Stairway to Henry (Taranaki) North Egmont, North Island, New Zealand
By
GuanoGerbil on 16-Nov-08. Waypoint GC1J7GQ
Cache Details
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Logs
The staireway was a nightmare but the cache a nice reward 
met some lonely muggles that we're so into learning more about geocaching! Who knows, maybe they'll join the fun! Thanks. the view is spectacular!
met some lonely muggles that we're so into learning more about geocaching! Who knows, maybe they'll join the fun! Thanks. the view is spectacular!Found it during hiking Pouakai Circuit. So many stairs lovely weather and amazing views. Quick and easy find. Tftc
We found this cache our fifth and last tramping day in this amazing national park.TFTC!
Set out with a muggle mate from the Kaiauai car park and made the trek up and down all the steps. Took us a bit longer than it could have because we stopped to chat to about 5 groups that we met on the way. It was a great day and we spent about an hour at the top enjoying the magnificent views. Thanks for the cache.
[1422]
[1422]
A great day today. Set out to pick up Maude peak extreme and then decided to come over here as well - spontaneity is always the best! The 811 steps (obviously easier coming from this side) were a little gruelling but it was great to pick up the cache at the end. Unfortunately there were no views to be had as it was misty and drizzling but the fresh air was superb. TFTC - deserves a favourite but unfortunately I'm out of them at present
Time is ticking on its 3.15pm but what a view.
Well that was a bit of a climb, it's hot work. No wind, the sun is out and the mountain looks amazing.
I look down on the swamp and can see where I have been, but also where I need to go, with North Egmont in the distance.
It will turn out to be a long day: Holly Hut to the Camphouse.
Thanks for the hide, good hint, quick find, all good
Well that was a bit of a climb, it's hot work. No wind, the sun is out and the mountain looks amazing.
I look down on the swamp and can see where I have been, but also where I need to go, with North Egmont in the distance.
It will turn out to be a long day: Holly Hut to the Camphouse.
Thanks for the hide, good hint, quick find, all good
After a scramble upto Maude peak this was a breeze, up and down in the same hour, unfortunately there was no view today
Hiking for three days in Egmont National Park. First two days we did the Pouakai Circuit and third day Mt. Taranaki. Nice hike, views and scenery and of course a few caches. Thanks for hiding!
Found on our way to Pouakai hut. Very windy and only part of Taranaki visible. TFTC!
found it on the tour to Taranaki viewpoint and Pouakai Hut. Windy and cloudy day.
Thanks, Malta-Dinger
Thanks, Malta-Dinger
Collected along Pouakai Circuit, anti-clockwise... fully utilizing the stairs! Great hint, was a relief to find after the climb TFTC
Day 2 out from Holly's hut. We were to stay at Pouakai hut but we were there in under 2 hrs so we decided to carry on and walk out. OMG this was an intense climb. Big rest and some lunch at the top. Took the TB for a little trip with us.
Good walk around the mountain, even with the snow, it was beautiful ! It's really worth it to go up to Henry! We did all the crossing and we really enjoyed it!
#521. We (6 of us) took the path up from Mangorei Road and back, via the Pouakai Hut, which ended up being 15.5km and took us about 6 hours. We hoped for a glimpse of the Taranaki summit at least once throughout that whole time but not once did we get one. It was quite sad - nothing but cloud and wind and rain (and more wind).
But it was still a nice walk, and I'm glad we did it. After spending a bit of time trying to see the summit, and a bit of time trying to convince my friends that Henry's Peak is named after Paul Henry, we went back to the hut and then back to the car.
Thanks for the cache!
But it was still a nice walk, and I'm glad we did it. After spending a bit of time trying to see the summit, and a bit of time trying to convince my friends that Henry's Peak is named after Paul Henry, we went back to the hut and then back to the car.
Thanks for the cache!
Found last weekend while doing the circuit in pretty bad weather. Got to see the mountain just once, but still enjoyed the incredibly atmospheric conditions, and the shelter of a hut each night. Tremendous storm the night we were at Pouakai Hut, but it calmed down enough for us to make it back to the visitors centre the next day. After a few DNFs earlier in the tramp it was exciting to easily find the container in good shape just where the hint said.
