Michael Stead Memorial Lodge - Kauaeranga Valley

05/01/2024

A few photos from a recent trip to the lodge.

05/01/2024

A few photos from the our recent trip down the Sleeping Gods Canyon (Billy Goat Falls) using the services of Canyonz. Not cheap but very worthwhile. I did it for my 60th.

24/04/2023

Kauaeranga Valley will be closed for the whole of May 2023 while DoC carries maintenance of the road and tracks after the recent bad weather. The road will be closed at the visitor centre. There will be no lodge bookings during this time.

01/02/2023

FOR KAUAERANGA VALLEY PLEASE NOTE:

No heavy vehicles over 6000 kg beyond Hotoritori Campground due to road damage.

Our open hours at the Visitor Centre are 8.30am to 4.00pm.

Kauaeranga Valley road is closed today past the Visitor Centre (VC is still open today).

Heavy Rain Watch

Period:

18hrs from noon Thu, 2 Feb - 6am Fri, 3 Feb

Area:

The Hunua Ranges and Coromandel Peninsula

Forecast:

Periods of heavy showers or rain are possible. Total rainfall accumulations (around 30 to 50 mm) through the period would not normally be sufficient to issue a Watch, but due to the recent heavy rains these lesser amounts may still cause issues for the region.



Ngā mihi nui,

Shania 😊

29/01/2023

The Kauaeranga Valley Road is closed for at least today. Both fords have water over them and the Whangaiterenga ford is not passable (see photo below).

19/01/2022

09/06/2021

Due to the rain over Queens Birthday weekend the road up the valley is currently marginal. DOC is currently attempting to fix the various washouts so please check in at the Visitors Centre before venturing up the valley. We have been advised that the road will be closed on Monday June 14th and Tuesday June 15th.

06/06/2021

One of the most well known walks that can be undertaken from the lodge is the Pinnacles walk which can be done as a full day trip or as an overnight walk staying at the 80 bed Pinnacles hut which needs to be booked via the DOC booking system. Very roughly it takes 2 to 3 hours via Webb Creek to get to the hut with another hour to the summit. Times are similar on return. For a bit of variety we always travel back via the Billy Goat track, which is slightly longer, time permitting.

16/05/2021

The next walk I will describe is a little more adventurous. The top half where we leave the track I would suggest is suitable for those over 12 at least. It starts at the end of valley where you follow the Webb Creek track up until the turn off to Moss Creek. At this point the real track starts which is very rough and ready and is quite slippery. A short time later you come to an old swing bridge across the main river. This is good place for families to stop and have a bite to eat and a play on the bridge or in the stream. From here you follow the stream up as far as you can rock hoping around a number of water falls and rapids. Best to do this trip on a nice day when it is not raining. Eventually the main gorge is reached and with a bit of scrambling you can easily get through most of it. We usually stop half was through as there is a slippery scramble. If you are really keen and suitably equipped (ropes, wet suits, food, Personal Locator Beacon etc) you can walk/swim/scramble all the way up to the Pinnacles. Would suggest doing the trip the other way from the Pinnacles down if doing for the first time.

16/05/2021

The next walk I will describe is a little more adventurous. The top half where we leave the track I would suggest is suitable for those over 12 at least. It starts at the end of valley where you follow the Webb Creek track up until the turn off to Moss Creek. At this point the real track starts which is very rough and ready and is quite slippery. A short time later you come to an old swing bridge across the main river. This is good place for families to stop and have a bite to eat and a play on the bridge or in the stream. From here you follow the stream up as far as you can rock hoping around a number of water falls and rapids. Best to do this trip on a nice day when it is not raining. Eventually the main gorge is reached and with a bit of scrambling you can easily get through most of it. We usually stop half was through as there is a slippery scramble. If you are really keen and suitably equipped (ropes, wet suits, food, Personal Locator Beacon etc) you can walk/swim/scramble all the way up to the Pinnacles. Would suggest first up doing the trip the other way from the Pinnacles down.

09/05/2021

Another favourite walk of ours is to the base of the Billy Goat falls. There is no track and it is a rock hop up the stream so it should only be attempted in good weather. At the end of the road proceed to the Billy Goat Landing and then enter the stream and make your way up the river. The trip takes an hour each way from the end of the road and you should allow time at the waterfall for a swim or a snack. A great afternoon adventure in the summer. Late in the afternoon you maybe lucky and see the Canyonz people doing their final abseil.

02/05/2021

Another of our favourite day trips is to the top of the Billy Goat falls. At the top of the falls there are several great pools that you can swim in. If you are lucky you might see the Canyonz people abseiling down the water falls.