Pukeatua Peak (Waikato) Pukeatua, North Island, New Zealand
By quinella on 09-Feb-08. Waypoint GC197BJ

Thanks. Challenge but pretty easy

An unfortunate DNF after hoping this would be my one cache of the day - I’m too busy huffing and puffing and taking photos of birds in my limited time to climb this peak to look for others! Oh well, a beautiful view all the same (with a new kākāpo monitoring device, how cool!).

Had a thorough search around but no sign of the cache. Not sure where else it could have been

A stunning day on the Peak. Can see Mount Ruapehu. A quick find. The log paper is a bit weathered.. TFTC.

Where could it be?

Good walk

Are we there yet? Bit of a puffer but a beautiful day to be out and about. TFTC

That was a good walk clamber up here...now to find it many of my tramping colleagues were taking the Mickey as I scrambled around looking like a lost chicken eventually it was located and I am not sure this is the original cache but I will take it as a find any way...I was surprised to see that the D is only a 1 star..this really had me scratching my head ..many thank quinella very pleased to sign this off

We had a big day tramp up the Pinnacles last week so was hoping for an easier option this week. Well maybe not, but the views on the way up were spectacular. As we approached this summit the cloud started to come in so the views were a bit hazy but still worth the climb. We chose to have lunch here. I hunted all around much to the amusement of the group. But nothing so I sat and ate my lunch. Then as everyone got up I studied where they had sat. I ducked in and behind with the group suggesting I was like a chook scratching around. ....Small things....Well they couldn't believe it when I announced I had found it. So pleased to get this one. Thanks for the placement quinella.

TFTC, pity I'm not taller, could have been a spectacular view!

Had a good hunt around but couldn't find it. Nice day for a walk tho

I didn't find, but found the spot. I'm planning on heading up again soon so will take reasonable cache up with me to replace.

With working during the week in Tauranga I decided to stay Friday night to be able to head out on Saturday to do some geocaching in this area. After visiting the Otautora waterfall I moved on to find Hard Aka but must have followed the wrong markers. After 20min in bush bashing away from GZ I figure out that I am heading into the direction of Pukeatua Peak. I wanted to avoid it due to the DNF but checked my bag and had a container and paper... decided to move on extending my day out by 1-2hs. At GZ I did a good search but did not locate the container and left a temporary replacement instead. TFTC

Cant get to the area to check this , but 3x DNFs is concerning.

Cache should be in a hole beneath a stump or old root near the centre of the summit clearing, accessed from LH side of the mound as you sit to enjoy the view to the south.

I would appreciate a further search based on this specific clue , before I archive (if missing).

Alternatively if it is gone, someone may assist by replacing. Thanks

After a 15minute look we sat down for some tea and messaged a previous finder that gave us pretty accurate location. We then went to town on the place where it's ment to be twisting our young bodies around the trees and bushes to search ever single place. Even sometimes having the length of our arm in the gaps. Using torches as we searched we saw no signs but signs of a small rodents den. Possibly he didn't like it as his furniture. Although we were determined to turn this cache into a smiley to help future caches and the co. We couldn't. It's possible it's still here deeper than we can reach or under the soils or leaves. Thanks anyway and I would love to say it's a beautiful place but we have come on a horrible day with rain and mud with us being inside a cloud since we arrived.

We went up to Pukeatua Peak, but unfortunately we could not find both caches, that we passed. We searched for this one with the four of us, found some really good possibilities for hiding, but had no luck.

Enjoying a shared walk on the track with friends we decided to venture off and climb Pukeatua. Quite a mission on the steep obstacle track. We made it to the top, however cold weather and exhaustion shortened our hunt so we didn't come up with a result.

Finally dropped trackable off. A good scramble to put it there!

Summited on April Fools with simizz but forgot to log it until now! A beautiful walk, thanks for the cache

Summited with Cholsee on Easter Sunday/April Fool’s day. Thanks for the lovely cache. Beautiful forest!

Well this was our second for the day and after spending all that time on the new track the old track to get to GZ had us in for a bit of a shock. Full on tramping style here. About 20 mins from the crossroads to get to this one and then back again. Another favorite point from us for the adventure.

