Club night talks – May 2013

Welcome to the Social Convenor’s corner!  I’m excited about being back on committee and in this role. I’m on the hunt for speakers for Wednesday nights and I have one or two “hunters” keeping their ears to the ground to pick up speakers for me too. If you are keen to try your hand at … Read more

Howletts Hut via Te Hekenga

The Howlett’s Hut loop trip via Te Hekenga has been on the schedule for a while now, repeatedly postponed by weather, and it was great to finally knock it off. After driving up with the Rangi Hut trip group and having a good feed in Levin we stopped off at Mangaweka campsite for a few … Read more

Rangiwahia Hut via Deadmans Track

Leaving platform 9 an hour later than usual turned out to be a smart decision, with most of the Friday afternoon traffic already gone it was a smooth drive to Levin where we stopped for some food and to check out the public toilets with background music… really weird. Back on the road again we … Read more

Mt Owen Easter Weekend 2013

A dawn chorus of korimako wakes us long before the sun hits our shaded campsite at Courthouse Flat. The results of a successful predator trapping campaign soon become evident as we headed off into the eastern side of Kahurangi National Park. It’s like stepping back in time as korimako, piwakawaka, toutouwai, kereru and miromiro swoop … Read more

Blue Range Hut

We met up at Platform 9 for the usual last minute tramping requirements, and introductions to members of our party and the MF group. We had a comfortable trip out to Masterton along with an exciting, extended adventure in Chinatown. Chinatown is found in Greytown, where it takes 40 minutes on a Friday night to … Read more

Wairarapa Incline and Ocean Beach

A dodgy foot has enforced a break from tramping for the time-being and the need to find an alternative weekend activity. The on/off road MTB tour has proved to be a very satisfactory replacement providing plenty of scope for entertainment. If you have a bike in the garage, the additional kit required is modest so … Read more

Queen Charlotte

Later the following week I decide to do a road foray along Keneperu Sound. I study the Topo map carefully and the DOC website; there seem to be plenty of camp-sites and a fair length of road to explore so that’s about as detailed as the plan needs to be. I commute to work with … Read more

Port Underwood Bike Trip

The previous two trips being so enjoyable it was pretty much inevitable that I’d be out again the next weekend. The tails of excitement have clearly captured Angela’s imagination and she is a keen starter. I’m running the same bike set up as the previous two weekends with the exception that we now need a … Read more

Up and coming talks at club – April 2013

There are many exciting and interesting talks coming up in the next few weeks at club: 17 April: Favourite bit of tramping kit (Mike Gilbert). If you have a favourite bit of tramping kit, and would like to contribute to this talk, contact [email protected] 24 April: Gear only 1 May: African safari (Richard Young) 8 … Read more

WTMC 2013 Photo competition

The Club’s photo competition was very competitive this year. The judge Grant Newton noted that the standard was higher than in previous years and found it difficult to choose a winner in a number of categories. Despite this the results were dominated by Tony Gazley and Spencer Clubb. Tony won three of the categories with … Read more