Running - mountains 3:45:00 [3] 23.8 km (9:27 / km) +1160m 7:36 / km
Finally completed the PUniho - Stoney - Puoakai loop I've been eyeing up since lockdown. Did not disappoint
From Puniho road end, up the track and out to the river. Rock hop past the big slip and up to the Pyramid stream junction. Round the mountain track up to Bell's falls, which DOC had mercifully attacked with a weed eater. The falls were simply amazing too. So glad I finally got to them on the third attempt!
Onward and upward to the Puoakais, via Holly hut. A side trip to the top of Mt Puoakai, as it had to be done. Someone had left a very nice set of pots and gas stove at the summit...I was torn between leaving it (incase someone climbed all the way back to retrieve it), or not. Decided to tie it to the trig so that it couldn't blow roll away at least.
Then a bit of a bush bash to find the head of the old track down a spur back to the road end. Suddenly the track appeared out of nowhere though, and eventuated into probably the most enjoyable run down from the Pouakais that I've had yet! Beautiful flowy track all the way back to the river. Hardes part of the whole loop was finding my way back from the river the 300m to the carpark