|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whanganui River
|
Drove north on the SH4 for about 15km and then turned off left onto the river road up to Atene for another 20km until we came to the trailhead just beyond Atene by culvert marker 108. Many places in the area have biblical or classical names that have been converted to Maori, Atene is Athens. The track is known by two names, the Atene Track which appears on the sign board at the trailhead, or Atene Skyline Track as it is call in the booklet we had.
|
|
Set off at 10.00 under a cloudless sky and entered a forest with a canopy so heavy that no sunlight reached the ground. Climbed steeply and finally ended up on steps to bring us out with open ground to our right, forest to our left and Whanganui River way down and across to the left. Twenty minutes from the start we crossed a fence to reach a broad grassy track
|
Field investigations into hydro-electric potential
Toward the end of 1960, a preliminary examination was being made at Atene. Atene was selected because it provided the lowest site with suitable topography and geology. The site also contains the interesting phenomenon of the ox bow cut-off meander of Wanganui River bed surrounding Puketapu, a triangular peak. Those features made the location suitable for river diversion.
As this site showed considerable promise for hydro-electric development, investigations continued to gain momentum culminating in a massive tunnelling operation by MWD Forces (ex Aratiatia) in 1964 to establish the feasibility of diversion tunnels through the ridge separating the old cut-off meander from the existing river channel.
Although tunnelling is quite practicable, doubts were at this time being cast on the stability of high earth dam structures unless designed and constructed at considerable cost.
The Atene scheme finally, did not proceed. However, the investigation works used in the assignment did provide a valuable informative source where soft rock does exist.
The Atene Track also makes use of some of the roading developed for use in the hydro investigations.
|
|
Climbed steadily again through thinning woodland of mountain beech and manuka with just enough shade to temper the sun. Tomtits and grey warblers flitting though the branches, crickets hopped about on the grass.
|
|
At 11.00 we reached a view point where we could look west up the Ahu Ahu Valley. Another 15 minutes and the track came to an end and for the rest of the walk we would be on a narrow path that resolutely followed the narrow crest of a circle of hills that almost surround another hill known as Puketapu. Hundreds of years ago the Whanganui River flowed between the hills we were on and Puketapu in a large loop until finally it broke through the narrow isthmus to find a shorter route.
|
|
The path we were following, in keeping to the ridge was for ever ascending and descending with each descent being a little less than the next ascent. With trees on either side the path was quite safe, without the trees we would have felt quite exposed on the sharp ridge.
|
|
At 12.10 we reached the camp site at 405m, that marked the halfway point of the walk and stopped for lunch. Nearby a couple of goats grazed in the bush.
|
|
At 12.55 we continued, climbing again to reach a lookout point with a seat at 475m after 10minutes and the high point of Taumata at 523m after a further 15 minutes. We now started to descend, but again not in a gradual manner, we would drop down steeply only to find another ascent to a slightly lower peak, and so it continued as we rounded a sandstone bluff until at 2.30 we reached the final peak of Taupiri at 395m, from then on in was mostly down hill with steps at times to take us down the steepest parts as we passed through manuka on the lowers slopes.
|
|
At 3.00 we reached the River Road again and all that remained was a 25 minute walk along it to get back to the car.
|
|
|
