| I've been waiting nine months to do the Upper Pohangina! Eventually it it was up and I persuaded Owen it would be fine in a playboat and was worth the walk-in. Awesome creeking, just what I came to NZ for! We met Craig and Chris, two locals, at the put-in.
Put-in: Phone the Farmer, Kevin Billet (06-3294841), for permission to access the Pohangina river track across his land (sometimes closed August-October for lambing). Drive up Pohangina Valley East road for miles until you cross the Pohangina. Carry on 1km until you get to the DoC Field Centre. 1.1km further is a gate on a corner. Walk from here down to the river. Follow the farm track, then the river bank, to the bush edge. Tramp uphill for ages (signed Centre Creek Biv (removed)), then eventually the track comes back to the river. It has also been run from Mid-Pohangina hut (more of the same apparently, use a helicopter!).
Take out: Walk back up to the road to get the car while everyone else floats your boat down to the road bridge.
Gauge: Horizons (0508 4 FLOOD) Pohangina at Piripiri gauge needs to be 0.6m or higher. Damian reckons it is too hard above 1.2m but Craig though any level would be ok and less than 1m was a bit low! It was 0.7 when we got off--awesome run and didn't feel low or rocky; would be more powerful at higher flows though. |
