Bounds Circuit – 6 days in the Leatham Conservation Area

Tarn at the head of Waterfall Creek, Leatham Conservation Area

Bounds Circuit – 6 days in the Leatham Conservation Area A 6 day hiking loop trip through spectacular mountain scenery in the Leatham Conservation Area passing through Boulder Stream, Wye Route, Turkeys Nest, Gosling Hut, Waihopai River, Waterfall Stream, and Boulder Stream Day 1 – Leatham Road end to Hidden Hut via Boulder Stream and … Read more

Tennyson Inlet Kayak

Tennyson Inlet kayaking as the sun sets

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

St Arnaud and The Camel – and the rusty summit tin

The contents of the summit tin on The Camel showing the scraps of paper recording previous ascents

St Arnaud and The Camel –and the rusty summit tin A 4 day hiking loop trip through the spectacular mountain scenery of the St Arnaud Range passing over the summit of a peak called The Camel, and finding the rusty summit tin. Route to The Camel How long have you tramped for? I have tramped for … Read more

Irongate Hut (via Tunupō)

Irongate Hut in the Ruahine Forest Park

The Ruahine Ranges pulled out all the stops for this tramp, with varied terrain, the opportunity to use the gear for every weather in our packs, breathtaking views, and sounds of the rare Whio and rushing water. Taking the long way round via Tunupō loop we were well rewarded for our 8 hour tramping effort, … Read more

Taranaki surfing

Taranaki surfing

I was so happy when I saw there was a surf trip on the WTMC’s online schedule. I love tramping, but how cool is it to get to do other activities with your tramping friends!As there was no leader yet, Werner and I signed up to lead the trip. The sheet already had Opunake as base … Read more

Mount Taranaki Summit

View from top of Mt Taranaki

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

Ruapehu Summit and Tama Lakes

Mt Ruapehu

At 7.45 am seven bright-eyed and eager trampers stepped out of the WTMC Ruapehu Lodge and set off up Mt Ruapehu. It was a great day for a climb—blue skies with barely a breath of wind. It didn’t take long before we left the road and stepped our way across shingle and large rocks, tinged with … Read more

Blue Range Hut – Navigating old and new technology

Tararua Ranges

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

Te Matawai Hut

Te-Matawai-Hut

On the Saturday morning at 7.30 am six still half-asleep but excited punters met at the train station and set off in the van making our way slowly to the Poads Road end to start our walk. The beauty about leaving at an early time on a Saturday morning is that there is no traffic … Read more

Carkeek Ridge (and Carkeek Hut)

Descending Carkeek Ridge in the Tararua Range

I have been determinedly Tararua hut-bagging for a couple of years now, having realised I’d haphazardly visited about three quarters of them. Carkeek Hut is one of the most difficult to get to being right in the middle of the range with no DoC-maintained tracks to it. I was waiting for a good weather weekend … Read more