By Marta Yeromina, 14 September 2024
At 8 a.m. on Saturday, we all gathered at the Hunter car park, ready to kikoff on a real bushcraft adventure. Apparently, quite a few people had withdrawn from the trip the night before, so our dinner and breakfast turned into an absolute feast!
After a quick stop at the bakery, we headed to Remutaka Forest Park and began our tramp on the Orongorongo Track. Along the way, Jack and Tommy gave us a basic introduction to navigation, showing us how to use a compass and map. We walked down to the bridge, where we paused for a lunch break. We also had a small demonstration of how the gas cooker worked, which gave us the chance to brew some manuka and kawakawa tea—it was surprisingly enjoyable. Although, I must admit, the manuka tea we brewed the next day was even better.
The weather conditions were perfect for the spirit of bushcraft: light rain and fog lent the bushline a mysterious and exciting atmosphere. After lunch, we followed the river until it was time to cross. After a profound disussion about river crossings we split into two groups—four and five people—and practiced the mutual support technique to cross. While the flow wasn't too strong, the river was slightly flooded and had a brownish hue.
We explored a few of the many Remutaka huts along the way. Interestingly, two out of three had swings outside, which, of course, we had some fun with. One private lodge even featured cool wall art depicting New Zealand flora and fauna.
After crossing the river, we found the perfect spot for our improvised campsite. We set up a fly, left our packs, and went off to practice bushcraft skills. We climbed up along Greens Stream and then bush-bashed our way to Paua Ridge, training our navigation skills. Bush-bashing was really fun, at least for me. Eventually, we descended the ridge and started setting up camp. We managed to light a fire using only wet wood and some slightly drier pieces, which was quite impressive. Stuborness was the key element for the fire to light.
The tacos for dinner were a highlight, as the ingredients were planned for 15 people but ended up being for only 9, so there was plenty of food! After eating, we learned how to tie a few knots before slipping into our sleeping bags under the fly. The night was everything you'd expect from sleeping outdoors, with the leftover water dripping from the trees adding some peaceful sounds.
The morning was really magical. I woke up at 6 a.m., giving me time to read a book and gather some wood for the fire. By around 9 a.m., everyone was awake, just as the sun began to emerge from the clouds, revealing a strikingly blue sky. We spent a good two hours on breakfast, cooking over the fire. With the classic bacon and eggs combo, a campfire, and some creativity, we ended up with some delicious eats. The manuka-smoked bacon was an absolute highlight of the meal.
After packing up and cleaning the campsite, we slipped back into our soaking wet boots and headed back to the bridge to decide our next steps. We all agreed to leave our packs near the bridge and follow Turere Stream, with the plan to climb a ridge and practice bearing and bush-bashing. Spoiler alert: that didn't happen!
It was warm and sunny, making the trek along the stream a real pleasure. Hopping across river rocks and overcoming obstacles was a lot of fun. Some of us even had a chance for a swim—both willingly and accidentally. For me, the coolest part was bouldering along the vertical rock cliffs with water below. Surprisingly, the water is quite supportive when you slip off the rocks and fall down, it also get you wet which is an obvious con.
Eventually, we reached the ridge, which was dramatically steep. We gave it a try, but due to unstable cliffs at the top, we had to turn back. Nonetheless, climbing this steep ridge was probably the highlight of the trip for me. We retraced our steps along the stream, had lunch, and then headed back to the car park to conclude the adventure.
P.S. I've acquired a new macpac over the week, which had looked too clean and shiny, so the buschcraft was a perfect trip to give it at least some worn-out look and get it dirty.