Tabletop Circuit

Tabletop Circuit Back

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

This covers almost all the best sections from the others, and is all on public land. The times given were from an actual walk of moderately fit males, 3 riding mountain bikes in to near Tabletop (Green below). The bikes were hidden in the bush before Section J1 and retrieved for the return journey on Day 3. This replaced about 2 X 12.10 km of walking with biking, with all but the 2.1 km Easement section on good 4WD roads. ( One strong walker accompanied started with them on both biked legs, and was only a few minutes behind both days!)

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

Map section	Description Day 1 Maps: (RC) = “Rowleys Creek 9236-2-S; (W) = "Winterbourne 9236-2- N	Length (km)	SectionTime (min)
A	KARORI GATE 0389620/83020, E.along easement, then thru fence toTTOPXROADS 0391669/82707 (Rowleys Creek map)	2.10	25
C	Tabletop Crossroads TTOPXROADS 0391669/6582707 on Tabletop Management Trail North to Tabletop Retreat Road Junct. TOPXHIDEA0392117/6588023 (part Rowleys Creek map- then all Winterbourne)	7.0	75
E	Tabletop Retreat Road Junct. TTOPXHIDEA 0395447/6586908 to Oven Camp ridge turnoff OVENCRIDG7 0396338/658843703	2.00	25
F	Oven Camp ridge turnoff OVENCRIDG7 0396338/6588437 to start Tabletop South Ridge TTOPSRIDG1 0396349/6589574 Hide bikes	1.00	10
J1	From TTOPSRIDG1 96349/89575, climb ridge to TTOPSRID2 0396530/6589820, then bearing 32T (slightly downhill, then contour) to CCOMBSADDL 0396947/ 6590532	1.20	40
J2	CCOMBSADDL 0396947/ 6590532 via CCOMBHIGHP 0397150/ 6590700 ASL 1064 (leave packs) and down dragonsback to CCOMEAST 0397317/6590675	0.4	25
	Allow viewing time		30
J2 variant	CCOMEAST 0397317/6590675 up dragonsback to COMBHIGHP 0397150/ 6590700 (pick up packs)	0.3	10
O variant	COMBHIGHP 0397150/ 6590700 down NNW via MACLCCOMB8 0397055/6590859 & wpts MACLCCOMB 7-2 to Macleay-Kero Spur junct MACLCCOMB1 0400575/6592725 ASL 240	5.3	135
R partial	MACLCCOMB10400575/6592725 up Macleay to MACLKERSUM 0399752/6592576 ASL250	0.9	15
	Totals Day 1	20.2	390

Long day. The section 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 up Tabletop, and just when it begins to steepen at 96500/89825, contour around to your right and slightly down to the 1020 metre contour, and follow it around to the saddle. A good GPS and a lot of waypoints will definitely help here. You cross the saddle, visit the Cockscomb,and then angle down to meet the horsetrack that contours around to the right. This takes you down to the Macleay, with bit of care needed only at the ridge junctions. You more or less parallel Kerosene Creek from MACLCCOMB8 till near the bottom.

The preferred camp is on a flat above flood height, with a good backrest and fireplace, a bit of bush around for protection from winds, and flat space for about ten small tents. There’s a good pool about 250 metres away. If it’s very still, you might prefer to cross the river about 200 metres further on and camp at (W)998/929. Lovely spot, good views, gets the morning sun, and a bit closer to the big pool. Also means that you can have dry feet all tomorrow, unless Blue Mountain Creek is up a bit.

Sections R partial, Q, U, V, W.

Map section	Description Day 2 Maps: "Winterbourne 9236-2- N” only	Length (km)	Section Time (min)	Actual Time
R partial	MACLCCOMB10400575/6592725 up Macleay to Blue Mountain Creek MACLEAYBMC 0399067/6594759	2.4	70
Q	MACLEAYBMC 0399067/6594759 up Blue Mountain Creek to BMC+TTOPT2 0398822/ 6596075 (opp.Lorraines Pass)	2.1	40
U	BMCTTOP2 0398823/6596075 ASL270 (opposite Lorraines Pass) to BMC-Postmans Junction BMC+POSTMA 0397876/96500 ASL270	1.8	30
V	BMC+POSTMA 0397875/6596525 ASL270 upstream to BMC-Granville Spur BMCGRANCAM 0396243 /6596417 ASL 295	2.7	40
W	Granville Spur GRANVICAMP 0396244/6596418 ASL 295 upstream to Blue Mtn-Hole Creek junction BMC+HOLECK 0394286/6595257 ASL 320 Camp	3.3	60
	Totals	12.3	240

Easy day. The river walking is a joy- big open banks, easy crossings, lots of interesting plants and long views. Blue Mountain is a pretty creek, with good horsetrails and some open flats. The Hole Creek Junction camp is beside a pool usually with enough water for a swim. There’s plenty of flat open space for a camp.

Sections X, K, I, F, E, C, A.

Map section	Description Day 3 Maps: (W) = "Winterbourne 9236-2- N; (RC) = “Rowleys Creek 9236-2-S	Length (km)	Section Time (min)	Actual Time
X	Blue Mountain-Hole Creek junction BMC+HOLECK 0394285/ 6595256 ASL332 up to Tabletop 4WD Trail ZINHOLSP7 0395445/6592070 ASL 942	3.8	160
Sub- sections of Section X	BMC Junction up Hole Creek to ZINHOLSP1 0394130/6594931 ASL 330	0.5	10
	SSE (157T) up steep spur to midpoint ridge ZINHOLSP2 0394400/ 6594250 ASL 600	0.7	60
	Continue S(172T) to local high point ZINHOLSP3 0394479/6593550 ASL 844	0.7	50
	SE(131T) via narrow ridge to spur junction ZINHOLSP4 0394850/6593250 ASL 800	0.5	10
	SSW(190T) to local high point ZINHOLSP5 0394769/ 6592957 ASL 817	0.3	5
	SSE(166T) to ZINHOLSP6 0394920/6592500 ASL870 (indistinct ridge)	0.4	10
	SE (128T)to meet road at ZINHOLSP7 0395445 /6592070- ASL 940	0.70	15
K	ZINHOLSP7 0395445 /6592070 via SALTHUTDAM 0395767/6590467 and Tabletop Trail to SALTHUT 0395862/6590296	2.5	40
I	From SALTHUT 0395856/90257 via Tabletop Trail to start of Tabletop South Ridge TTOPSRIDG1 0396349/6589575 Pick up Bikes	1.20	20
F	Start Tabletop South Ridge TTOPSRIDG1 0396349/6589574 to Oven Camp ridge turnoff OVENCRIDG7 0396338/6588437	1.00	10
E	Oven Camp ridge turnoff OVENCRIDG7 0396338/658843703 to Tabletop Retreat Road Junct. TTOPXHIDEA 0395447/6586908	2.00	25
C	Tabletop Retreat Road Junct. TOPXHIDEA0392117/6588023 (part Winterbourne then Rowleys Creek map) on Tabletop Management Trail South to Tabletop Crossroads TTOPXROADS 0391669/6582707 ASL 1110	7.0	75
A	TTOPXROADS 0391669/82707 W along easement to KARORI GATE 0389620/83020 CAR	2.10	25
	Totals	17.6	355

After a short warm-up walk, it’s a steady climb up to meet Tabletop Trail, with some good views along Hole Creek. Mostly the ascent ridge is obvious, with only the bit from ZINHOLSP5 needing careful navigation where it broadens out a bit. You’ll be glad to see the road, which climbs very gently 170 metres in the 13.7 km to the Crossroadsr.