Jacqui

Our trip to Paua Hut

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Date: 28 December 2002.
Trip type: Family Tramp.
Location: Orongorongo Valley.
Author: Ben van Woerkom (5 & three quarter years old).
Trampers: Josy, Ben and others.

We went to Paua Hut on the 28th of December. It took two hours to walk through the beautiful bush to the Hut. We had to cross the river. Our shoes and socks got wet and the current pushed us but we loved it. There was no power, but there was gas to cook with … Read more

Cape Reinga to Bluff the Long Way – Part 3, “But what about all these hills?”

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's (February-April, 57 cycle days).
Trip type: Cycle Touring.
Location: New Zealand (all of it).
Author: Ann Kempster.
Trampers: Ann, Phil, Alice.

Back to Part 2 We made it to Bluff! One bright, sunny April morning – just when cycling was for us, becoming a daily routine and the mind was used to drifting off in its own direction – Alice stopped ahead and I snapped into reality. There it was – a signpost informing us of … Read more

Cape Reinga to Bluff the long way – Part 2, Sidetracked around the East Cape

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's (February-April, 57 cycle days).
Trip type: Cycle Touring.
Location: New Zealand (all of it).
Author: Ann Kempster.
Trampers: Ann, Phil, Alice.

Back to Part 1 A rest in Tauranga allowed us to reflect on our Coromandel Peninsula adventures. Excellent memories of relaxing beaches and coves, deserted gravel roads, humungous hills, spectacular views, art galleries, cafés and hot bread shops, swims and siestas. A phone call to Harry in Wellington and he was inspired with all this … Read more

Cape Reinga to Bluff the long way – Part 1, Reinga to Auckland

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's (February-April, 57 cycle days).
Trip type: Cycle Touring.
Location: New Zealand (all of it).
Author: Ann Kempster.
Trampers: Ann, Phil, Alice.

A rest day! Yes, at last, a proper rest day – all  day to be spent in the tent reading, sleeping  and listening to the pitter patter of sandflies headbanging the fly. Oh – and maybe a chance to write that article I promised Claire for the newsletter. Where to begin? Our big cycle trip … Read more

Ascent of Tapuae-o-Uenuku

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's.
Trip type: Alp.
Location: Kaikouras.
Author: Grant Newton.
Trampers: amie Vinton, Alex Ellis, Gerard Galvin, Phil Young, Mary Manastyrski, Joe Haubmann, Derek Mitoch, Paul Abbott and Grant Newton.

An AIC behind many of us, the dry climate of the Kaikouras drew 9 people in search of one of NZ’s highest but easier to climb peaks, Mt Tapeau-O-Uenuku.  The ‘Tappy’ trip is becoming a regular club event, taking a Friday off work and setting forth to tackle the legendary Hodder River before putting the … Read more

Advanced cycle touring – the Riversdale ride

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's.
Trip type: Cycle.
Location: Wairarapa.
Author: Grant Newton.
Trampers: Harry Smith, Jerry Gabriel, Peter Wills, Gerard Galvin, Bruce Sommerville, Grant Newton.

Some may call it a degeneration of standards, but others may refer to it an effective use of resources – the promise of some poor weather was overshadowed by the generosity of some club members and some effective planning.  Harry Smith, Jerry Gabriel, Peter Wills, Gerard Galvin, Bruce Sommerville and I headed for a cycle … Read more

The Enchanted Island

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's.
Trip type: Harry special.
Location: Stewart Island.
Author: Har.
Trampers: Stuart Palmer, Ann Kempster, Phil Kendon, John Holt, Harriette Carr, Harry Smith.

Mud. Sandflies. Howling southerlies. Freezing cold. Don’t even think about going for a swim. That’s what I had heard about Stewart Island. Well, maybe it was El Niño (or is that La Niña?) or maybe it was just serendipitous good fortune, but whatever the reason, it wasn’t like that at all. The mud wasn’t too … Read more

Three Peaks – Commercial Style!

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's.
Trip type: Harry special.
Location: Tongariro.
Author: Harry Smith.
Trampers: Phil Kendon, Ann Kempster, Jenny Cossey, Keith Geritson, Harry Smith.

Have you ever wanted to do one of those commercial-style tramps, where your gear is ferried forward for you each day so you only have to carry a day pack, and you get to stay in luxury private lodges overnight? Well, we had a taste of what it would be like early in February when … Read more

A Wander to Washpool Hut

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's.
Trip type: Harry special.
Location: Washpool Hut.
Author: Harry Smith.
Trampers: Andrew Chinn, Kirstie MacDonald, Andrew Squires, Damian Maddock, Richard West, Daniel Meares, Peggy Christianson, and Harry Smith.

It was a civilized time to start a tramping trip, I decided: 8.30 on Saturday morning at the railway station (and rolling on towards 9.00 before the last of the punters turned up), rather than the usual 7.00 o’clock start on Friday night. Being the leader of the only trip going away for the weekend … Read more

The Heaphy Revisited

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Date: 1990's/early 2000's.
Trip type: Advanced.
Location: Heaphy.
Author: Harry Smith.
Trampers: Austin, Andy Sweet, Suzi Penny.

I seem to do the Heaphy Track once every 25 years. The last time was in 1973 (don’t ask me about the time before that if you value your life!); the most recent time was earlier this year at Waitangi weekend when Austin, Andy Sweet, Suzi Penny and I took an extra day off and … Read more