Moukatere - Mt Grey and Red Beech Tracks

Distance: 7 km
Time: 5 hours
Start: Grey River picnic area, Okuku Road, Ashley Forest 
Finish: Same place (it's a loop)
Date: Friday 21st February 2020
Warning: The road in is sometimes closed because of fire danger or forestry operations.  See the Department of Conservation website or you can contact Rayonier N.Z. Ltd (03 310 7612).
Getting there: From Amberley, follow Douglas Road, then Cramptons Bush Road until the road reaches the Lake Janet picnic area (17 km from Amberley). Turn left into Mount Grey Road, then right into Okuku Road. Park before the Grey River.

Maukatere (floating mountain) is that iconic peak that can be seen in the distance when you look to the north-eastern horizon from Christchurch/Ōtautahi. There are a couple of nice loop tracks to choose from that both incorporate the summit. Today's loop starts at the Grey River picnic area, ascends to the summit on the Mount Grey Track and descends on the Red Beech Track. The other loop is via Lake Janet and incorporates a couple of unnamed tracks [blog still to come on that one]. 

We parked at the Grey River picnic area and set off up the hill on the Mount Grey Track. After about 2-3 minutes of walking we found ourselves staring at a fossilised shell bed.  Yes, this was once all underwater xx million years ago.

The track meanders in a nice way up hill through pleasant beech forest for about 1.5 hours to the bush line and the first sign of the summit trig. From the bush line, another half hour sees you at the summit trig- Maukatere/Mount Grey (933 m) with panoramic views of the Waipara Valley and Pegasus Bay.

The wasps were out in force (billions of them) and there were two stings to be had amongst our intrepid adventurers (however I'd like to add here that the wasps were probably only acting in self defense??).  It was also blowing a brisk Nor' Westerly at the summit (a.k.a a full-force gale) and so we only lingered for photos, before heading down the hill on the Red Beech Track to the bush line for first aid (paw paw ointment) and lunch.

The lunch stop was a bit unsettling because it turns out that ultra-blue polypropylene attracts bumble bees (who would have thought) and so we were soon on our way, lurching down the valley at great speed (a 2 hour descent) and back to the car park.

We rewarded ourselves with delicious coffee at the Little Vintage Espresso Cafe in Amberley. Definitely worth checking out next time you are in town.