Hidden Wonders: Kaimai Huts and Waterfalls in 4K

The way to the Secret Salvation Hut and the Mysterious Wednesday and Pudding Basin Waterfalls is finally revealed!!! Starting from Blade Carpark up the Ngamarama Track towards Te Whare Okioki Hut, allow 1.5 hours to the obscure falls turnoff. A 20-minute drop to the stunning Pudding Basin & Wednesday Waterfalls will reward your efforts. Continue mainly true left down the ngarly Ngamuwhahine stream tributary track for a 1.5-hour hike to the secret Salvation Hut. A 1-hour return crossing over an often rapidly rising Ngamuhahine Stream and a left turn onto the Leyland O'Brien Tramway will complete the day's hike back to the carpark.
Chapters:
00:00 The mission
4:08 Ngamarama Track
7:46 Waterfalls Track
13:10 Pudding Basin Falls
17:08 Wednesday Falls
19:20 Way to Salvation
23:15 Salvation Hut
26:00 Hut to Leyland O'Brien Tramway
30:00 Obscure Track Junction
Tips:
Preparation: Bring water, snacks, and safety gear.
Navigation: Use a map or GPS.
Safety: Be cautious of the rapidly rising stream. Check weather forecasts.
Timing: The total hike is approximately 5.5 hours. Plan accordingly for daylight.
Salvation Hut History
Salvation Hut was built by volunteers from the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) in 1968. This association, consisting of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, has constructed and maintained numerous huts across New Zealand, (see forgotten huts below), especially in remote and mountainous areas. The huts serve as shelters for hunters trampers and other outdoor adventurers exploring the backcountry.
The Forgotten Five Kaimai Hut Series
Pt-1 Motapere & Kauritatahi • Kaimai Huts - Motutape...
Pt-2 Mangamuka & Te Whare Okioki • Kaimai Huts - Mangamuk...
Pt-3 Puketutu & Wairere Falls • Kaimai Huts Secret Puk...
Pt-4 Hurunui Hut - First Collaboration • Kaimai Huts - Hurunui ...
Pt-5 Heavy Rain Hike out from Hurunui • Kaimai Ranges RAINFALL...
Search for the Kaimai DC3 Engines
1. Finding the DC-3 crash site for the first time and crash history. • Kaimai DC3 Flight 441 ...
2. Finding the wing section and plaque for the first time. • Kaimai DC3 Crash NZ’s ... :
3. Hunt for the lost DC-3 Engine & never before-seen scenery. • Video :
4. DC3 Engine found and you won't believe what else • Kaimai DC3 Wreckage Fo...
5. Descent from DC3 graveyard:
• Kaimai DC3 Graveyard -...
6. #shorts DC3 Engine recovery • Kaimai DC3 NZs Worst P...
7. DC3 Recovery for 60th Anniversary • Kaimai DC3 Engine Reco...
8. #shorts 60th Anniversary at Gordon • Kaimai DC3 Plane Crash...
9. #shorts 60th Anniversary at Tauranga • Kaimai DC3 NZ's Worst ...
10. #shorts DC3 Crash Wreckage Found • Kaimai DC3 Air Crash W...
11. #shorts DC3 Wheel Recovery • Kaimai DC3 Wreckage Re...
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#solohiking #hikingadventures #kaimai

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Hey friends, many have tried to find Salvation and failed but now the secret is out. Check out the hut & waterfalls, let me know if you have been before but please stay safe out there. Only 120 more subs before the channel hit 3,000 - Will you be part of that milestone?

[@taniaroberts7759]

Thanks!

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thankful Tania, that’ll go towards the battery charger 🙏

[@jacobdowning]

Hi Outdoorsman Dave. Thanks for the entertainment. Way better than TV.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

You are most welcome, better than Catan?

[@waterbourne9282]

"Nature has a way of looking after itself." Agreed. Thanks for sharing.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

You are most welcome. For example the Rena shipwreck, with time, Mother Nature heals herself as if it was part of its design.

[@brianclarke1695]

The track to the right at the waterfall Junction is one of many old logging tracks/roads from the 1960s and 1970s from the te tuhi track

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thanks Brian, have you ever walked it?

[@brianclarke1695]

@OutdoorsmanDave Hi Dave, if you look at Google maps, you will notice a distinct colour change in the bush north of Ngamarama track, this is where the bush was logged by Ngaroma Sawmills of Greerton 1962 to 1975, (may be others as well), there are extensive logging tracks north, west and south of te tuhi track road, I guess yr salvation hut was built by the logging contractors, they logged south down to the Ngamuwahine and probably across the other side as well, there is on google maps a logging track across a clearing at -37.7759183, 175.9419616, which I guess is very close to yr hut

[@davidneal6920]

Thats awesome mate

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Yes but what now, that’s all the Kaimai huts 🤔

[@graemeblackledge2076]

Thanks four your effort ... impressive bush & waterfalls & of course Salvation hut. Also impressive maori pronunciation ... i would have been lost 10m in ...

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thank you Graeme for sharing your gratitude publicly & yes they are two wonderful sites to visit which quite doable from either end. I’m very happy with the results of this video, it’s been a real shot in the arm for my efforts as you say, given the lack lustre views of my previous 9, so thank you for your viewership 🙏 check out my “Forgotten Five” series for more Kaimai hut intel.

