Copyright: Gully, John, 1819-1888 :Mount Egmont or Taranaki / John Gully, 1875. Dunedin, Marcus Ward, 1877.. Gully, John, 1819-1888 :New Zealand scenery chomolithographed after original water-color drawings by John Gully with descriptive letterpress by Dr Julius von Haast. Dunedin, Henry Wise & Company ; London Marcus Ward & Co., 1877. Ref: PUBL-0010-13. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
×View of Taranaki Maunga looking across Lake Mangamahoe
The Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki (national park) surrounding it was defined as a 6-mile radius from the cone of the maunga, making a near complete circle of native bush. If you fly past (or even view it from space), the park boundary appears as the world’s biggest crop circle of deep green forest.
×Aerial view of Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki from a flight to Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Having had several options already thwarted by the weather, it was exciting to see the forecast for Taranaki clearing up. We hopped in the van after work on Friday and high-tailed it to the Dawson Falls visitor centre on the southern slope of Taranaki ready for the tramp the next day.
×A person walking through the snowfield looking across at Fantams peak
After clearing the treeline and scrambling up through the snow, Syme hut emerged out of the snow field. The hut was named after Rod Syme, a well-regarded local tramper and agricultural instructor who contributed significant work in the area. I’ve heard the hut referred to as “the ice box” and when we go close, it was obvious why.