Find number 3688. It was my mission today to get these caches. They have been on my radar for far too long. I awoke this morning to uninviting weather. After a leisurely breakfast I hit the road. It has been a while since I have been on the mountain from this side. (I have been up from the other side 3 times in the last 60 days). I made my way up the old over the mountain track which I think is more pleasurable than the alternative although it may be tougher. After collecting GC5V6WP Rock n Roll I headed down and surprise surprise up again to this one. There were a number of places that the track was a challenge. Tree down. Slippery rocks. Hand to hand clamber. The last 10 minutes the wind got up and I was not looking forward to being at the top. I arrived at the peak to be in shelter so was able to sign the cache and have a drink and eat out of the wind. Then I made my slowly down to the Wairere junction.
This is the last of the Waikato Mountain challenge cache for me so I will have to have a trip up the Hakrimata range soon.
Thank you for the placement.

I was really happy for my new hiking boots (my old ones dies a tragic death early boxing day) as I hit this part of the track and its near non existant path. I have to admit when I reached the fallen over tree I paused for a bit to try work out whether it was just the trappers who'd made the path, or if that really was the path! Got to the top, and had a look around, then sat down to eat my lunch when 2 other girls turned up. I have to admit my first thought was "quick, hide the cache in case they are cachers too!" which I did, then sat down to eat my nectarine. They were trying to orientate themselves, and once I pointed out the Lichfield Dairy factory and Tokoroa Mill they could work out where their farm was (the other side of the mountain). In my haste to get down before them I lost the track markers, so pulling put the map and my compass, I worked out if I headed nearly straight down from where I was I would hit the main walking track. I may have a few scratches from the unexpected bush bashing, but all up am happy I made myself unlost!

Came up here today especially for this one. My first one towards the mountain challenge. It was a bit late in the day to go for both up here today so will save that for another mission. Covered in mud from my climb over to get the rock n roll cache climbing up this side wasn't as bad. About half way up I encountered a huge obstacle. A large tree has fallen down the track not across the track. So a mission to get past but I had gone this far I was determined to find a way. Got a bit dicey climbing up but made it I did. Found and easier way on climb back down. Got to the top and hint made it very easy to find. Log book was full one side so have started at the beginning again on the back. Thanks for a adventurous afternoon out. Tftc

Quite a climb from the south? saddle but worth it for the view Thanks for cache and the reason to be here

After finding he Hard Aka cache we carried on the ridge to meet up with the Over The Mountain track. THe very top of the ridge was hard going with very thick undergrowth. The markers are fewer and far between for the second half, but we kept counting the numbers and the going went very well between markers 31-41. We were glad to be on the main track, and after a break for lunch carried on towards Pukeatua Peak. We were very surprised to find the OTM track almost as raw as the Aka track and still quite challenging to navigate. The steep section to the top was hard work, and coming down was probably even harder!
Once at the top a fait view over the bushes, and I found the cache immediately withouth the use of the hint. Coordinates are spot on. Cache is ever so slightly damp and logbook as plenty of signatures in it, but also plenty of space left. I mentioned to sveppi that this is probably the first time we bag two peaks in one day, and the legs are certainly feeling it. What we didn't expect was the third climb to the rocky outcrop and how challenging the OTM track is - we thought the second half of our day would be the easiest! A few more tui on this side of the mountain, and we were lucky to see a NZ Falcon soar along the Rocky outcrop! It was a 7h outing for us, still room to improve the fitness!

Second peak of the day after first collecting Hard Aka. Thought this track would be easier than the other but it's a bit rough and now I can feel my legs (also it's really hot today so built up a sweat!). Awesome area though .... loved this loop. Cheers

Woke to a beautiful day so Nahkins and I decided to do 4 of the caches on Maungatautari mountain. Nahkins had been walking to get fit. Took us five hours to find the 3 on the mountain then we had the multi on Arapuni road somewhere. We went up the motorbike track and then branched off where we had to. We did **some** climbing. #3. Well I thought getting to the Rocky Outcrop was a mission but this was even higher and more intense. I got to the top and found the cache. Nahkins took quite a bit longer. She nearly pulled out but I encouraged her, it's the easier part of the climb. She made it. Wow the view. We had our lunch up here. We signed the log and put back. Then we did the calculations for the multi. I had the number from Maungatautari and we guess the T. Now back down the hill. I put my foot on a wet tree root and nearly split in half and Nahkins slipped and landed on her thigh. Oops another bruise. She had a bruise from a previous geocaching hunt. Got back to the carpark safely. The track seemed longer, we must be tired. TFTC.

