Te Puia Tramp

Looking through past trip reports it seems the club has a tradition of organising Te Puia tramps over Queen’s birthday weekend. And it’s a great tradition; what’s better than soaking in hot pools on a winter tramp. So the 2021 tramp was organised to live up to the tradition and make the most of the … Read more

Holly Hut

Intro The group had signed up to do Syme Hut, but changed plans given the conditions and out of respect for the two climbers who lost their lives on Mt Taranaki 4 May. Our first night was at Konini Lodge by the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre. Saturday we drove 50 minutes around the mountain and … Read more

Maketawa Hut

Having done the drive up to Taranaki on Friday night (as is traditional), we and the Easy-Medium group all stayed at Konini Lodge at Dawson Falls visitor centre. It’s a great facility with cooking equipment, hot showers, decent bunk rooms and the rest; although in my experience it’s always been cold – consider yourself warned. … Read more

Tablelands – Cobb Valley (combined EM and M trip – Kahurangi National Park)

Thursday 1 April: Our Easter weekend’s tramping began with a late ferry crossing to Picton, where we stayed in a bunkroom at Sequoia Lodge Backpackers. Friday 2 April: Next morning we drove to Kahurangi National Park, with stops at Pelorus Bridge and Motueka. We arrived at Cobb Reservoir roadend in the early afternoon and set … Read more

Tutuwai Hut

We shared a van with a medium group heading to Alpha Hut, and left Waiohine gorge road end at around 9:30. We first “investigated” a trail that headed down to the river, before heading back and crossing the river on the swing bridge. We next “investigated” the start of the trail to Cone hut, before … Read more

Mt Matthews – a Circumnavigation

“The lights are moving—the aliens are coming for us now!” I jokingly teased Tony and suggested we both hide in our tents… Tony and I had decided to do a two-day tramp exploring our own backyard a bit more—a circumnavigation of Mt Matthews that would include both on and off-track travel in the Remutaka Forest … Read more

Mid King Madness

“Is anyone alarmed that I’m still considering the original plan?” This question came on Friday night from our trip leader James after consulting the weather forecast to see that not only did we have a severe weather warning for the Tararua Range due to heavy rain rolling through, there were also gale force winds forecasted … Read more

Puke Ariki Traverse: Belmont Regional Park

Belmont Regional Park is one of my favourite places in the Wellington area. The Park has plenty of tracks and is easily accessible by public transport. The Puke Ariki Traverse travels the length of the Park from the Dry Creek entrance to Cornish Street in Petone. The total length is about 24km. Polly and I … Read more

1000 Acre Plateau

Ferry booking mix-ups and more than an hour’s delay to board meant it was well after 10pm when we arrived at the Matiri Valley West Bank road end. The hydro scheme construction works mean the walk in to Lake Matiri hut is now only 50min mostly on construction road, which during working hours you need … Read more

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