A trip to Herepai Hut is a short and sweet out-and-back. It can be done as a day walk or fun overnighter, and boasts a freshly renovated hut high in the Ruamahanga headwaters. From Putara Road end, cross the swing bridge and amble gently alongside the Mangatainoka River. This lovely section of track affords easy access to beckoning swimming holes. It’s an amicable gateway to the Upper Mangatainoka and northern Tararuas, welcoming trampers to easily accessible huts as well as good backcountry territory. Within an hour you’ll reach a second swing bridge, a dramatic and lengthy span over the river.…