Woke to a beautiful day so NZPatoto and I decided to do 4 of the caches on Maungatautari mountain. I have been walking to get fit, and after today need to do a lot more. Took us five hours to find the 3 on the mountain then we had the multi on Arapuni road somewhere. We went up the motorbike track and then branched off where we had to. We did some climbing. #3. Well I let NZPatoto go first and it was not long before I thought about texting her to say I wouldn't get there. At some of the places I had to crawl on hands & knees as the hip wouldn't let the foot reach the next step and I didn't want to have a accident and have to be rescued. Again NZPatoto was first to the top and found the cache. I took quite a bit longer. Was on the verge of giving up but with NZPatoto's encouragement I got to the top. So glad I did, the view was worth it. Funny I have no issues with the height factor, just short legs and a stiff hip, which slows me up. We had our lunch up here. Then we did the calculations for the multi. NZPatoto had the number from Maungatautari and we guess the T. Now back down the hill. NZPatoto put her foot on a wet tree root and nearly split in half and I slipped and landed on my thigh (at a different spot). Oops another bruise, think it's going to be on the bruise from a previous geocaching hunt. Gotta learn to stay upright. Got back to the carpark safely. Walking back the track seemed longer, we must be tired. TFTC.

Our daughter is in training for a trip to Ecuador so knocked this one off. First cache for a few years. TFTC

I have been eyeing up Mungatautari and the Geocaches here ever since I started this strange hobby. It’s a place I have often thought I should visit and explore but have never managed to get to. I had mentioned the Mountain Challenge which requires the two summits on Mungatautari to my friends Steed&Peel when we walked along the Hakirimata ridge a few weeks back and they have gone to some effort to take up that challenge ever since. They kindly invited me to join them today to walk from one side of Mungatautari to the other to grab the caches on both summits and a couple of others for good measure.

The trail to the peak was not as bad as I was expected having seen the peak from afar. I found this one in the logical spot. We enjoyed morning tea/ breakfast/ first lunch depending on your perspective before heading off to our second peak and last peak of the day.

We are here today with Mr Walker, mainly to find the two summit caches for the Mountain Challenge, with others as a bonus.
Mr Walker took a quick look around and correctly spotted GZ. That's one each so far!
We took in the views and decided that this would be our breakfast spot - Mr Walker's third, I think!
Egg sandwiches taste so good in the outdoors.
After a rest, we were off to the Maungatautiri summit.
Thanks for bringing us here. My second visit. The last time I was with a group of women who did the crossing with a night at Out In The Styx, transport provided. I thoroughly recommend that.

Great day for a tramp / climb!

Very cold and icy up here today. Pagenz and I made the journey from the visitors centre and negotiated our way up some fairly slippery and steep parts of the track. The view from the top was well worth the exertion and picked up TB to be moved on. Icy hand hold made the hands numb but warmed the heart with how proud we were to complete this one. Back down for a small break and then onto another cache. Thanks for placing this cache here,

I talked Ttrack - Team Welsh in accompanying me on a quest to find the caches on this track, but I had no idea how steep, icy and slippery it was going to be to reach this cache. When we did reach the summit the rock was covered in ice, even at midday. I am very proud of my sister and I for giving this a go. We earnt every one of the half stars on the terrain rating. t4tc

Found after lunching on pukeatua summit have been up here before.

Have left a trackable dolphn which was given to me by a fellow tramper who was given it by a cacher friend in Sweden who asked that it be placed in a cache in NZ. (I don't know anything about trackable items)
it has a referrance in it V9B953 with it, hoping someone can move this item around.

Woohoo - very happy to log this as its the last cache for the Waikato Mountain Challenge!! A great walk up here today with a muggle friend and a beautiful day out on the mountain. TFTC and for the motivation to climb this

This entry was edited by pinocchio59 on Tuesday, 31 March 2015 at 04:25:57 UTC.

What an unexpected find while on holiday. Tftc

This was our second find of the day, with help from our muggle friend, Thanks Ozzawazza for a good walk

Heading south after finding Maungatautari Mission we stayed on the tramping track, got a good work out, a few steep ups and downs, found this cache, once again the friendly muggle spotted the spot, and then back to the vehicles, good day on great mountain, thanks littlemissmuffit for challenge. Thanks quinella for placing caches.

