This trip was on the programme for 2 years in a row, postponed/cancelled for several reasons. This year postponed from the original planned Auckland Anniversary weekend to a week later due to the weather. We did indeed have beautiful weather so that was a plus.
Originally planned as walk-in and out via Bell track, overnight at Central Clearing campsite and side trip to the waterfalls from there.
Lorna, who couldn’t join us due to injury, had suggested to walk in via a track along Vandy Rd and an old road to Central Clearing. She had done part of it at both ends and doodled the road/route on a map; condition of track unknown.
That’s what we like ! We ended up having a group of 5: me, Anna, Wendy, Sharon and Cate.
The Vandy Rd track was OK although it went steep up some hill, then down to the gate to Te Uku windfarm. We followed the old part of Makomako Rd, all easy. Then some searching for this other old road (Koponui Rd, proposed Kawhia connection) that we stumbled upon after a while. Perfect ! Nice and easy going, apart from some windfalls. Until it just disappeared !! This was just after we came across a campsite with Makomako Hut book in a Mitre10 bucket among other things.
We tried finding this nice road again, but had to give up. Instead we now followed a vague ridge track with bits of tape here and there, windfalls and many supplejacks.
You will understand that this was hard work and our progress was slow.
Found a suitable campsite and some real good (spring) water nearby. Everybody happy.
Next morning more of the same up to the junction with the Oparau route that we had done a year ago. Mind you, was not easy going to the Central Clearing where we arrived around lunchtime.
We decided to give the falls a miss and walk straight out to the Kaniwhaniwha carpark.
People were enjoying the warm weather and jumping in the stream….
We changed, packed up and went home.
Two 9-hour days, but no time for the falls.
Confusion about the name though.
I knew them as Blue Falls after a Waikato TC trip 20 years ago; the stream is called Blue Bill
Wendy and Google knew them as Bell Falls.
Now don’t think we didn’t enjoy this weekend: we loved it !
Nice bush, beautiful weather, good team work, navigation and company.
Another memorable trip and we’ll have to go and see these falls next year.
Regards,
Michiel van Dijk
