Date: 9 May 2014
Party: Anna, Elizabeth, Lesley
Map: http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/waikato/karangahake-gorge-brochure.pdf
Distance: 16 km
Elevation: 500ish?
Time: 4 hours 50
Notes: Spectacular mushrooms and lichen, particularly Fly Agaric on the first part of the track. Very steep climb, with some peeks of the view between the gorse bushes! Perfect weather, until it wasn't...we could hear the thunder and had time to get our raincoats on just as it started to hail in large chunks, then to pour down. We had a very soggy descent, amazed by how quickly the water collected and started coming down the track (and into our boots). Awesome 180m tunnel, complete with glow-worms and limestone sediment - opening out into an area with a large pool and waterfall (this can also be accessed from Dickey Flat Track). On the Windows Walk part of the track we passed through the remnants of the Talisman and Crown mining operations. Strange to see pieces of machinery still in the hills, and pieces of metal in the river. The schematic of the mines was fascinating, especially as so much of it remains visible. We took the route to the carpark via the tunnels, which were quite creepy, but at least had windows out to the river view below. Coffee and cake at the Talisman Cafe, which has a homely atmosphere and nice coffee. (Despite what you might read in Trip Advisor!)
