Maungatautari Summit Hike, Maungatautari Scenic Reserve

What: Five hour-ish return hike to the Maungatautari Summit and Pukeatua Peak from Tari Road Entrance (Maungatautari is the largest ecological island on mainland New Zealand with 47km of pest-proof fencing providing a haven for native bird and plant-life).
When: Summertime (year round is fine although would be a bit slippery when wet!)
Where: Leave from Tari Road entrance, Pukeatua.  


How...


We were greeted at the Tari road entrance by a couple of DOC volunteers who persuaded us to check out the Southern Enclosure before embarking on our ascent to the summit.  This recommendation proved to be worthwhile as the 30-minute loop track around the Southern Enclosure provided encounters with several native birds and a good warm-up for the legs.  The viewing platform or 'canopy tower' also provided some nice views atop the forest sub-canopy in the Southern Enclosure.


After completing the loop we then followed the well-signposted track towards the maungatautari summit, an estimated 2.5 hour walk.  The start of the track follows several hundred meters of gravel road before entering the bush.  The walk was fairly straightforward, an undulating gradual climb, well-marked, mostly-gravel track through lush native bush up to the summit (note that we took the 'new' track up to the summit - the old track provides a more challenging hike through the undergrowth and can be found following signposts to the 'old track').  Native birds were seldom or heard along this part of the track, with our major wildlife encounter being that of a lone weta strolling across our path.  The last few hundred meters up to the summit brought a change in the surrounding bush scenery with the dense bush giving way to beech trees lining the wooden track.  The summit itself provides little in the way of views with surrounding bush blocking views even from atop the trig station, however a picnic table provides a nice lunch spot to rest before returning to the track.  


On the return hike we took the turn off to Pukeatua peak, a scramble up rocks for about 15 minutes off the main track.  The rock climb is well worth it with the Pukeatua summit providing stunning 360 views of the Kaimai ranges, Pirongia, Kairoi and the Waikato River.  The sky was a little overcast but apparently on a clear day views extend to Ruapehu and Taranaki!  


Once back on the main track the return walk is an easy undulating downhill back to the Tari road carpark.  If driving back towards Cambridge, a stop off in Arapuni is worthwhile to check out the (in)famous Arapuni swing-bridge, which provides some sweet views of the surrounding gorge! Arapuni also provides some great mountain bike tracks and cycleways along the banks of the Waikato River, a biking adventure for another day! ..Another great discovery on this trip was that of the Rollin Ice Cream Parlour, on the main street when driving through Tirau.  The home-made wildberry frozen yoghurt was a refreshing post-hike treat!