D4- Tapuaeroa river to Oronui hut

Its another clear day and i get an early start in, continuing up river. Regular tributaries on either side further diminish the flow. The amount of fencing materials washed upbin the riverbed possibly explains the lack of elsewhere.
Theres a road running parallel to the river  and i decide to follow it for a few kms to give the feet a break from the bolders. I pass a modern looking woolshed in action, although ive seen more hoses than sheep in the surrounding farmland. Two rickety wooden bridges span first a large tributary than the Tapuaeroa itself, both rivers lost in the vast expanse of gravel.
A doc sighn marks the start of the track to Hickurangi, but theres no indication of the route to Oronui hut, only a sighn saying im entering the private Gate forest and to use channel 95.
I drop back to what is left of the Tapuaeroa where its the same old, only smaller. The sides become pine and eventually bush as i near the Rakumara forest park boundry, where things start to change. I leave behind the easy going land of the Ngati Porou people and enter the least visited wilderness in the country. Its also the start of undisputed public land.
The riverbed narrows significantly and walking in the flow is required. Bolders range from the size of footballs to a large van. It enters a resonably tricky gourge where a few crossings are required mid rapid. A series of deep pooks require scrambling around but provide an intresting spot for a swim with the pack off. A grassy clearing above the river looks like it may of once contained a hut.
Above the fist gourge it get easier and theres a few spots where you can get out of the river onto terraces. The bush is prodominantly punga and scrub with mature tress higher up. At the Oronui/Mangarata forks i take the Oronui which enters another gourge. The sides are steep, however its easy going shingle most of the way and its the easiest section sinse entering the park.
Above the gourge the steam forks 3 ways. An orange triangle marks the track to the hut but can easily be walked past if your not looking, as i did on a previous trip. Oronui hut is surrounded in waist high grass. Theres 6 bunks, a woodburner and tank water. Its intresting to see a food drop in the hut for someone walking the lenth of NZ. Its the first night in a hut this trip and im knackered after the longest and hardest day so far.