Iron Gate Hut, Ruahine FP, October 2021

We chose a fairly quick over-nighter into the western Ruahine Forest Park for Labour Weekend this year. Iron Gate Hut in the Oroua River valley was our destination and like many of our trips, we were travelling with Nicholas and Missy. This was also to be the first trip for their young hound, Bronte. 

Missy, Nicholas & Nicola with Bronte and Charlie

The Oroua Valley is accessed off Petersons Road which is north-east of Apiti, about two hours drive from Masterton. Nick and Missy had another half hour as they were coming from Wellington.  The Delish Cafe in Fielding made the perfect meeting point for breakfast and also the best coffee in the country - an unknown surprise.

Departing the carpark around 10:00am our first stop was Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge, a very posh title for what is simply a nice hut. The walk into the 'Lodge' crosses a very impressive arched bridge over Umutoi Stream.

The Umutoi bridge was constructed in 1961 by the Territorial Army. 

The 'Lodge' was built in 2007 following a fire demolishing the earlier hut, and took closer to 30 minutes than the 1.5 hours advertised.

From the hut the track sidles up the valley at around the 700m contour, ducking into and out of a handful of creeks on the way up to Iron Gate Hut.  The walk up valley took another three hours and as we passed a group of eight eating lunch we chose to push on, knowing the hut had eight bunks, or more importantly eight mattresses.

We met another four soon after so knew we were in for a busy Saturday evening hut experience.

Iron Gate Hut is located on a lovely little clearing just above the river - well placed for evening sun, and an easy 3.5 hour stroll from the carpark.

Iron Gate Hut

The afternoon was spent lazing about and enjoying the sun.  I managed a nude dip into the bloody cold Oroua, but that was all of two minutes.  We were lucky enough to spot a few Whio flying up and down the river through the course of the afternoon.

The Oroua from just beyond the hut

Full huts can quickly ruin the wilderness experience, but then again if that's what we're after we should avoid huts!  Meeting new people, interesting conversation and a warm fire is, however, one of the great joys of hut life.

 Slash from the hut construction kept the fire going well into the evening. 

16 in an eight bed hut didn't sound like a fun evening to me, nor Charlie, so we decided to head out onto the porch.  Charlie had a misguided view as to who I was prepping bed for.

This trip was also a test of Charlie's new pack.  We're hoping that she can start to carry her own trip food and this first test was a success.

Bronte looking regal.

Sunday morning and we were woken at 6:00am sharp by the group of eight.  They seemed to think that the entire hut should work to their plan.  In any case as I was on the deck I didn't need to exit my pit until around 7:00am. 

We saw no deer sign on the track other than some fresh markings on the farm-land that's crossed over to get into the Forest Park, we did however meet a few blokes at the carpark with a fairly mongrel looking six-point red stag shot nearby, off Limestone Road.  These blokes were heading in just as 16 of us were exiting, so would have the valley to themselves.

Whio are a special treat of the Ruahine and I think in large part this is due to a massive volunteer effort with trapping.  As such dog access is restricted.  Both Charlie and Bronte are Kiwi aversion trained, under good command and have access via DOC hunting permits.  

The weather was beaut, with the only rain encountered on the drive home.  We're now looking forward to a summer of trips into the hills.

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