Tararua valley bagging

More details TBA, this is just a rough idea for now. Dates very flexible, it will happen entirely when the weather lines up. Signups will open later.

Once I'm back in the North Island I'm keen to do some proper remote Tarara off-track classic tramping!
I've got my sights set on Bannister, as well as the headwaters of a few awesome rivers (the Park valley and Waiohine river headwaters below the Waiohine pinnacles).

This will be 90% off-track scrub bashing and river travel, this trip is only for those who enjoy this kind of thing are fit & keen enough for it. It's going to be hard work!

My rough plan for this trip is to drive to the Mt Bruce roadend and spend about 5 days doing a big loop in the nothern Tararuas.
This route would roughly be:
Bruce Rd -> Cow Creek -> Arete hut via Bannister ridge -> down into Park River headwaters -> over Carkeek ridge with lunch at Carkeek hut -> down into the Waiohine river headwaters -> up the river to the Waiohine Pinnacles -> Pinnacle spur to Arete forks hut -> out to Bruce rd again via Cow Creek hut.

The goal is to tent down in the river flats of the Park & Waiohine valleys, looks like some stunning spots!

Here's a sneak peek of some route planning for the more complex sections getting in and out of valleys: