Plan A was an overnight loop to Alpha Hut – starting at Kaitoke road end: taking Marchant Ridge to Alpha Hut and then returning via the Omega Track (with the return involving fording the Tauwharenikau River [formerly called the “Tauherenikau” River] and taking the track on the true left of the River back to the … Read more
This trip started off bright and early with the group meeting at the train station at 7am on Saturday morning. The trip leaders had been keeping an eye on the heavy rain forecast all week and it wasn’t meant to start pouring until late afternoon – so we wanted to do as much walking as … Read more
The allure of Rakiura’s Tin Range A solo expedition to rugged southern Rakiura including an ascent of the granite peak Gog, partly funded by a Simon Bell scholarship with the FMC New Zealand. Rakiura anchors more than Maui’s canoe. It anchors in its rocks, rivers and rugged shores, and in its garnishment of plants and animals, … Read more
The trip schedule proposed an Ōrongorongo hut-bagging trip, with a particular focus on visiting Baine-Iti and Goat Stream Huts. There are many private huts in the Ōrongorongo Valley, so the precise trip plan could be as relaxed or ambitious as the group desired. Eight people were keen for this spontaneous adventure. We carpooled to Catchpool … Read more
Snow on Powell!Our journey began with a drive on the winding road to the Wairarapa, we eventually arrived at our first stop, the Clareville Bakery, for a last minute coffee and pastry. Once satiated with morning tea, we began our journey to the Tararuas, with a radiant sun shining, the snow was glittering off the … Read more
We travelled up to the Ruahine Ranges with another (EM) group from the club who were going to Sunrise and Top Maropea Huts. The weather forecast for our ridge travel to Sparrowhawk Biv had been looking unkind for most of the week, but was improving, so we all left Wellington in good spirits. After stopping … Read more
Kaukau summit A well worthwhile Wellington walk Kaukau is the highest point close to Wellington and the 360 degree views from the summit are well worth the effort getting there. There are tracks starting from Johnsonville, Broadmeadows, Khandallah and Ngaio. Arguably the easiest is from the carpark at Johnsonville Park at the end of Truscott … Read more
We set off from Wellington Train Station a little later than usual, at 7pm. This allowed us to avoid peak traffic and we made good time to Bulls to grab a falafel and beverage. It was then on to Braemar House, in Whanganui (our accommodation for the night), arriving at 9.40pm. We’d booked one large … Read more
Mt Tongariro – Cinderella and the Dancing Dinosaur A 2 day hiking loop trip through the spectacular mountain scenery of the Tongariro National Park in early winter Sarah, could I please have my shoes back? I looked down at my feet and realised I was having a Cinderella moment at Mangatepopo Hut on Saturday morning and … Read more
Right on schedule, we were ready to start walking, just after 10.30am, from Te Kopahou, where the visitor centre is well worth dropping into. The area was busier than usual, with an aid station set up for the WUU2K Wellington Urban Ultra Marathon, along with supporters waiting for their friends to come through.The first part … Read more