[@OAPAdventures]

Good to see you finally got there after our attempt in the rains. You're getting to grips with the new camera nicely.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Hi Peter I actually did mention you in the video about it but in order to cut the video down I accidentally had taken the section out and I had so much trouble with the rendering due to its 4K size that I just didn’t have the heart to find it and edit it back in sorry. I do appreciate our attempt together, can you believe I crossed the river without even getting wet 😆

[@OAPAdventures]

@@OutdoorsmanDave And here is me telling people what a good bloke you are! Then Im edited out! I was having similar problems with 4k, which is why I dont use it. The files are way to big for my poor old laptop. I almost didnt recognise the river as the same one that we struggled with.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

@OAPAdventures I’m still a good bloke, just with crap old gear, except my new GoPro ☺️

[@hermannkuhne485]

Thanks

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thank you Herman, it’s well invested 🎥

[@8kiwisi1]

I love that area, has almost everything. We camp near the river as my partner has bad knees, and sometimes wander up to salvation hut. Took my step son through the swamp and onto the water falls. Beautiful area,now I won't be going, will be too many people 😂😅

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Kaimai’s certainly has lots of water sources to camp by unlike say Pirongia. Well done taking your son up Long Swamp, it’s good that people get out for a look, celebrate it, outdoors makes people better ☺️

[@ReviloNZwalks]

Good old Salvation. Looks in the same state as it was 5 years ago. Popular area among hunters. Nice mission Dave

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thanks Jesse, yes a real pity the state that it’s in. That’s the last of the Kaimai huts that I’m aware of. Do you know anything of its history?

[@ReviloNZwalks]

Unfortunately not. When I went there was a log book going back to 1985 that I wrote in

[@staceyross4758]

Have you checked out the old derelict hut near Lake Rotohokahoka out in the Mamaku range. Not to sure if it's still there, as it's been probably a good, almost 10 years since I was there. I can't see anything about it on topo maps though

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Never hiked in there, it looks flat but that’s the sort of off the beaten track adventure intel I’m looking for thanks.

[@nathanbates1260]

Nice vid bro

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thank you Nathan

[@NorthernladNZ]

The 4wd track you come on to comes out at the Blade car park, it will take you over to the Te Tuhi roads. Can be a bit slippery in places, but easy to follow. Quads use it for access to the Te Tuhi roads. Worth a walk and some interesting places over that way, you could even do a loop walk if you wanted to.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Was it Blade carpark that I started at then, I did see what I thought might have been the 4x4 crossing Leyland. Any secret hunting huts you could DM me?

[@NorthernladNZ]

@@OutdoorsmanDave Yes it was the Blade car park you started at. Also the track you pointed out on your map where the waterfall track is, that will lead you to the Te Tuhi roads also, and crosses where the 4wd track comes out and turns into a gravel road. You can spend a lot of time wandering around the old roads over that way, and can look down on to the big swamp from one of the roads. 30 odd years ago it was much more open, now very over grown.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

@NorthernladNZ You do know a lot, are people allowed to walks those paper roads, anything worth seeing? Do you know anything about a hot spring, DM if you know more 🙏

[@NorthernladNZ]

@@OutdoorsmanDave Yes you can walk those roads, they are inside the park. A looong time ago you could drive up the roads even. Have not heard about a hot spring personally. Lots of roads to explore, can walk up Clay rd over there and then over to Wairere falls. From Clay rd you look out over the harbour etc. There is a lot I have not explored over there.

[@jaymenisbet3963]

Hi Dave, would this be doable with small children??

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

From each end when the river is low yes, between well, do it yourself first and decide

[@aliceduser6347]

Hey Dave, have you ever stumbled across the secondary line off the Woods Mill?

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Don’t believe so, might you DM or email me the topo please and I’ll look into it 🙏

[@chriskiwi2601]

Great video. What's a farnow you referred to? Pity about your gopro etc.😢

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

whānau, but I suspect as a kiwi you knew that!

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thanks, Whānau (Māori pronunciation: [ˈɸaːnaʉ]) is the Māori language word for the basic extended family group.

[@kiwiperspective8656]

Been to the hut, but finishing the loop with the water falls ison the list. Have you done the North/South track along the Kaimais? At 3:38 can you tell me what the different color pns on the map mean?

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

When? Did you find it easy or were shown? Yes but plan to do again once it’s opened up fully.

[@anitalewis6491]

And I know someone that would like to do the North South track with ya. 😂. Cause I ain't doing it with him! 😂

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

It’s actually not so bad these days as the Kaimai trust keeps it in good order but yes at > 80 km it’s a bit of a haul. Let’s see how “Stranger Danger II” pans out before committing to 2-3 nights, I’ll be In touch soon 👋

[@kiwiperspective8656]

@OutdoorsmanDave I had GPS coordinates for the hut, but didn't make the last part easy in my self.

[@kiwiperspective8656]

@OutdoorsmanDave I did the North/south in December over 5 days. But missed going up and over the table top past Kauritatahi hut, so that's now my next weekend mission.

[@gavinlarsen2902]

Thanks

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Thanks so much Gavin. What did you think of the story?

[@johnbell696]

Thanks

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Oh wow John that is most generous of you, it’s well invested, Thankyou 🙏