Field Hut and Otaki Forks

We assembled at the station at 9am on Saturday and divided into two cars before regrouping at Otaki Forks. A group of seven trampers: two seasoned club veterans, four newer members on their first club adventure, and one non-member suspicious of whether the club dues represented value for money. Before beginning our climb, we scouted … Read more

No teeth required in the Raglan Range

“You don’t need your teeth to walk out.”  With the Dart Ford uncrossable for our Luna Tops trip in Kahurangi National Park, I quickly came up with an alternative plan in the Raglan Range which was an area that was easy for transport and varied enough to keep us all interested and challenged.  The EM … Read more

Dragons Teeth (Low Route)

Days one and two: After flying in from Wellington the day before our shuttle arrived early to take us to the James Road end. We knew the weather was going to be a bit iffy today after fervently checking the weather forecast in the lead up to the trip start, but we were glad to … Read more

Attempted Southern Crossing and visit to Tutuwai Hut

In late-2025, the Club put out its summer trip list and for this trip there was a ‘leader required’ note on it.  Being keen as ever, I suggested doing it over 3 days which would make it a medium trip, and volunteered to lead! Within a few weeks we had 13 in total wanting to … Read more

Ozzies Track

Thinking of a loop daytrip in the Tararua Range that is a bit different? Well, why not try Ozzie’s Track? Ozzie’s Track is one of those mostly-forgotten routes in the Tararua Forest Park that doesn’t appear on today’s topomaps but lives on in trampers’ conversations—particularly those of the members of the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing … Read more

Lake Chalice Hut – Mt Richmond Forest Park (and aborted Mt Owen trip)

Prelude: We had all been really looking forward to our planned Mt Owen trip in Kahurangi National Park. However, it turned out that when we arrived on site, the water level flowing over the Dart River ford (which you need to cross to access the track to Mt Owen from the North) was too high, and … Read more

Ruapehu Lodge and Zekes Hut

We left the station on the dot of 4pm, with a van full of Wellington’s finest. Our trip to WTMC’s legendary, lovely Ruapehu Lodge was disturbed firstly by a tramper performing some emergency mergers and acquisitions in Levin, and later an emergency burger stop at the piiza[sic] shop in Bulls. Once we arrived at the … Read more

Mt Fyffe – Hapuku Hut traverse (Seaward Kaikoura Range – Marlborough)

After a lovely sailing on the Interislander on Friday, we arrived at Spring Creek Holiday Park in the early evening and were able to get organised ahead of our tramp. The following day, after a quick coffee and bakery stop in Kaikoura, we ventured to the Mount Fyffe Rd road end, and began our tramp … Read more

Protecting Whio, the fight for survival – Apias trapline, Ruahine Ranges

“If you want to save a species or habitat, it’s a fight forevermore. You can never turn your back.” Trapping has taken me to so many different places since 2021, when I first began volunteering on a trapline in my local bush reserve, Waimapihi Reserve. Over the last few years I have added another two … Read more

Mitre Flats Hut and Mitre Peak – Tararua Forest Park

Friday After a quick drive over the Remutakas and some of Carterton’s finest fried chicken, we drove to The Pines carpark and were at the head of the Barra Track at 7.30 pm. Ethan, sporting the elite tramping look of gaiters and shorts, was leading 9 of us to the mighty Mitre Peak in the … Read more