After failing to badger various acquaintances into taking me on a tramping trip, Tony took pity on me and said I could come with him to attempt a Southern Main Range. Tony’s favourite camping spot at Otaki Forks was closed, so I showed him my favourite camping spot, which happened to be inside Parawai Lodge! … Read more
Via Totara Flats and return via Cone Ridge. Tramping club was finally back after the long break due to COVID-19 and I had a rare weekend off work so I was super keen to lead a trip to ensure I got out tramping … We were straight into winter tramping – cold and rainy – … Read more
Walking from Powell Hut to Jumbo Hut in winter [Aimee] Tony said it was time for another trip. We all agreed. Outside of working hours, the best weather window was between Friday evening and Saturday mid-morning. Because of this, Tony suggested we go for a day walk, but at night. Recalling the last time we … Read more
Hemi Matenga has been on my walking list for some time, with Covid-19 Level 2 seeming like the perfect time to do this as an urban tramp. Jane and I met at Wellington station with 10+ kg tramping packs weighted with water and books, keen to explore some different local tracks. We had an … Read more
The best of the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival National Tour is once again coming back to Wellington with a double feature! The festival started in 2002 and is internationally recognised as one of the world’s premier mountain film festival events. It’s NZ’s original mountain film festival with an international adventure film maker’s competition, as … Read more
The Club is trialling a new approach to some of our alpine trips this year. We want to avoid the work that goes into organising an alpine trip that is cancelled due to weather, and to give enthusiastic participants their best chance at getting some time on the snow. Alongside our normal fixed schedule (which … Read more
Our family group lucked in to the most perfect weather to go bush as Wellington’s run of perfect weather weekends continued in March for the Bushcraft 1.0 lead by the inimitable Bazza C, a super-organised, patient, knowledgeable guide. Our task was to i) pack, ii) get to the designated meeting point at iii) a particular … Read more
City to Sea and Southern Walkway The City to Sea walkway is a fun mix of urban and trail walking with great views of Wellington and even the South Island on a good day. I’d finally gotten around to doing the walk during lockdown and enjoyed it so much that when the call went out … Read more
“And this is my snow saw,” said Nick, as he removed the gleaming blade from its holster. A strangely curved, unwieldy and yet hugely useful device for creating a snow cave, as I would find out later that weekend. Led by Nick H, we were a band of five who had gamely signed up for … Read more
Aimee visited the Sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica in January 2020 and writes about the part of her journey that fascinated her the most – the wildlife. The hurricane force winds, towering waves and bitter cold of the Southern Ocean might lead one to think that the Sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica must be inhospitable and lifeless … Read more