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Northern Crossing (Tararua Range)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rastes (talk | contribs) at 00:43, 15 July 2021 (Includes further reference to: NZ Gazetteer (Lancaster)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

  • Comment: Suitable topic for wikipedia.
    The writing should be tidied up a lot before publishing. At the moment it reads like a list of waypoints.
    Also would be better if you can find some quotations or statements about it in secondary sources. Somej (talk) 09:57, 10 July 2021 (UTC)
For other uses, see Northern Crossing (Tararua Range) (disambiguation).
File:1st Crossing Album 1909 -009 (3).jpg
1909 photo - From Dundas 1499m looking southward towards the Northern Crossing route with Mitre 1571m (left centre, aa), Arete 1505m (right centre, cc) & Pukematawai (formerly Dora) 1438m (right, bb)[1]

The Northern Crossing is a tramping track in New Zealand's Tararua Range. The track is approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) long and typically takes between 3-5 days to complete and is suitable only for experienced trampers. From Levin, New Zealand in the west from the Poads Road end carpark, over farmland for 1km into bush entering the Tararua Forest Park. Then either uphill by Gable End Ridge track or (if favourable weather conditions allow and the river level is low. Note that river levels can change quickly) up the Ohau River to South Ohau Hut and then the steep uphill Yeates 500 track, to Te Matawai Hut 900m. Then continue eastward over Pukematawai 1438m, Arete 1505m and nearby Arete Biv (shelter) then southward along the ridge and via Waiohine Pinnacles 1400m, Tarn Ridge Hut to Girdlestone 1546m.

From Girdlestone the eastward exit is: 1) continue south via Adkin 1460m, The Three Kings (North King 1535m, Middle King 1521m and South King 1531m), McGregor 1540m, Holdsworth 1470m, Powell Hut 1200m and then east to Holdsworth Lodge end carpark or 2) eastward via Brockett 1538m, Pukeamoamo / Mitre 1571m (which is the highest peak in the Tararua Forest Park), Mitre Flats, Mitre Flats Hut 350m and the track alongside the Waingawa River to The Pines end carpark.

Both the Holdsworth and Waingawa / The Pines exits are within 20km by road to Masterton. [2] [3]

History

In 1909 the 1st documented Northern Crossing from Levin to Masterton was completed from February 13th-19th by George Leslie Adkin and Ernest Samuel Lancaster. [4][5]Their route started from Levin (Poads Road end carpark), up the Ohau River to the confluence of the North Ohau and South Ohau Rivers. Then up Deception Spur and over the ridge to the Mangahao River. From there up the ridge to Dundas 1499m and then southward to Arete 1505m. Then continuing south to the Waiohine Pinnacles and exiting eastward then along the Pinnacle Spur to the Waingawa River and Mitre Flats and out to Masterton.

In March 1911 Adkin, Lancaster and Harry Thompson completed the second documented Northern Crossing. They started at Levin (Poads Road end carpark) and followed the 1909 route as far as the Waiohine Pinnacles. They then continued southward past Tarn Ridge, Girdlestone (1546m) and Pukeamoamo / Mitre (1571m), Mt Holdsworth (1470m), exiting to the east at Holdsworth Lodge and out to Masterton. [6]

All 3 men - George Leslie Adkin, Ernest Samuel Lancaster and Harry Thompson, have peaks in the Tararua Range named after them. Adkin 1460m, Lancaster 1504m and Thompson 1448m were made official names by the NZ Geographic Board in July 2020. [7] [8] [9] [10]

Track description

The track is mostly unformed with steep, muddy or rocky sections and requires good navigation skills and fitness. Weather conditions are changeable in the Tararua Range.

See also

References

  1. ^ "View of mountains in the Tararua Range looking South from Mount Dundas". Photographed by George Leslie Adkin between 13 and 19 February 1909. National Library of New Zealand (From Adkin collection). 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Tararua Adventure Guide ISBN: 9780958267373". By Jonathan Kennett. The Kennett Brothers Ltd. 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Tararua Tramping Club". Northern Crossing - online guide. Tararua Tramping Club. 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Lancaster". New Zealand Gazetteer online. Land Information New Zealand. 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ Brook, M. S. (2007). "The geomorphic work of George Leslie Adkin (1888-1964) and glaciation in the Tararua Range, North Island, New Zealand". M.S.Brook. 63. Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand: 18–29. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7939.2007.00084.x. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  6. ^ "An Eye for Country (by Anthony Dreaver) ISBN: 9780864733191". The life and works of George Leslie Adkin. Victoria University Press. 1997. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Adkin". New Zealand Gazetteer online. Land Information New Zealand. 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Lancaster". LINZ consultation decision on geographic name. Land Information New Zealand. 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Lancaster". New Zealand Gazetteer online. Land Information New Zealand. 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Thompson". New Zealand Gazetteer online. Land Information New Zealand. 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Northern Crossing.

Category:Hiking and tramping tracks in New Zealand Category:Geography of Manawatū-Whanganui Category:Tourist attractions in Manawatū-Whanganui Category:Tararua Range

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