Crosbies Hut is one of two DoC huts in the Coromandel Forest Park and has been on the Thames bucket list for a while.
There are currently five tracks that lead up to Crosbies Hut – Karaka, Waiotahi, Te Puru, Waiomu and Tapu, with the Tararu and Whangatairenga tracks currently closed. We decided to head up the Karaka Track, a five hour hike up to Crosbies Hut and we returned down the Waiomu Valley Track, around four and a half hours back. We had cars parked at either ends, but most people head up Karaka and back down the Waiotahi.
Karaka to Waiotahi Junction – 2 hours.
We started up the Karaka Track at noon and passed the waterfall at the entrance and continued alongside the creek through regenerating native forest. You are walking up an old pack-horse track and pass multiple old mine shaft entrances from the gold mining days on the way.
After around 90 mins of a steady but easy incline you get to Red Cliffs, some pretty amazing rust coloured rocks that provide the perfect lunch spot and great views over to the Kauaeranga Valley and Table Mountain.
We continue on and after about 20 mins we reach the Waiotahi Junction. We consider exploring back that that track in search of the old Tararu Kauri (trunk), said to be one of the largest specimens NZ has ever seen, but only a third of the way in and slowed down already by a muddy track we decide it could wait for another day.
Waiotahi Junction – Crosbies Hut – 3 hours.
From the Waiotahi Junction we continue north-east up the Karaka Track and along the long ridgeline towards Crosbies Hut for another 3.5 hrs. We walk through some pretty forest, looking back down the steep valley sides through massive beech trees.
But as it’s the middle of winter, here we also encountered mud, and a lot of it. More often than not skirting the side of the track to avoid it, or when not possible just squelching though the middle. This is true Coromandel tramping.
We arrived at Crosbies Hut (646m) just as the sun was dipping over ranges. The views at the hut are amazing, with views west back to the Firth of Thames and the setting sun, north up to Maumaupaki (Camel’s Back), north east to Whitianga and the offshore islands and to the east you see a pretty unique angle of Te Whakairi o Ngatoroirangi (Table Mountain).
We settled into the 10 bed Crosbies Hut, there was us and 4 other trampers so there was plenty of room. The fire was already lit so we boiled the billy for a well deserved cup of tea and some dehydrated Thai Chicken. We tried to stay up, but fell asleep at 8pm.
We woke at sunrise hoping to see the warm rays streaming in our face, but unfortunately after 10mins the fog rolled in to kill the view. Oh well coffee time.
Crosbies Hut – Waiomu Junction – 2 hours
We set off from the hut and headed north west up the Crosbies Main Ridge Track for around 1.5 hrs. The forest through here was the most stunning, beautiful mossy greens enveloped us. Unfortunately here the mud got worse, turning into a bog at times, but with a few harden-up pills we ploughed through. The wild pigs seemed to like the area too, with a lot of fresh rooting along the track.
We pass through Crosbies Settlement, an old farm established in 1880 by Thomas and Agnes Crosbies. The land was part of the Waikawau black, purchased by the crown from Ngāti Tamaterā under controversial circumstances. Part of the block was allocated to settler families under the Homestead Act. The Crosbie family collected and sold kauri gum and later cleared the land for farming until 1917 when it was sold onto the Lyes family.
We got to the Te Puru junction and continued on for another 5 mins to the Waiomu Junction. Here we started the journey back down the Waiomu Valley to the waiting car.
Waiomu Junction – Waiomu Road – 2 hours
The hard part wasn’t over however, as the descent down the valley to the Waiomu Kauri Grove is very steep. With overnight packs and an uneven root-ridden track it was jarring on the knees that soon turned to jelly. Don’t attempt to head to Crosbies via Waiomu, unless you are one of those freakishly fit people.
The Waiomu Valley is stunningly beautiful, and once we traversed some pretty narrow ridge tops, we were greeted by some amazing views down the valley to Waiomu and beyond to the Firth of Thames and the Hunuas.
From here it’s down a few hundred stairs and onto the boardwalks through Waiomu Kauri Grove, one of the largest stands left in the Coromandel Peninsula. We rest at the huge Kauri before the final walk back alongside the river, a walk we’ve done many a time before.
All done, 24 hours away from the kids, 9 hours walking, 0 blisters.
📍Crosbies Hut, Coromandel Forest.
🗺️ Walk distance – Karaka to Crosbies Hut 13km, Crosbies Hut to Waiomu Valley 9km.
🦮 Dogs on leash. There are kennels at Crosbies Hut.
