Oamaru-Tussock Loop – Kaimanawa Forest Park

Thursday 6th Feb Making the most of a 4-day weekend, we set off early from Wellington and enjoyed a scenic drive up to Helisika (Poronui Station) on Taharua Rd, off SH5. This location is in Hawke’s Bay, near Taupo. With the Desert Road closed for maintenance, we made detoured through Tongariro National Park and enjoyed the … Read more

Northern Crossing with a difference – Tararua Forest Park

Carkeek Hut, in the middle of the Tararuas, had long been on the minds of Mon and I. Surrounded by other Tararua landmarks (as noted below), we took the opportunity to craft a more ambitious long weekend plan when only the two of us signed up for the trip – we swapped out two nights … Read more

Paua Hut – Remutaka Forest Park (new club members trip)

This was billed as a new members tramp, but featured six enthusiastic non-members sampling some of what the club has to offer. Our destination was Paua Hut, the WTMC’s hut in the Orongorongo Valley, accessed from the Catchpool carpark (a 45 minute drive from Wellington Train Station via Wainuiomata). Given the walk to Paua Hut … Read more

Big Weekend at the Lodge – Tongariro National Park

Fri 17 Jan – Travel to WTMC Club Lodge at Mt Ruapehu We all met at Wellington Train Station after work on Friday and loaded into the club van, excited at the prospect of an adventurous long weekend for Wellington Anniversary – doing a variety of day trips, based at the club’s lodge near the … Read more

Travers-Sabine Circuit and Blue Lake – Nelson Lakes National Park

Fri 3 Jan – Ferry and camping at West Bay (Jetty Campsite) It was with anticipation that the four of us met at Wellington train station at 11.15 am. I’d been waiting to get a 5-day window for a while to attempt this tramp and duly put it on the trip schedule. We were to … Read more

Stanfield Hut Trip – aka ‘Buried in the Bush’

Drive + Tamaki West DOC Campsite Trampers for this supposedly Easy-Medium trip met their fearless leader Elizabeth (Liz) and intrepid Medium/Medium Fit-ish group members: James (leader) and Ashley at Wellington Train Station carpark at 5pm on Friday to jump in the swanky WTMC van. Trusty James was our driver. Tasty foods were eaten during a … Read more

Five passes (Mount Aspiring National Park)

Private trip organised by Lynsey. Lynsey and Jamie did the trip in a clockwise direction, Tiffany did the trip in an anticlockwise direction Summary of logistics, route and top tips This was a mostly off-track tramp into a remote alpine area that skirts the Olivine Wilderness Ledge. There are a variety of terrains to negotiate, … Read more

Sunrise Hut – Ruahine Forest Park

On Friday evening the five of us met at the traditional WTMC meet up point at Wellington Train Station for a weekend getaway to Ruahine Forest Park, located in Hawke’s Bay. We were joined by the Medium-Fit group, who were travelling in the van with us. Our group was a mix of new and more … Read more

Mangahao Flats Hut – Tararua Forest Park

We met at Wellington Train Station at 6:30 am on a sunny Saturday and piled into the club van. After dropping off the Medium group at Poads Road, we carried on up to the Managahao Top No 1 Reservoir dam. I was a bit nervous about driving the van, but had been reassured by others … Read more

Te Atuaoparapara peak – Ruahine Forest Park

It was timely that the Wilderness magazine had an article on negotiating scree, given that our descent from Te Atuaoparapara peak involved just that! We left Wellington train station at 5.30 pm on Friday and arrived at the road end (North Block road) at around 9.30 pm. It was then a 10 min walk to … Read more