Dun Mountain

Continued from Part 1… On Monday morning we thank Hans and Mika for their kind hospitality and throw bikes in and on the van. We are joined for the day by Julie and Thomas who, as seasoned bikers, will hopefully not mind travelling at our pace. To avoid having to climb Tantragee Saddle at the … Read more

Mt Angelus Stitch ‘n’ Tramp

So the idea was to get crafty while on a tramping trip: to knit, needlepoint and natter our way across the ferry trip and beyond. Yarning started while waiting for a delayed ferry departure in Wellington, with craft consultations being undertaken while still on the pier. Projects got well underway on the ferry crossing with … Read more

Wainuiomata daywalk through the water collection area

We had a group of 6 trampers for this daywalk with stunning sunshine weather; the day it was forecasted to be sunshine for another 10 days! We had 2 cars and met Grant the ranger at the main car park whereupon he let us in to the water collection area through a couple of gates … Read more

Trip to Roaring Stag

After a slightly bleary-eyed 7.30am meet on the Saturday morning, a club minibus jam-packed with sleepy trampers left for the Tararuas in hot pursuit after Illona’s car. As a tramping-virgin, I had been warned about the mysteriously misty, murky and muddy Tararuas and had sat through various club presentations picturing drizzly-looking forest and decidedly damp-looking … Read more

Jumbo-Holdsworth run

When Gareth asked me for the sixth time “have you committed to the Jumbo-Holdsworth?” I weighed up the pros and cons for the sixth time. Pros – no time left to do any training, have run the route before and enjoyed it, unlikely to be snow this time. Cons – have not done any training, … Read more

Nelson Mountain Biking

Having attended the obligatory two club tramps before becoming a member, and a trip leading session, it was appropriate to contribute in a small way by volunteering to lead a trip.  Encouraged by my brother in-law Mike and the fact that a number of other trips were planned around Nelson at the same time, this … Read more

Tararua Northern Crossing

As we were doing a crossing we had a few transport logistics issues.  We left Wellington Station on the 5:30pm train bound for Masterton, a lovely scenic ride, with the goal getting a pickup from the MF Blackwater-Makaretu group on the Sunday afternoon.  We arrived in Masterton a bit hungry and in no real hurry, … Read more

To PLB or not to PLB, that is the question?

As I now hold double (dubious) honour of setting off the first WTMC beacon rescue, and the first time I have asked others to get me out of a tricky situation, I have been contemplating the necessity, or otherwise, of carrying a PLB. It is only in the last few years I have started to … Read more

WTMC South Island Christmas and New Year trip

We met bright and early on Boxing Day morning and boarded the ferry. Thankfully it was a very calm crossing over to the South Island so the Christmas over indulgences were forgiven. The weather forecast for the next 10 days was beginning to look a little foreboding but, keeping our fingers crossed that it wouldn’t … Read more

Arthurs Pass mystery trip

I always know when I am tramping on the coming weekend as I spend the week before checking the forecast. The week before this trip was more checking than normal as we all tried to decide whether it was going to rain and blow too much. This indecision affected Air New Zealand making my flight … Read more