TFTC
TFTC
I was here but I went "just" around the cache ...
I tried to look for a cache because it was obvious that there must be some ...
I'm sad because this cache was not saved in my PQ
prepared for travel on the North Island of NZ ..
Nice place, challenging journey ... it's far from my home in Czechia.
I tried to look for a cache because it was obvious that there must be some ...
I'm sad because this cache was not saved in my PQ
prepared for travel on the North Island of NZ ..
Nice place, challenging journey ... it's far from my home in Czechia.
Found during a two day tramp of the Pouakai circuit. Eight of us, Thursday trampers from the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club. A very hot climb up in the early afternoon, but we were rewarded with great views. Took longer to find than it should have - no need to overthink this one! Thanks GuanoGerbil for your efforts in placing this one, another favourite added.
On the pouaki circuit, cloudy up the top unfortunately and a million bugs. Easy find though. Tftc
Cache is in best condition. Could find it today after a short search where it should be.
Proceeded our walk down through the rainforest after logging. Thanks for hiding!
Proceeded our walk down through the rainforest after logging. Thanks for hiding!
A quick trip out from the Pouakai hut as crappy weather on the way. Cold wind and cloud on the tops. GPS was all over the place but even with hint and a good search of the structure and surrounding board walks no gc to be found.
TFTC, great climb, found with my mate Justin. Cheers, was very CHUR (cool how ultra remote)
(1807) Out with my mates walking the Pouakai circuit and collecting some caches along the way. Thanks for placing the caches around this track.
what a climb! but what a view . the mountain had clouded over by the time we reached the top but still an awesome vantage over the ahukawakawa. little fernbird led me to the right spot. tftc
. the mountain had clouded over by the time we reached the top but still an awesome vantage over the ahukawakawa. little fernbird led me to the right spot. tftcWhat a lot of steps on a very hot day en route to Pouakai Hut. Great views. Thanks very much for the cache.
We arrived to this peak on our Pouakai trek after countless stairs It was quick and easy find after reaching the top TFTC
It was quick and easy find after reaching the top TFTCWe didn't have battery up here, but we thought: that should be a great spot for a cache... So we looked randomly, and there it was one!!!
Really cool find!
Tftc
greetings from spain!
Really cool find!
Tftc
greetings from spain!
What a great day. Juty Bug & I walked in from Mangorei Road to lay down three new caches - one at the tarns, one on Maude peak and the last at Grayling's clearing - a total of 14km and seven hours. I accompanied JB here for him to log this cache back in 2010 before I was geocaching, so it's nice to finally "knock this bastard off".
Found with alpenmilch80, KiwiLeon, Paultaps and TucanoVic on a two night hike on Mt Taranaki.
A hard slog of a climb, but made up by fantastic views, even if a bit overcast!
Thanks!
A hard slog of a climb, but made up by fantastic views, even if a bit overcast!
Thanks!
Out on the circuit with Paultaps, Alpenmilch80, TucanoVic and Slieschke.
Left Auckland around 4am to meet the rest of the group around 9am on the car park.
All packed with too heavy back packs for our 2 night trip we set off.
The track started off with some nice and easy down hill to get used to the back packs and to warm up. After leaving the old Kaiauai goat hunting hut site we realised that the track made a slightly different route then marked on our Topo maps. An hour or so and a valley later we were only 150 m away from where we were before on the other side of the valley. Another swing bridge would have been nice here.
Slowly we made our way up the stairs.
Only a couple of hundred meters from the summit TucanoVic, a newbie tramper on his 1st overnight trip, struggled but we managed to talk him up.
Taranaki was teasing with us all morning with a slumber of clouds hovering around the summit sometimes revealing little bits. By the time we reached the summit, dark clouds were drifting in form the sea side.
After a well deserved lunch we headed into the clouds which were now slowly covering our track towards the Pouakai Hut where we were staying for the night.
TFTC
Left Auckland around 4am to meet the rest of the group around 9am on the car park.
