Turkeys Nest Biv - Tramp In the Leatham Conservation Area

This tramp was an absolute mission. Sam and Kev had done a bit of research before heading off and found a couple of route guides (thanks to the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club) suggesting that they were in for close to a ten-and-a-half-hour day. Although there are several routes into Turkeys Nest Biv, Sam and Kev chose to go across the Wye Route and via Hidden Hut as this only traversed public land and did not require any landholder permission to cross private farmland. Other routes include Parker Spur, which approaches Hidden Hut from the North or via Gosling Hut (which requires a big climb to approach Turkeys Nest from the Southwest.

The Wye Route involved three climbs. The first along the ridge between Station Creek and Boulder stream. This had about a 650-meter elevation gain. The second to the pass between points 1430 and 1810. This had about a 300-meter elevation gain, and the third climb was up from the Wye River to Turkeys Nest Biv with a 600-meter elevation gain.

To add to the fun there was also significant windfall in parts of the track leading to both the Hidden Valley Hut and Turkeys Nest Biv.

Turkeys Nest Biv is perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by beech trees and some wilding pines. The biv itself is tiny. A 1600mm high door means that most people will have to duck to enter the biv. Inside there are two beds (in bunk style), a small fire place and a tiny bench/seat. The base of the bottom bunk lifts up to expose a storage area (often containing some dry firewood). It is difficult for two people to cook inside the biv at once - Sam and Kev both decided to cook their tea outside on the wooden platform that surrounds most of the hut. There is no toilet at the biv and water is obtained from the stream that you cross to access the biv (just above the biv).

On the return Sam and Kev took a bit of a "short cut" dropping down the fence line to the Southeast of point 1149 on the ridge that they had tramped along the day previous. This fence line lead down into the Boulder Stream and allowed for a short diversion to the two Boulder Forks Hut. The original Boulder Forks Hut was still showing the name of Ed Hillary written onto a plank of wood on the roof (although I assume that this was written by an alternate member of Ed Hillary's party as Hillary was only spelt with one L)

More information can be found at https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...

Intro 00:00
First high point 1149 01:27
Pass between points 1430 and 1810 02:49
Hidden Hut 03:40
Turkeys Nest Biv 06:37
Boulder Forks Huts 09:38

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