Oven Camp Ridge                                 Back

{Three Day Backpack BP(3d2n) L 5 F}

This circular walk starts and ends beside Karori entrance ramp. The first day is very easy, with a lovely Summer campsite on top of Tabletop Mountain. Day 2 is a bit longer, with a morning Cocks Comb visit, a long ridge to Blue Mountain Creek, and a few kilometres of lovely river walking. Day Three is unremittingly hard, with an early start mandatory, a climb of 1216m and descent of 336m, and then a longish road section. Suitable for well-equipped, very fit and experienced backpackers. (Hence the shorter times for the various sections than in e.g. the Bark Hut backpack).

This trip can be varied by carrying your pack while riding a mountain bike in, hiding it in the bush and picking it up on the way back(Green below). This will replace 2 X10.75 km of walking with biking, all but the 2 km Easement section on good 4WD roads.

Sections A, C, E, F, J1, J2, J2 variant, O variant, R partial.

A very easy day, with a gradual downhill along a good(but very seldom used) 4WD road , some interesting plants, a watering point just before the end, and a lovely campsite above the world’s cares on Tabletop Mountain summit.

Sections G, J1, J2 variant, O variant, S1.

A pleasant early-morning walk along Tabletop, through long tent lawns with tiny scattered flowers. The section (J1)between Tabletop and Cocks Comb Saddle is a bit tricky. Essentially, you need to stay in the narrow gap below the great boulders that have tumbled down from Tabletop on your left, and above the heads of the gullies that quickly deepen on your right. Follow the spur down Tabletop, and just when it begins to ease at (W) 96500/89825, contour around to your left and slightly down to the 1020 metre line. Stay at that height around to the saddle. A good GPS and a lot of waypoints will definitely help here.

After the Cocks Comb visit, a careful angle down from the high point (COMBHIGHP 0397150/ 6590700) will lead you onto the horsetrack, which(with a bit of care at spur junctions) takes you right down to the Macleay. There are views back to the Cocks Comb cliffs, and up the straight section of the Macleay to Blue Mountain Creek and beyond.

The river walking is a joy- big open banks, easy crossings, lots of interesting plants, with good horsetrails and open flats. The Bottom Gully camp is near a big pool, and is flat and well-sheltered with plenty of room.

Sections T, E, C, A

This is a long, hard day with some tricky navigation, a climb of 1216m and descent of 336m, a longish road section and no water en route. So you should choose Spring or Autumn with lots of daylight and not too much heat, and preferably with a full moon on Day 3. (You can walk the road and easement section with a good head-torch if pushed). With the above, all waypoints in your GPS, and being very familiar with off-track compass/map use, and you’ll be OK. There are some excellent views from the ridge tops, and a strong sense of accomplishment when you reach the car- probably in the dark!