Decided today was the day for this walk - up to Pukeatua and back to Tari Rd to have a look at the enclosure. I did the over the mountain walk about 8 years ago - so thought we would have a look at the new track. It was very pleasant and makes the mountain more accessible. Good views and we had a good look towards the next challenge Te Akatarere - next summer

Finally got around to doing it awesome walk and another summit done and this cache part of the Waikato Mountain Challange

Mrs Jacksonz away for the weekend, so time to bag another couple of peaks in the Waikato Mountain Challenge. Came up on the old path because the new path looked a bit boring. Steep climb, but great views from the top. TFTC.

Caleb and Warwick made it!

Decided to attack the "Waikato Mountain Challenge" this weekend....Knocked over this one at 2.57am Saturday morning.

While CB and some of her mates were doing a tour of the southern enclosure before the entry fee is put in place, I decided to grab a couple of caches. Got to the summit in about a hour, and was rewarded with some fantastic views of Ruapehu and the surrounding Waikato. Spent about 20mins at the summit and had a quick bite to eat. Frost was still about in the shady areas so was getting a bit cold so headed back down.

Thought I'd got the wrong track as I headed back to the OTM track as I didn't realise it was that steep on the way up. Ran most of the way back to the carpark, total time 1 hour 55min.

Left TB

Found on a sunny day on a tramp in the bush. Thank's for the cache at this beautifull place - favorite point for that.

Tokat

Not much luck with others on this hill so it was nice to pick this one up. Quite a steep climb on the last bit. I was a bit concerned for the decent as we had a boy with one arm in a cast but he was fine. Took Bear Hunters Ring an dplaced it in the Waitakeres but did not get its code.

This entry was edited by NZpixie on Sunday, 24 November 2013 at 09:44:18 UTC.

Found it as part of CHS Yr 10 Adventure Camp

Very weird, but yes I was sitting on it, nice easy find doing the mountain crossing today, pretty hard up to the peak, especially since we followed part of the new track, it was horrible, old track was much better

Beautiful day on the mountain today

a great view from up here and pleasant walk.. Almost took the wrong track but soon realised i was going the wrong way. TFTC

Came over from Hard Aka; with recent tree falls & obscured markers, it was more of a bush bash than expected on Te Aka to OTM track, but good fun, & then straight forward along to the summit. Stunning views today. Took TB. Decided to retreat down the new track as 12 yr old was tiring. Really enjoyed this. Thanks so much for the cache.

Fantastic reward for all that hard work in getting up there! Great care needed in going back down but the view - well worth it!
Despite having lived not far away many years ago Ive never been here. Glad I came. Thx for the cache and bringing me here

Fantastic day, great hide. Did the old tracks up over the mts and down the other side, a bit boggy in places but still a neat walk. That old track is certainly better going down than up! Funny, because a couple of weeks, I was ON that exact spot and said "Bet there's a geocache around here". TFTC, lots of fun.

Arrived via the WFL track from Otautora Falls, which was pretty straightforward, as was the cache find. No views for me today though, just the inside of a cloud! Still, it could have been worse, the drizzle at the car had stopped.

Picked up Stonehenge GC, and pushed on towards Maungatautari via the old OTM track. Thanks for the cache.

This entry was edited by kaikawaka on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 at 10:20:10 UTC.

An early start (so as to avoid news or radio) and a Maunga Mission to boot along with a couple for the Waikato Mountain Challenge. Its very wet underfoot.
All done for the Maunga Mission, Yippee
2 more for Waikato Mountain Challenge
Started at Tari road (via Hard Aka, Maungatautri), funny no one else about still. Made it to the cache at 1050hrs, TFTC
Dropped in 2 x TB's

Out for an afternoon training run while in the area. Have been over the old track a few times in the Maungatautari Mission multisport race, obviously without the time to stop and look for caches. Ran up via the old OTM track from Tari Rd end. Magic spot for a cache, with brillant views on a warm clear afternoon.
TFTCSL
Out: Easy Cache GC

Tackled this one today as number three in our Waikato Mountain Challenge, so was very pleased to arrive at the top and sign the log book. Left the Easy Cache GC which was looking for a cache requiring some effort - hopefully this fills the requirement and it isn't another year before someone visits! TFTC

