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Watson Creek Route - Mole Tops - Jameson Ridge Track

January 01, 2025

Watson Creek Route - Mole Tops - Jameson Ridge Track
Day one: The walk begun with a run, well actually more like a jog, in boots. I dropped everyone at the start of the Waston Creek Route then drove back to the end of the Jameson Ridge Track, parked and jogged back.
The track started as a grassy track, out in the open unrelenting sun, blasted by the wind and being directed on possibly the longest route around the Ella Stations Hop fields in the hottest part of the afternoon. I was feeling quite disgruntled as there was a perfectly formed road that went almost straight to the creek and carrying all the extra weight (kids gear) around the longest way possible was not a happy start.
Eventually I got the native and caught the kids, they were equally unimpressed by the circuit around the hop fields however it was a relief to be in the bush. We made good progress on the gentle incline then picked our way up the creek. This part took some time. It was quite interesting, the route was well formed although there were a few slips to pick around. The creek looked clear & refreshing, but we were short on time and the water was freezing so no dips were taken.
We had dinner about a km from the bushline then continued through beautiful, ferny terrain while the sun started dropping in the sky.
When we arrived at bushline camp and there were two tents there, we said hi then decided to find a flat spot further up. Unfortunately no flat spots were found. Just swamps and abundant speargrass that was the perfect height to stab the kids 7 & 9. Emotions were high, blood was running, the next part was 200 vertical meters of steepness and speargrass and the sun had just gone. However the kids dug deep, the air cooled to a lovely temp and we worked our way around all the scary, stabby speargrass and arrived at the tarn at the head of Watson Creek. Hot chocolates and bed for the kids on dusk.

Day two: Awoke early to a beautiful still morning with the early summer light and surrounded by many varieties of mountain flowers. We decided to rock hop up to the ridge directly behind camp to avoid the dreaded speargrass (for the kids sake). On the ridge there were beautiful views all round with the Mahanga Range & Travers Range to one side and the Matakitaki Valley and many seemingly endless peaks stretching out beyond.
We meandered very slowly along the ridge for the morning taking in the views. We passed the high tarn (our intended 2nd campsite) but the group we passed the previous evening had set up camp there so we left them in peace.
The ridge stretching towards the north-east looked like easy terrain and we decided it would be interesting to explore, so we headed in that direction. It was hot travel, not much breeze in the heat of the afternoon, the kids were pretty over it by the time we sidled around peak 1651. However it was an easy drop down and when the two tarns came into view, it got the kids moving again. We set up camp and it was hot in the tent and out the tent. The kids had a dip in the tarn and then we covered the tents in sleeping bags to block the sun and played uno while the heat of the day passed.
Late afternoon I walked the north ridge just beyond point 1576, there were great views of Lake Rotoroa and the eastern ridge and so many mountain flowers. Then back to camp for dinner then to take pretty tarn photos with the kids.

Day three: Awoke to another beautiful still morning, the overnight temp had been pretty warm and it was still warm waking up. The kids looked pretty knackered and we knew it would be a bit of a hot walk out. We loaded up with lots of water and followed our route back out, the kids were stuffed, we'd eaten all the good stuff, things were pretty unhappy. They kept going, although there was some pretty bad language and attitudes and we made good time along the ridge.
I was actually surprised how steep the drop was down to Mole Saddle, and was pretty happy we came up Watson Creek, much easier mentally on the kids minus the speargrass.
The walk back was pretty uneventful, Jameson Ridge was as expected, gradual and dragged on but with some lovely native bush lower down.
We survived this one, kids are unsure if they had fun, and it pushed their limits but overall it was a great loop and I'd like to revisit in Autumn or early winter.






Blue Monkey posing on top of the first ridge.





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