Friday We all met at the railway station and got going at around 5:30pm. We were not in a rush as we were not going to the road end tonight. We stopped in Masterton for dinner, then onto Hastings, sharing the driving and passing the time with chat and a few hours of what we … Read more
Trampers / Masterchefs: Mark (Trip Leader) – Supervisor, menu designer, apron wearer Emily – Chocolate Cake Billy Baker Garth – Steak Master Extraordinaire and Scrambled egg Supremo Bridget – Queen of custard Objective As a first time leader, an easy walk to the hut, eat well, enjoy the scenery and relax. Simples! Why Gourmet Tramping…? … Read more
I signed up to this trip with very unalturistic motives – I was enormously curious to see the “lodge” that everyone at the club keeps talking about. In my head I pictured one of the huts on the great walks – which most trampers consider the height of luxury – and have flush toilets, lights … Read more
Our epic journey started quite calmly at the railway station on Friday night. In a full club van we drove 3 hours up to Noreswood, stopping for an evening meal at the Istanbul in Caterton. The ANZAC Park campsite just north of Norsewood is a basic but pretty campsite (toilet but no water available). Next … Read more
I was not brimming with confidence about leading this trip as I had not done a medium trip before, let alone led one! However I not only survived the trip, I actually enjoyed it, which I put down to the awesome group I was walking with. We were picked up by our chauffer for the weekend … Read more
Only two of us were travelling to the club lodge on a Friday evening, after a small detour we arrived at the lodge. The weather forecast promised us wonderful weather so we decided to book a shuttle for the Tongariro Alpine crossing for the next day. Marieke has not walked this track before and Bram … Read more
The trip was listed as a navigation trip to Pararaki Hut but as the logistics with the other groups made it possible, we took the opportunity to do the full Aorangi crossing from the Pinnacles down to Mangatoetoe. On Friday evening we headed across the hill and stopped at the Lake Ferry Hotel for dinner. … Read more
We headed for Bulls which was our dinner stop, then a short 40 min drive to Mangaweka camp ground – our destination for the night. We were all in bed at 9.30pm to get a good sleep as I told the crew that there is a steep hill first thing when we get to our … Read more
Day 1 – Kiriwhakapapa Road end to Blue Range Hut The walk started off at sunset at the Kiriwhakapapa Road campground in the Central Tararua ranges. We arrived after stopping at the usual kebab shop in Carterton, which I believe the club must be getting kick-backs from judging by the amount of business we send … Read more
Our noble band of aquatically-inclined adventurers set foot on South Island soil well into the night. It was the kind of portentous start to our paddle-bashing adventure we all craved; for though we were tired, the dark, silhouetted Sounds held a spooky mystery and untold secrets that were ours to explore over the next three … Read more