Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club
enjoying the great outdoors since 1947
Byron Camp 
The mountain has had more sprinklings of snow indicating that things up there are getting cooler along with the days getting shorter. The lift operator is flat out making snow in the Happy Valley beginners’ area which will be open from Queens Birthday weekend. Our Summer rates apply over Queens Birthday. We can only open … Read more
Belmont Regional Park is one of my favourite places in the Wellington area. The Park has plenty of tracks and is easily accessible by public transport. The Puke Ariki Traverse travels the length of the Park from the Dry Creek entrance to Cornish Street in Petone. The total length is about 24km. Polly and I … Read more
Ferry booking mix-ups and more than an hour’s delay to board meant it was well after 10pm when we arrived at the Matiri Valley West Bank road end. The hydro scheme construction works mean the walk in to Lake Matiri hut is now only 50min mostly on construction road, which during working hours you need … Read more
Day 1 – Leatham Road end to Hidden Hut via Boulder Stream and Wye TrackStart 9.15am, Finish 5.45pmWe left our cars on the grassy patch next to the farmer’s gate, in case the ford (about 10-15 minutes further walk along the 4WD track) was too difficult to cross. We followed the 4WD track until it … Read more
Tramping Gillespie Pass has been on my radar for a while and when Pete mentioned that he was planning to tramp it over Waitangi weekend I was keen – with a stroke of good luck I had the time off work already and managed to book flights last minute that didn’t cost an arm and … Read more
The mountain has had a few sprinklings of snow indicating that things up there are gettingcooler along with the days getting shorter. Reflecting on this time last year things were a bit nerve wracking with a close down of thecountry and not knowing what the future would bring for the lodge. We can move into … Read more
What a fantastic way to spend Easter! A very memorable experience kayaking the Marlborough Sounds indeed. What made this trip so special? Everything that could go right, went right. If anything didn’t go to plan then it effortlessly became an adjusted plan. An early start to the long weekend on Thursday with an anticipated ferry … Read more
The mountain is continuing to provide good weather and the gondola is now operating again after a short maintenance break. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts are completing work on the lifts so here is hoping all is up and running for winter this season. At our last meeting we decided that we would not increase our accommodation … Read more
We’ve regrouped at the top of a 300m long stretch of steep scoria on the way down the north ridge of Mount Taranaki. The sun blazes from a cloudless sky, there’s no wind and it’s hot – a heat haze shimmers off the dusty slope. Having climbed over 1500m today our legs are tired and … Read more
Blue Range Hut is the perfect spot for newbie trampers to test their fitness and learn some navigation skills. Who knew that tramping-fit is totally different to walking-fit? Or that ending up slightly off track from your planned route, does not mean you are lost? Or that lightly salted mango and biscuits are considered gourmet? … Read more