All packed with too heavy back packs for our 2 night trip we set off.
The track started off with some nice and easy down hill to get used to the back packs and to warm up. After leaving the old Kaiauai goat hunting hut site we realised that the track made a slightly different route then marked on our Topo maps. An hour or so and a valley later we were only 150 m away from where we were before on the other side of the valley. Another swing bridge would have been nice here.
Slowly we made our way up the stairs.
Only a couple of hundred meters from the summit TucanoVic, a newbie tramper on his 1st overnight trip, struggled but we managed to talk him up.
Taranaki was teasing with us all morning with a slumber of clouds hovering around the summit sometimes revealing little bits. By the time we reached the summit, dark clouds were drifting in form the sea side.
After a well deserved lunch we headed into the clouds which were now slowly covering our track towards the Pouakai Hut where we were staying for the night.
TFTC
Decided with Paultaps, KiwiLeon, TucanoVic and Slieschke to have a go at some geocaches on Mt Taranaki over the long weekend. A three day tramp was planned with two nights in huts.
The first leg started with meeting at the visitor carpark in the early cold morning hours to make our way up to the Pouakai Hut. A lot of stairs were climbed but the view and lunch break at GZ was a huge reward. TFTC
The first leg started with meeting at the visitor carpark in the early cold morning hours to make our way up to the Pouakai Hut. A lot of stairs were climbed but the view and lunch break at GZ was a huge reward. TFTC
Found this one on a hike to the Holly Hut.
Thank you for that cache.
Regards from Bavaria
CR
Thank you for that cache.
Regards from Bavaria
CR
Found while cycling around NZ. I cycled up from new Plymouth today and wanted to do a shorter walk before spending the night at the doc information center and going for the summit tomorrow morning. Geocaching helped me choose this walk. Thank you very much. It got me looking around at first since the GPS was a bit jumpy. But the hint is the best. TFTC
I’m trying to build up my fitness level in preparation for a summit climb before the end of this summer, so decided to climb to Henry as part of my training.
I am in awe of anyone who can do this in one and a half hours. It took me just over an hour to reach the shelter, and the final time to the top was three and a quarter hours, during which I stopped to rest multiple times. This is not a walk for the faint of heart; the tree roots make tricky steps and the overgrown vegetation provides a further barrier to rapid progress.
This trek was the first time I had ever used hiking poles. I was doing well without them but was stirred into unlimbering them from my pack upon meeting a couple of hikers coming in the opposite direction. At first the poles had a tendency to strike out on their own, making me hurry to keep up, but once I had got their natural ebullience under control they proved to be valuable companions.
Just before the river I met my second group of hikers, and at the foot of the steps I met a solo trekker who asked if I had found any caches. I told him that I was heading to the top for one, and he expressed surprise, admitted he hadn't checked to see if any were around, and looked thoughtfully back at the track behind him as if considering retracing his steps.
I pressed on by myself and on reaching the top met my last people of the hike, a couple of young women who were making the most of the seating surface. They graciously made room for me and I rested, lunched and chatted before they headed off towards Maude and left me free to hunt for the cache which turned out to be exactly where the hint said it would be.
I signed the log, dropped off some swag and a personal token, and then girded myself for the trip down. I think it actually took me longer to get back than it did up – I staggered out of the bush to the car eight and a half hours after I had left in the morning. I strongly recommend not having chilli beans as a means of sustenance; they were a constant irritation on the way down and I was pleased to be the only person on the track.
Another smiley on the mountain, and another step closer to the goal. Thanks for the placement.
I am in awe of anyone who can do this in one and a half hours. It took me just over an hour to reach the shelter, and the final time to the top was three and a quarter hours, during which I stopped to rest multiple times. This is not a walk for the faint of heart; the tree roots make tricky steps and the overgrown vegetation provides a further barrier to rapid progress.
This trek was the first time I had ever used hiking poles. I was doing well without them but was stirred into unlimbering them from my pack upon meeting a couple of hikers coming in the opposite direction. At first the poles had a tendency to strike out on their own, making me hurry to keep up, but once I had got their natural ebullience under control they proved to be valuable companions.
