I needed a dose of wilderness and I needed it quick.
In my last bush bash, I didn’t venture deep into the wilderness. Instead, it was more about exploring the green belts within the suburbs. Afterwards, I found myself with some unexpected extra time, so I decided to add a short trip into the bush before the day ended.
I headed to Hine Road Recreation Area and began on the Gums Loop Walk. After passing above Top Pool, I left the track and climbed the hillside, where I came across an old firebreak. I followed it for a while until it became overgrown with gorse. To escape the prickly thickets, I pushed into the bush and came across the base of an old tree that must once have towered above the canopy. I then aimed for a small gully I knew was nearby. It took longer to reach than I expected, but eventually I descended to a creek at the bottom. From there, I emerged onto the Nikau Creek Track, crossed both the track and Nikau Creek, and entered a flat plateau I call Nikau Creek Terrace.
This was the same area where I remember an old bivvy once stood. It could be seen back in the 1970s when the Whakanui Track was located nearby. Parts of the terrace were covered with rounded rocks, possibly marking an ancient course of the creek, and there was even what appeared to be an old boulder bank. Heading south, I crossed a small feeder creek to Nikau Creek and followed it up a narrow gully.
Eventually, the gully narrowed and became choked with vegetation, so I climbed the hillside in search of more open ground, though it turned out to be quite steep. Along the way, I spotted an old plastic bucket, likely left by someone setting bait. Continuing north, I descended back toward the Gums Loop, rejoined the Nikau Creek Track, and enjoyed an easy walk to the car, finishing the day with a beautiful sunset.
This outing was purely for exercise and the chance to enjoy some solitude and it delivered.
