The Putaputa A-frame shelter in Kaitoke Regional Park had been on my to-do list for a while. (See: Putaputa Shelter) Tantalisingly close to civilisation, but involving either some off-track bush-bashing and a steep descent, or travelling up a gorge (where Putaputa Stream is located). It seemed like the perfect half-day trip. The fact it was … Read more
Drive to North Taranaki (Friday 28 March) On Friday, 14 adventurers met at Wellington Train station at 5pm, to drive to North Taranaki. A few went in Sara’s car. The rest went in the club van, heroically driven by Bailey and Raj. There was a stopover in Bulls to enjoy dinner. The group slept at … Read more
I was slouching up against the wall of an Indian takeaways on Kent Terrace when I made the call. A weather bomb had hit the Tararuas, swelling rivers and drowning my dreams of taking my troop of ‘easy-medium’ punters to Mangahao Flats Hut. Instead, I spent the time waiting for my butter chicken pondering an … Read more
Friday 14th Feb We combined resources with the MF trip group who were heading to Holdsworth trailhead. We all set off in the club van from Wellington Railway Station at 4.30 pm. We had decided on this earlier meet up time to give us more time for the walk into Mitre Flats Hut on the … Read more
Holdsworth Day Walks – Gentle Annie Saddle, Pinnacle, and the Summit. Three hikes in the Holdsworth area of the Tararua Range – Gentle Annie Saddle, Pinnacle, and the summit of Mt Holdsworth – including route guides, photos and a video. Gentle Annie Saddle Inspired by a TTC day trip of many years ago Tony and … Read more
The original plan for this trip was to head into Atiwhakatu Hut on Friday night, climb Baldy Peak and then go on to the Broken Axe Pinnacles and McGregor Biv on Saturday and then back to Holdsworth Lodge via Angle Knob and Jumbo on Sunday. While Saturday’s weather looked pretty good, Sunday’s forecast was for … Read more
After a long drive, broken up with a long wait for our “pre-ordered” burgers in Carterton, we were all pleased to arrive at the Mangleton Road end parking area. The “10 minute” walk-in to Sentry Box Hut took us almost twice the time in our rush to get to the Hut. We had charged ahead … Read more
Syme Hut and Mt Taranaki | A Sherpa-Assisted Summer Ascent – WTMC A sherpa assisted summer Taranaki Maunga climb to Syme Hut then up the southern slopes towards the summit turns dramatic when a rescue helicopter arrives to lift three unknown stranded climbers leaving the party to retreat in difficult conditions. Read this true Kiwi mountaineering adventure of … Read more
After 6 months of casual day trips and regular wine and cheese tasting overseas, I wondered what the best way would be to get back into tramping in NZ… and the answer appeared on the trip schedule listed as a Emily’s MF trip “Waiohine Pack Float via Jacs Biv”: good company, some tops travel, another … Read more
We gathered at the train station on Friday afternoon and piled into the van, greeted by Sophie who was co-leading the medium group with her human, Sara. She was clearly ready to have the best weekend ever and spent most of the trip up touring the van for pats. We stopped for dinner at the … Read more