr tramp to the hut, the younger members of the family deceided enough was enough and anyway the hut was far more fun. With the hut checked out next was a spot of fishing, the Mohaka being right on door step so to speak. Although full of fish and we had follow after follow, there was to be no fish for tea.

I apologise now for the lack of photos, batterys ran out on camera. If your interested check out the DOC site, or type in Te Puia to Google.

Being the winter, darkness was soon on us, so in the hut for tea. The hut is a serviced hut so we had the luxury of heat and gas cookers, so tea was a breeze to produce. A few games of cards and some reading, the younger members called it a day. We had the hut to ourselves, so theres only so much you can talk to the wife about, so we called it day as well.

Everybody was up early and after a good feed of pancakes we loaded up and headed back to the car. Going back to the grand plan we had decided to have a dip in the hot pools back at the carpark, but some how the very youngest member had got an eye infection so no time for that.

After a quick vist to the doctors on the way home all was well with youngest member, once all showered and fed we all agreed it had been a worth while trip and plan to return in the summer. If for nothing else i'am going to catch me one of those trout, even if it kills me.