Pouakai range [Mt Egmont] (1,400m)

Pouakai range (right) with Mt  Egmont in background

Nestled behind the mountain lies the Pouakai range, the eroded remnants of another extinct volcano that used to be the size of Mt Egmont itself.  This climb started at Mangorei Road end just out of New Plymouth.  The tract is 90% boardwalk and actually climbs in altitude relatively gradually.  The down side to this tramp was the higher I got the thicker the cloud got and upon reaching the hut just below the summit it was blowing a gale and nothing to see.  Nevertheless a good challenge ( 4 hours in total) and worth doing again when the mountain is completely clear of cloud. 

A good practise climb before doing Mt Egmont summit itself...watch this space...

Mt Pureora (1,165m)

Central mountains from summit of Mt Pureora

Desite being the highest peak I have climbed to date, this was by far the easiest.  It was a nice well maintained track that gradually climbed in height.  Views at the summit were slightly hazy but still great, could see all the central mountains and lake taupo. GREAT DAY!!

Bring on the next one...

Kaitarakihi (852m)

This is the highest peak of the Coromandel range.  The track begins from the road summit on SH25A between Thames and Tairua.  The climb begins almost immedately and gradually meanders through densely overgrown bush. Tree markers are present  but an easily be missed due to the overgrowth, something I got very familar with!!  Towards the end of the climb the track gives way to a sheer rock climb that ascends the mountain quite quickly and before long I was suddenly at the summit staring at the sign that told me I'd reached it.

Kaitarakihi peak, Coromandel

Here the views are blocked to the north but impressive in every other direction.  From here I could see Mt Maunganui, the Firth of Thames, Whangamata and even Mt Egdecumbe in the far distance!!  Not a huge peak but well worth it for the vews alone...

Firth of Thames

Here's to the next one...

Mt Pirongia (959m)

Mt Pirongia

Climb no 3...this I think has been the trickest climb to date.  The climb to Ruapene trig was fairly simple but the track from here changed dramatcially!  Initiailly there are chains to help you negotiate the steep rock faces that lie inbvetween sections of the track and once they were conquered the track got incredibly muddy!  The trek to the summit was very up and down, muddy as hell and felt like it would never end.  But, eventually I hit a large section of boardwalk which lets you know that the summit is not far away.  Finally the summit and the large viewing tower on top of it came into sight and within a few minutes I was standing on it.
Views over the waikato were a little hazy but there were impressive views of Kawhia harbour.  Mount Taranaki could not been seen on this occasion but ever mind...another peak successfully bagged...

Mt Te Aroha (952m)

My second peak was Mt Te Aroha, the highest peak of the Kaimai ranges.  This one starts in the Te Aroha domain and winds up to an initial lookout point which gives nice views out over the waikato plains on a clear day.  The track then levels out for a while and gradually climbs in altitide.  However,  after a while it gets successifully steeper and towards the summit is a sheer scramble over rocks. Finally I reached the clearing at the top and was greeted by the towerig TV tower at the top.  But alas, the journey is not quite done yet, to have truely bagged this peak one must climb a little further onto the trig on the other side of the TV tower.
Views here were good but  hazy.  Could just see the mount (Mt Maunganui) and the length of the kamai range.  Still a climb well woth doing...

Mt Maungatautari (759m)

Thought I would write a bit about each of the peaks I have climbed so far...

Mount Maungtautari was my first official peak to climb.  This trek starts in farmland and passes through a perimeter fence (to protect the moutain from predators) before gradually climbing up a metal track.  The track then turns into the bush and meanders its way up to the moutains summit trig.  Unfortunately there are no real views at the top due to tall foilage but the climb is fairly straightforward and worth the effort, a nice way to kick off my peak bagging year...

Update

My peak bagging mission began in November 2011, to date I have climbed to the summits of Mt Maungatautari (Waikato), Mt Pirongia (Waikato), Mt Te Aroha (Waikato) and Kaitarakihi (Coromandel).

From here they only get higher...will keep ya posted...