Just before the river I met my second group of hikers, and at the foot of the steps I met a solo trekker who asked if I had found any caches. I told him that I was heading to the top for one, and he expressed surprise, admitted he hadn't checked to see if any were around, and looked thoughtfully back at the track behind him as if considering retracing his steps.
I pressed on by myself and on reaching the top met my last people of the hike, a couple of young women who were making the most of the seating surface. They graciously made room for me and I rested, lunched and chatted before they headed off towards Maude and left me free to hunt for the cache which turned out to be exactly where the hint said it would be.
I signed the log, dropped off some swag and a personal token, and then girded myself for the trip down. I think it actually took me longer to get back than it did up – I staggered out of the bush to the car eight and a half hours after I had left in the morning. I strongly recommend not having chilli beans as a means of sustenance; they were a constant irritation on the way down and I was pleased to be the only person on the track.
Another smiley on the mountain, and another step closer to the goal. Thanks for the placement.
Nice find towards the end of our trip which consisted of going up, down and around the mountain.
Retrieved Geocoin.
TFTC
Retrieved Geocoin.
TFTC
It's just really nice to take off your backpack, find a cache and take a break while celebrating your find. TFTC
TFTCFound it with Banjoboy2012 and callanmca, well maintained track and amazing panoramic view, tftc
Headed up the mogorei track at 9 am and got to pouakai hut by 10:30am. after a short rest we continued on to henry peak. after hauling ourselves up the ladders we were soon enjoying the amazing view and the cache was soon in hand. a fav from me TFTC
At last!!!!1!!!
Got to the top again and had a proper look for the cache. The clue is spot on. Took a snake stone And left a carved owl. Wind was Very strong on the top and the views were impressive. Thanks to Guano gerbil for the cache and confirming the cache clue for me. This is going into my favourites list.
Got to the top again and had a proper look for the cache. The clue is spot on. Took a snake stone And left a carved owl. Wind was Very strong on the top and the views were impressive. Thanks to Guano gerbil for the cache and confirming the cache clue for me. This is going into my favourites list.
Found it with hairyles quite hard to get up, nearly got blown off the hill on the way up but once at the top there were some really cool views. Left button tftc
Start of a get fit programme after the New Year festivities. In from Egmont Road carpark. Cloud level at Henry Peak height so very few views above that but a good walk. Around 3 hrs up and 2 hrs down the same way. Steps are a bit of a drag. Good fitness for an Egmont climb. Met a few others doing the circuit. tftc
Head up the Mangorei trail in the dark. Reached the Pouakai hut before the trampers were out of there sleeping bags. Unfortunately we were in climb the whole morning so no views.
Left Eric the viking.
Left Eric the viking.
Amazing views all along throughout the walk. Lovely lunch picnic with ozlad by the tarn in front of the magnificent mountain after caching. TFTC!
tftc, found it with Good Will Hunting, walked up from Mangorei Track and across the Plateau, was worth the walk on such a stunning day
We left for Holly Hut from the North Egmont Center at 6:30pm on Friday night after obtaining hut passes and dinner. We made it to the hut right on nightfall and stayed the night witha nutter from the Netherlands who was wearing only sneakers (from Mangorei Rd to Holly Hut via Henry in one day...) and eating only plum jam sandwiches!
We went to see Bells Falls, and left after getting back to the hut. Made it in good time across the very very wet swamp in the rain and up to the Pouakai Hut by 1pm. Get in to take off our boots and socks and some pineapple lumps to see that a guy has signed the intentions log saying "Dropped off 12 sleeping bags for the tour group tonight." Darn it. We left the door open while we were in here, and the mist was rolling in through the door, literally. There's a beautiful view of the inside of a cloud.. We decided we would make it back to North Egmont via Henry Peak by 7:30pm, assuming we could safely cross the river.
We made it up here to find the cache, in very good condition, and no good view. Oh well. Got back to the car at 6:30pm, doing two thirds of what we were going to split into two days in a single day..
