The perfect overnighter for a busy weekend when you're not really supposed to leave the farm. Tramping on the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. So Friday dawned and the decision had been made. Frantic organisation and packing ensued. A few quick phone calls revealed that we'd have to be at the park headquarters before 4 pm. to collect our accomodation vouchers. So at 2:30 the utes were packed. Kevin, Steven, Michael in one; Bryce Kirsty and myself in the trusty 4WD. Happily we found the Park HQ still open and waiting for us  at 4:30pm.

A gentle 5 minute amble along the river flats, over the river led to the start of the Webb Creek track; a further 2:30 hours of pain and a mere 1080 large steps followed as we slogged up the old pack horse track to the Pinnacles hut.

Well I have to say that the Pinnacles Hut is by far the largest and most decadently equipped huts I've had the pleasure of visiting. Bunk space for 60 + people. Electric lighting (Solar Charged). Gas cookers. Coal Range. VIEWS. I think the hut warden is just as happy living in the "old" hut which is just as luxuriously appointed. We enjoyed pitching our tents down by the old Kauri dam 5 minutes from the hut.

The morning dawned bright and clear a leisurely breakfast followed by the gentle climb up to the pinnacles by 10:00. Back to the hut for a quick snack then off down the "billy goat" track towards the cars. A long but satisfying 4 hour trek back the ute's. Again great views. Interesting relics from the kauri logging of the past. A final frantic (steep/ knee wrecking) descent and off to the hot pools at Te Aroha for a well deserved soak and a large feed of fish and chips before heading home.