This one was fun!!!!!! Was walking down the new OTM track, and wasn't sure if there was a track up to the cache. So we bush-bashed up the nearby ridge! Only half way along did i click that a pest free island means no goats! So there wouldn't be any tracks on top of ridges =( Found out the hard way i guess! Dad wasn't amused. We found the old track, grabbed the cache, admired the views! And headed down towards the road, where, viola, we found the new OTM track!!! Dad DEFINATLEY wasn't amused!! I was. TFTC

Found after doing the Otautora Falls cache. Great views. Took a wrong turn on way down because of broken sign and lost 50min so for next person once you come down short bit from summit (about 5 min) make sure you take left track towards Pirongia side this takes you steeply down to new metal track.
Had a great day though and memorable!!!!

omg wat a climb the hardest climb i have ever done come from the falls so came up bush bashing loved it though

Capernwray kid. TFTC

climbed up after the Otautora Falls. Great veiws. A first for my Mum so she was stocked a bit sore the next day though

Last time I was in this part of the woods I got within 180 metres of the cache only to run out of daylight. Turned out that last 180 metres was a doddle. Great spot for a cache, and the first of my waikato mountain caches. TFTC.

Another find with KGJ2 got this one after the falls cache - nice easy find thanks

Summitted up the WFL track after finding waterfall cache. TFTC

This was 1st the 1st cache of the day for Muzy Man and myself - an easy pleasurable walk - with only the last 10 mins a bit of a slog up to the peak- easy find with a good clue- cheers Jumboz

After a couple of quick texts to the Jumboz, got loaded up off and hit the hills, wasn't I was expecting here, thats some flash track, the gators were an over kill! , tried to hook on to the handy waterfall cache on way down but failed, started that at the bottom again! would be easy the second time! TFTC Cheers Muzy Man!

Rain,Rain, Rain, all day, started at Hicks rd, did Hook nose and then Maungatautari Mission then on to Pukeatua Peak. TFTC.

The Freezer Mice strike again!!!
Having just 'ventured' into the Otautora Falls, felt it would be rude to be so close to this one and not stop in for a visit.
Came straight up the 'falls suggested' bait line so had no problems at all finding ones way up here, and returned down the OTM track.
Probably to be considered a little mad heading up here today, but the prospect of a good days caching outweighed the fact the the weather wasnt going to allow any sort of a view.
TNLN, Thanks for the placement, have been meaning to knock this bugger off for a while.

No. 4 of the mountain challenge caches for TT. What a flash new track, however really hard on the knees coming back down, almost think the old track would be kinder on the legs. Bit tired after our trip up Rumbling Tummy earlier in the day. Great peak, and such a great concept for this park. TFTC

Great day for a walk and find a cache. Nice views from here and the weather was great.
TFTC

Must be one of the easiest finds yet - a welcome change after grovelling around in the mud in the rain at Star's Tribute. The second of all 4 caches on the mountain found this afo. Been through here before but never bothered to make the detour up here - nice views just as the rain cleared briefly for me. Thanks quinella

Despite heavy rain warnings decided to head up here today with some of my students. Very little rain! Didn't go across so need to get up another day to get Maungatautari Mission. Great place for a GC despite only seeing the inside of clouds. And yes the clue was spot on.
Introduced 10 more people to the gentle art of GCing too.

Quickish (2hr return) up and down from Tari Rd on old track "training" for upcoming cross mountain multisport event. Checked cache while there as won't have time or energy next time!

Legs were getting tired by the time I got here and had some trouble finding the cache but got it in the end Nil in or out

Had found the Maungatautari cache earlier in the day and walked from there directly to Pukeatua peak. The bush between the two caches is fabulous; lots of lush ferns in amongst some huge trees and mosses hanging off all the branches.

Great views to the north, west and south from up here. Quite surprised to find the "road" on the way down to Tari Rd but it made the walk easier than it could have been with jelly legs! Mrs Zorgon kindly drove to Tari Rd to pick us up then take us back to the other car parked back at Hicks Road.

Crossed paths with a woman runner three times today who ran from Hicks Road across the mountain to Tari Rd carpark then back across the mountain again to her car at Hicks Road - 5 and a half hours for the return trip!! Took us just under 7 hours to do it one way!!. Apparently training for a 24 hour adventure race.

Many thanks Quinella!

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