Day 2 saw us following the ridge for hour after hour. the distant point on the horizon was our objective for the night and again we reached Jumbo Hut after dark.
Day 3 was our longest day. Leaving Jumbo hut at about 7am, we traversed to Mount Holdworth, then dropped down through the forest to the Mid Waohine Hut which we reached at about 11am. After a very brief dip in the river, a long and exhausting climb saw us back on the tops further to the West. From Aokaporangi Peak we headed to Maungahuka Hut which we reached about 5pm. After a short break we decided to keep going in order to be able to complete our traverse in time for work on Monday.
All that was left was to complete the Southern Crossing of the Tararuas, over Mount Hector and down the less travelled Quoine Ridge. The views in all directions were spectacular, including Taranaki and Ruapehu volcanoes, our own route through the Tararuas, the Wairarapa Plains, Palliser Bay, the Rimutaka Ranges, Wellington Harbour and the Kaikoura Ranges of the South Island.