Mount Matthews, Wellington region’s highest point at 941m, offers spectacular views. Cloaked in bush, yet sufficiently lofty to catch the odd snow, it’s a suitably demanding day hike within cooee of the capital. The trip up Mt Matthews is in three sections of roughly equal distance. The first and third are a nine-kilometre walk, beginning with the Ōrongorongo Track to the arch bridge over Turere Stream, from where you follow Big Bend Track to Turere Lodge, 10 minutes on. From Turere Lodge, it’s a half hour of easy walking to Whakanui Creek. Leave the track at Whakanui Creek and cross…