The plan was to do a pub-tramp, a tramp which finished at a pub. Knowing there was a pub at Puhoi I did some searching and found the Dunn’s Bush walk. The track starts at the southern end Tolhopf Rd, beside 703 Ahuroa Rd, Puhoi and end of Remiger Rd, Puhoi.

Val and Arthur Dunn gifted Dunn’s Bush from their farm to QEII National Trust in 1994…. A 3km trail takes visitors through magnificent mature native forest and regenerating bush remnants.

Was a nice walk. A good first tramp after a long winter for me. The bush doesn’t cover a huge area, but still has a lot of bird life. (A sign explained how there are islands of bush around here which make up their habitat.) There are some big trees who escaped the mill including this huge Kahikatea and many young (less than 100 years old) kauri, totara, rimu etc.

Climbing out of the bush we reached rock outcrops (sugarloafs?) and an idyllic scene. I ventured bucolic, but learnt it has connotations of backwardness. Brian explained original meaning of idyllic is what I wanted. (Webster’s: “pleasing or picturesque in natural simplicity”).

Another interesting thing about the Dunn’s Bush walk is it forms a small part of Te Araroa, the “long pathway” stretching the length of New Zealand. Was tempting to follow it to Cape Reinga, but left that for another day.

Puhoi pub was packed out with hundreds of bikes and people all out to enjoy the first fine weekend day in ages. We went on to Orewa and had a beer and lunch at Muldoon’s Irish Bar, named after the former Prime Minister who’s borrow and buy votes “Think Big” policies have become popular in the National Party again.

Was a great day, but failed as a pub-tramp. The track is a long way from the pub. So we’re still searching for pub-tramps. Ideas include tracks around Te Aroha, and far away Arthurs Pass, Mt Cook.

We canceled our climb of Ruapehu this weekend. The weather was not good. Snow, rain, gales and a freezing level about 2500 metres. Hopefully it will be OK for my Rees-Dart tramp in the South Island next week.

I’ve been looking at these purtty track books, my sister left at my flat, which are inspiring.

I now have a new long term goal: to tramp the Dusky. I’ve thought about this before, but was disinclined by the stories of the clouds of sandflies, mud, and rain, plus having planes flying across the track everyday will destroy the feeling of remoteness. But having looked at the pictures I’m hooked again.

It’s a hard 8 day track (though I heard some whole families do it) which I’ll have to work up to, but maybe next year. I’d also like to return to Stewart Island and include the side trip up Mt Anglem/Hananui this time. The most difficult thing with these plans is finding someone to look after my cat.