Your caches are always very rewarding, Mr. Gerbil. Thanks!
We went to see Bells Falls, and left after getting back to the hut. Made it in good time across the very very wet swamp in the rain and up to the Pouakai Hut by 1pm. Get in to take off our boots and socks and some pineapple lumps to see that a guy has signed the intentions log saying "Dropped off 12 sleeping bags for the tour group tonight." Darn it. We left the door open while we were in here, and the mist was rolling in through the door, literally. There's a beautiful view of the inside of a cloud.. We decided we would make it back to North Egmont via Henry Peak by 7:30pm, assuming we could safely cross the river.
We made it up here to find the cache, in very good condition, and no good view. Oh well. Got back to the car at 6:30pm, doing two thirds of what we were going to split into two days in a single day..
Your caches are always very rewarding, Mr. Gerbil. Thanks!
I was in Taranaki for an event on Saturday, so took the opportunity to pop up on to the Pouakai Range on Sunday and have another go at this cache. I found it easily this time, with the help of a tip from the owner after my previous attempt in 2010, so in that respect this trip was more successful; but on the other hand, cloud on the range meant that this time I missed out on the true prize - the fantastic views of Mt Taranaki that the Pouakai Range offers in good weather! Still, it could have been worse, I had no view to speak of but wasn't ever seriously rained on either.
I came up the Mangorei Track this time, having been up or down the Kaiauai Track on each of two previous visits to the range. I don't remember finding the Kaiauai Track especially challenging, but the Mangorei Track is certainly very gentle, and is boardwalked practically the whole way so is very easy walking.
Dropped off UBEJANI rhinoceros travel bug - next finder please move it on, this cache doesn't seem to get the traffic it deserves! Thanks for the cache, GuanoGerbil.
I came up the Mangorei Track this time, having been up or down the Kaiauai Track on each of two previous visits to the range. I don't remember finding the Kaiauai Track especially challenging, but the Mangorei Track is certainly very gentle, and is boardwalked practically the whole way so is very easy walking.
Dropped off UBEJANI rhinoceros travel bug - next finder please move it on, this cache doesn't seem to get the traffic it deserves! Thanks for the cache, GuanoGerbil.
I was keen to do this one before the winter months set in. Thought I'd take up the Gecko challenge, but unfortunately a lack of fitness meant I fell a little short, although I was quite pleased at getting up & back as fast as I did - maybe the fitness is coming back!
Got to the top in 1 hr 20 mins. Spent a while looking for the cache. Co-ords are a little out, but found it eventually using the clue. Took the electrolite as its been up there a while - don't know if these expire, couldn't see a date on it! Also thought it might come in handy on the way down.
Left a pet rock - a snake.
Took 1hr 15 coming down.
Great track - thanks for a great training run!
Got to the top in 1 hr 20 mins. Spent a while looking for the cache. Co-ords are a little out, but found it eventually using the clue. Took the electrolite as its been up there a while - don't know if these expire, couldn't see a date on it! Also thought it might come in handy on the way down.
Left a pet rock - a snake.
Took 1hr 15 coming down.
Great track - thanks for a great training run!
looks a great trip guano. I now have my next taranaki visits entertainment organised
Fun day had by all Didn't do the one and a half hours more like two and a half with stops to see the shining cuckoo and to chase the black billy goat down the 1000s of steps .left a electrolite mix for thoses that need the energy for the trip back took loads of pictures TFTC good to have knocked this one off.
[I had to give up on finding this one, which was disappointing, as I'd expected it to be an easy find! But perhaps I simply didn't look hard enough... From the platform on the summit the GPSr consistently pointed 9m away into the scrub, and nowhere on the track could I get any closer than that; the only thing that seemed to fit the hint was the] steps leading up to the platform, [and I checked under these, and in the bushes] to the right, [but no luck. I did manage to get the GPSr to zero, by going into the scrub, but that seemed a bit far-fetched as a hiding place.
