Tararua Ranges - Otaki

A trampers paradise it says. Well it certainly is, im no tramper but I wanted to see that view for my own eyes. Deciding we would stay here for New Years we started the epic climb upwards in the late afternoon. This is a climb and not for the faint hearted. It took a very unfit person like me and hour and a half to get to the top, with multiple stops up the hill to catch my breath and rest before carrying on. It's doable if you're unfit, just know your limits and when to give yourself a break.

Arriving at the cabin gives you a stunning view out to the ocean and across the towns and countryside below. The cabin is setup with a fireplace to heat water, allowing for the comfort of a hot shower and also setup on septic which provides a touch of luxury with a flushing toilet with a bush view.

As the cabin and the track is on private land there's no chance of encountering anyone else on your adventure. There are wild goats, deer and rats living up here so you will likely still see and hear things go bump in the night. Unfortunately the rats got a little too close for comfort for me, and I sadly didn't see any goats or deer.

The cabin itself is pretty basic, foam mattresses for sleeping but these are comfortable and all basics for cooking with a gas hob, cutlery/dinnerware and a kettle are supplied. Pillows are provided, but you need to bring your own blanket or sleeping bag. There is running water supplied from a tank behind the cabin which needs to be turned on when you arrive so other than no power its fully equipped for a few days of comfortable glamping in the bush.

ACCOMMODATION NOT CURRENTLY BOOKABLE.

Check out 'Conquering mountains for New Years' for more details on this particular trip.