Oh well! I had a fantastic time on the Pouakai Circuit, with perfect weather for almost the entire three-day weekend, and many an enjoyable detour. It was a popular destination for the weekend, and Pouakai Hut was so full several of us had to sleep on the floor, but Holly Hut was much less busy the next night. Definitely a trip worth doing, cache or no!]
Oh well! I had a fantastic time on the Pouakai Circuit, with perfect weather for almost the entire three-day weekend, and many an enjoyable detour. It was a popular destination for the weekend, and Pouakai Hut was so full several of us had to sleep on the floor, but Holly Hut was much less busy the next night. Definitely a trip worth doing, cache or no!]
Great view from up there - very rewarding after the steep climb. Weather was great and we could even see Tongariro. TFTC
#2044 
Another Gerbil cache bites the dust, Thanks GG for another classic, and also for setting the goal (90min each way). started from the listed co-ords to fully take in the beauty of those 1599 steps, 325 tree roots, 34,897,980 rocks and numerous mis-step and your a goner sections. The swingbridge at the start was awesome, took it nice and easy as it was a LONG way down!! Got to the shelter in 37 minutes, had done a few ups and downs and steps at this stage, but nothing like what was to come, some mint river crossings, and a great leg/lung workout on the steps up to the summit. broke the tape at the top in 1hr 15 minutes. Another GG record in the bag, spent a good 15 minutes up on the lookout taking in the views then for the return, got back to the shelter in 25 minutes, took a drink at one of the stream crossings, Beautiful cool water, as I didnt take any on my run, got back to the carpark in another 75 minutes including helping out 2 ladies with directions, They had an old map with them probably from the 60's with contour lines in Feet!! looking for a track that probably doesnt exist any more.
Thanks for a great afternoon training run.
TNLN TFTC!!!!
Another Gerbil cache bites the dust, Thanks GG for another classic, and also for setting the goal (90min each way). started from the listed co-ords to fully take in the beauty of those 1599 steps, 325 tree roots, 34,897,980 rocks and numerous mis-step and your a goner sections. The swingbridge at the start was awesome, took it nice and easy as it was a LONG way down!! Got to the shelter in 37 minutes, had done a few ups and downs and steps at this stage, but nothing like what was to come, some mint river crossings, and a great leg/lung workout on the steps up to the summit. broke the tape at the top in 1hr 15 minutes. Another GG record in the bag, spent a good 15 minutes up on the lookout taking in the views then for the return, got back to the shelter in 25 minutes, took a drink at one of the stream crossings, Beautiful cool water, as I didnt take any on my run, got back to the carpark in another 75 minutes including helping out 2 ladies with directions, They had an old map with them probably from the 60's with contour lines in Feet!! looking for a track that probably doesnt exist any more.
Thanks for a great afternoon training run.
TNLN TFTC!!!!
The one and only cache to be found during our three-day-tramp on the Pouakai Circuit.
Came from Pouakai Hut, so maybe not as exhausting as from the carpark, but it makes you breathe hard, too. Pretty steep stairs in-between.
Nevertheless, the view from up there is worth it.
TNLN TFTC
Came from Pouakai Hut, so maybe not as exhausting as from the carpark, but it makes you breathe hard, too. Pretty steep stairs in-between.
Nevertheless, the view from up there is worth it.
TNLN TFTC
Bastard! What's with this 1.5hrs in? I thought all the goats were eradicated from the mountain in the 1960's. It took us 3 3/4 hrs in. We thought we were doing well until we met 'the steps'. Fabulous bush, loved the walk. The park certainly a is a national treasure. We left a carbine took the torch ( thought we might need it to get back to the car! lol. FTF Thanks for putting a cache there ( I think!) We never would have done the track otherwise and it is a great walk.
[This entry was edited by smoking gun on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 4:04:27 PM.]
It took us 3 3/4 hrs in. We thought we were doing well until we met 'the steps'. Fabulous bush, loved the walk. The park certainly a is a national treasure. We left a carbine took the torch ( thought we might need it to get back to the car! lol. FTF Thanks for putting a cache there ( I think!) We never would have done the track otherwise and it is a great walk.[This entry was edited by smoking gun on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 4:04:27 PM.]
